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Glite Dictionary
arteriosclerosis obliterans

arteriosclerosis obliterans

9.6
Large blood vessels become thick and hard and block blood flow, often causing leg pain
  • noun
  • /ˌɑːr.tɪ.əˌskləˈroʊ.sɪs əˌblɪt.əˈrænz/
  • Specialized
translation icon : arteriosclerosis obliterans
  • Early diagnosis of arteriosclerosis obliterans is crucial to prevent limb loss.

Examples

  • The surgeon explained that arteriosclerosis obliterans was the cause of the patient's chronic leg pain.

  • Peripheral blood flow can be severely restricted in patients with arteriosclerosis obliterans.

  • The patient was diagnosed with arteriosclerosis obliterans last week.

  • Doctors often see arteriosclerosis obliterans in older patients.

  • Early diagnosis of arteriosclerosis obliterans is crucial to prevent limb loss.

  • The surgeon explained that arteriosclerosis obliterans was the cause of the patient's chronic leg pain.

  • Peripheral blood flow can be severely restricted in patients with arteriosclerosis obliterans.

How Severe

arteriosclerosis obliterans
  • Specialized
9.6
arteriosclerosis
  • Specialized
1 7.4

Surface Forms

arteriosclerosis obliterans singular
arteriosclerosis obliterans plural

Morphology

arteriosclerosis + obliterans

This is a compositional medical compound: 'arteriosclerosis' denotes thickening/hardening of arteries that restricts flow, and 'obliterans' is a medical/Latin participial form meaning 'obliterating' or causing closure. Combined, the phrase straightforwardly means arteriosclerosis that causes obliteration/closure of vessels, so a learner who knows both constituents can derive the meaning.

Etymology

Arteriosclerosis obliterans is built from parts: arterio- means 'artery', sclerosis means 'hardening', and obliterans means 'blocking'. Think of an artery as a soft pipe that becomes stiff and filled so the flow stops; that image explains why the term refers to arteries that have thickened, hardened and become 'blocked'.