mucocele
/ˈmjuːkəˌsiːl/
noun
Origin
New Latin
mucus + cēlē — mucus + tumor/hernia
Overview
Meaning Now
- A dilated space or cyst filled with mucus, typically occurring in the paranasal sinuses, appendix, or salivary glands.
Literal older meaning
mucus-tumor
Language path
Latin → New Latin → English
Earliest form
mucocele
Earliest period
19th century
Journey
The term was coined in the 19th century as medical terminology became increasingly reliant on combining Latin or Greek roots to describe pathological anatomical structures specifically characterized by fluid retention.
Evolution
- Latin
mūcus
“nasal discharge, slime”
- Ancient Greek
kēlē
“tumor, hernia, swelling”
- New Latin
mucocele
“mucus-filled cyst”
Combination of Latin mucus and Greek kēlē
Connections
Word parts
muco-
prefix
relating to mucus
-cele
suffix
tumor, hernia, or cavity
Related across languages
French
mucocèle
mucocele
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Related to mucocele
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.