You searched for:
“abscess”
1. A localized collection of pus in part of the body, formed by tissue disintegration and surrounded by inflamed area tissue: Shirley had an abscess in her gums that caused her entire mouth to hurt.
The dentist was gentle while he was cleaning out the abscess in Jeffery's wisdom tooth.
2. A circumscribed collection of pus usually caused by microorganisms: The doctor decided to lance the abscess on Ann’s leg so the pus could drain.In the hospital Joan had several abscesses on her body as a result of lying in the same position for too long.
Abscesses can occur anywhere in the body, in hard or soft tissue, organs, or confined spaces; and because of their fluid content, abscesses can assume various shapes.
The internal pressure of abscesses can cause compression and displacement of surrounding tissue, resulting in pain; however, it is part of the body's natural defense mechanism because it localizes infection to prevent the spread of bacteria.
3. Etymology: from Latin abscessus, "an abscess"; literally, "a going away," from the stem of abscedere, "withdraw"; from ab-, "away" + cedere, "to go". The idea was that humors "go from" the body through the pus in the swelling.
This entry is located in the following units:
a-, ab-, abs-
(page 8)
-cede, -ceed, -cess, -cease
(page 1)
Word Entries containing the term:
“abscess”
scrofulous abscess
A chronic abscess from infected bone or lymph nodes.
This entry is located in the following units:
dermo-, derm-, derma-, dermato-, dermat-, -derm, -derma, -dermatic, -dermatous, -dermis, -dermal, -dermic, -dermoid, -dermatoid
(page 20)
scroful-, scrofulo- +
(page 1)
-ulous, -ulously
(page 5)
sudoriparous abscess
An abscess due to inflammation of obstructed sweat glands.
This entry is located in the following unit:
sudor-, sudo-, sudori-, suda- sud-
(page 2)