The word "Extracapsular" is spelled with a prefix "extra-" which means "outside" or "beyond", and "capsular" which refers to a capsule or a membranous sac that encloses an organ. It is pronounced /ɛkstrəkæpsjuːlər/ where the "e" is pronounced as in "bed", "x" is pronounced as "ks", "c" is pronounced as "k", "j" as in "jump", and "u" as in "you". Therefore, "Extracapsular" means "outside the capsule", or "beyond the membranous sac".
Extracapsular is an adjective used to describe something that is located or occurring outside or beyond a specific structure known as a capsule. The term is commonly used in medical and anatomical contexts to describe the location of certain body parts or processes.
In medicine, the term extracapsular often refers to procedures or conditions involving the removal, treatment, or location of body parts or tissues that are outside the confines of a capsule. For example, in orthopedic surgery, an extracapsular fracture refers to a bone fracture that occurs outside the protective capsule surrounding a joint. Similarly, extracapsular cataract extraction is a surgical technique used to remove the lens of the eye located outside the capsule that encloses it.
In anatomical terms, the use of extracapsular denotes the location of certain structures or phenomena beyond their respective capsules. For instance, extracapsular lymph node involvement refers to the spread of cancer cells to lymph nodes situated outside the regional lymph node capsule. This term is often used in cancer staging and indicates a more advanced stage of the disease.
In summary, extracapsular refers to something occurring outside or beyond a defined capsule, often used in medical or anatomical contexts to describe procedures, conditions, or locations that are separate from a specific encapsulated structure.
Outside of the capsule of a joint.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word extracapsular is formed by combining the prefix extra- and the root word capsular.
1. Extra- is a Latin prefix meaning outside or beyond. It is commonly used in English to indicate something that is additional, beyond, or outside of the usual or expected.
2. The root word capsular comes from the Latin word capsula, which means small box or case. In this context, it refers to a capsule, which can be a membranous sac or an outer covering.
So, combining these two components, extracapsular literally means outside the capsule or beyond the capsular.