How Do You Spell GLYCORRHACHIA?

Pronunciation: [ɡlˌa͡ɪkəɹˈe͡ɪʃə] (IPA)

Glycorrhachia is a medical term that describes the presence of glucose in the cerebrospinal fluid. The word is pronounced /ɡlaɪkəˈrækɪə/ with the emphasis on the second syllable. The first two syllables, "glyco," refer to glucose, and the remaining syllables, "rrhachia," relate to the spinal cord or spinal fluid. The word's spelling can be tricky, as it includes three consecutive consonants "crr," with a silent "h" in the middle. However, using the IPA phonetic transcription can help clarify the pronunciation of words and their spelling.

Meaning and Definition
Common Misspellings
Etymology
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GLYCORRHACHIA Meaning and Definition

  1. Glycorrhachia is a medical term that refers to the presence of excessive glucose (sugar) in the cerebrospinal fluid, which is the clear fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. It is derived from the Greek words "glykys" meaning sweet and "rrhachis" meaning spinal cord, emphasizing the location and nature of the condition.

    In normal circumstances, the glucose levels in the cerebrospinal fluid are tightly regulated and maintained at a relatively constant level. However, glycorrhachia occurs when there is an abnormal increase in glucose concentration within this fluid. This abnormal elevation in glucose levels can be caused by various conditions, including but not limited to bacterial or viral infections of the central nervous system, such as meningitis or encephalitis, tumors affecting the brain or spinal cord, and certain metabolic disorders.

    The presence of glycorrhachia in the cerebrospinal fluid is typically detected through a lumbar puncture or spinal tap, where a small sample of fluid is collected and analyzed in a laboratory. Measurement of glucose levels in the cerebrospinal fluid is an important diagnostic tool in identifying the underlying cause of neurological symptoms. It helps in distinguishing between different types of meningitis (bacterial, viral, or fungal), monitoring the response to treatment, and evaluating the presence of other associated conditions.

    Treatment of glycorrhachia primarily focuses on managing the underlying cause, such as administering appropriate antibiotics for bacterial infections or addressing the metabolic disorder. Lowering the elevated glucose levels in the cerebrospinal fluid can also be achieved through supportive measures, such as maintaining proper hydration and managing blood sugar levels in conditions like diabetes mellitus, which may contribute to glycorrhachia.

  2. The presence of sugar in the cerebrospinal fluid.

    A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.

Common Misspellings for GLYCORRHACHIA

  • flycorrhachia
  • vlycorrhachia
  • blycorrhachia
  • hlycorrhachia
  • ylycorrhachia
  • tlycorrhachia
  • gkycorrhachia
  • gpycorrhachia
  • goycorrhachia
  • gltcorrhachia
  • glgcorrhachia
  • glhcorrhachia
  • glucorrhachia
  • gl7corrhachia
  • gl6corrhachia
  • glyxorrhachia
  • glyvorrhachia
  • glyforrhachia
  • glydorrhachia
  • glycirrhachia

Etymology of GLYCORRHACHIA

The word "glycorrhachia" is derived from the combination of two Greek roots: "glyko-" meaning "sweet" or "sugar", and "rhakhe" meaning "spinal cord" or "spinal canal". The suffix "-ia" indicates a medical condition or abnormality. Therefore, "glycorrhachia" refers to the presence of glucose (sugar) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).