steno-, sten-

(Greek: narrow, contracted; short)

Stenonychosaurus
A "narrow-clawed lizard" from Late Cretaceous period and found in southern Alberta, Canada. This creature was previously known as Polyodontosaurus. Named by U. S. fossil hunter Charles Mortram Sternberg (1885-1981) in 1932.

A dinosaur man-like model, called a Dinosauroid stands in an Ottawa museum. Some Canadian paleontologists theorize that this Stenonychosaurus could have given rise to such brainy descendants had dinosaurs endured instead of dying out.

stenopaic, stenopaeic
With narrow aperture or opening.
stenopeic, stenopaeic (British)
Having a narrow slit or hole to restrict light.
stenopetalous
Having narrow petals.
stenophagous, stenophagy, stenophage
1. Utilizing only a limited variety of foods or food species.
2. Eating only a narrow range of food.
3. An antonym of euryphagous.
stenophobia (s) (noun) (no plural)
A hatred of narrow and tight things or spaces: Hannah's boyfriend loved camping and had a very small tent, but Hannah, who had stenophobia, couldn't stand sleeping in it because it was quite confined and cramped, and she had the feeling of not being able to breath!
stenophotic
1. Tolerant of a narrow range of light intensity.
2. Adapted to vision in reduced illumination.
stenophyllous
Having narrow leaves.
stenopia
The narrow opening of the eyelids.
stenopodium
A slender, elongated limb.
stenose
To cause stenosis in.
stenosed
Narrowed or constricted.
stenosepalous
With narrow sepals.
stenosis (s), stenoses (pl)
1. A constriction or narrowing of a duct or passage; a stricture.
2. A stricture of any canal or orifice.
  • Aortic stenosis (narrowing of the aortic valve of the heart).

    When the degree of narrowing becomes significant enough to impede the flow of blood from the left ventricle to the arteries, heart problems develop. Aortic stenosis occurs three times more commonly in men than women.

  • Pulmonary stenosis (narrowing of the pulmonary valve of the heart).

    The pulmonary valve is too tight so that the flow of blood from the right ventricle of the heart into the pulmonary artery is impeded. This means the right ventricle must pump harder than normal to overcome the obstruction. If the stenosis is severe, babies may become blue (cyanotic). Older children often have no symptoms. Treatment is needed if the pressure in the right ventricle is higher than normal.

    The obstruction can usually be relieved by a procedure called balloon valvuloplasty or by open heart surgery during which the stenotic valve is opened.

  • Pyloric stenosis (narrowing of the outlet of the stomach).

    Narrowing (stenosis) of the outlet of the stomach so that food cannot pass easily from it into the duodenum, resulting in feeding problems and projectile vomiting.

  • Spinal stenosis (narrowing of the vertebral canal).

    Narrowing of the spaces in the spine, resulting in compression of the nerve roots or spinal cord by bony spurs or soft tissues; such as, disks, in the spinal canal. This occurs most often in the lumbar spine (in the lower back) but also occurs in the cervical spine (in the neck) and less often in the thoracic spine (in the upper back).

stenostomatous
Exhibiting stenostomia.