enterolith
- noun
- /ˈɛntəroʊlɪθ/
- Specialized
- The surgeon removed an enterolith that was causing a blockage in the patient's intestine.
Examples
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An enterolith may require surgical intervention if it becomes too large or obstructive.
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Chronic digestive issues can sometimes lead to the formation of an enterolith.
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The doctor diagnosed her with an enterolith.
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Many animals can develop enteroliths in their intestines.
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Chronic digestive issues can sometimes lead to the formation of an enterolith.
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The surgeon removed an enterolith that was causing a blockage in the patient's intestine.
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Many animals can develop enteroliths in their intestines.
Surface Forms
Morphology
enterolith = lith (semi-transparent) = entero + lith
The prefix 'entero-' relates to the intestines, and 'lith' means stone, but the specific medical context may not be immediately clear to all learners.
Etymology
The word enterolith comes from Greek parts enteron ('intestine') and lithos ('stone'). So an enterolith is literally a 'stone' that forms in the intestines, which explains why it can block the gut much like a kidney stone blocks the urinary tract.