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electroretinogram

electroretinogram

1 9.9
A test that records electrical responses from the back of the eye to light
  • noun
  • /ɪˌlɛktrəʊˈrɛtɪnəˌɡræm/
  • Specialized
: electroretinograma
  • The machine, an electroretinogram, emits an irritating, strange flat line sound.

Examples

  • After the electroretinogram, the patient learned about their retinal function and the health of their vision.

  • The doctor explained that an electroretinogram helps to determine how well the retina responds to light.

  • To evaluate his eyesight, the specialist conducted an electroretinogram to measure the retina's electrical activity.

Synonyms

electroretinography
vselectroretinogram
  • Specialized
1 8.9

A test that measures electrical signals in the back of the eye when light shines

refers to the recorded test result rather than the measurement process

Surface Forms

Morphology

electroretinogram = retinogram (semi-transparent) = electro + retina + gram

The term is structurally compositional as an electrical version of a retinogram, but the medical specialization makes it less immediately guessable for an average learner.

Etymology

The word electroretinogram comes from three parts: electro- 'electricity', retina 'the back of the eye that senses light', and -gram 'a record', as in the familiar word telegram. So an electroretinogram is a 'record' of the eye's electrical signals, which is why the test measures how the retina responds to light.