Missed abortion is a medical term that refers to a type of miscarriage where the fetus has died but is still retained in the uterus. The pronunciation of the term is /mɪst əˈbɔːrʃən/, with the stress on the second syllable. The word "missed" is spelled with double S, followed by ED, reflecting its past tense form. The word "abortion" is spelled with a B followed by O and RTION, reflecting its Latin root aboriri, which means "to fail to be born."
Missed abortion, also known as a silent miscarriage or a delayed miscarriage, is a medical term used to describe a pregnancy in which the embryo or fetus has died but has not been naturally expelled from the mother's body. In other words, it refers to a situation where the pregnancy stops developing, but the body does not recognize the loss and does not expel the nonviable tissue.
During a missed abortion, the woman may not experience any signs or symptoms of pregnancy loss, such as vaginal bleeding or cramping, which commonly occur in a typical miscarriage. The absence of these symptoms can make it difficult for a woman to realize that she has lost the pregnancy.
The diagnosis of a missed abortion is often confirmed through ultrasound examination, where the absence of fetal heartbeat or growth beyond a certain stage indicates the stopped development. In cases of missed abortion, the pregnancy may be completely reabsorbed by the body over time, or medical intervention such as medication or surgical procedures may be necessary to remove the retained nonviable tissue.
It is important for individuals who suspect a missed abortion or experience unusual changes in their pregnancy symptoms to seek medical attention. A healthcare provider will be able to diagnose and provide necessary guidance and support during this difficult time.
The long retention in the uterus, and subsequent expulsion, of a dead embryo.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The term "Missed Abortion" is a medical term used to describe a type of pregnancy loss. The etymology of this term consists of two parts.
Firstly, the word "missed" in this context means "not perceived or noticed". It originates from the Old English word "missan", which means "to fail to hit, to fail to experience, or to fail to be present". In medical terminology, the word "missed" is used to indicate that a condition or event has gone unnoticed or undetected.
Secondly, the word "abortion" comes from the Latin word "abortio", which means "miscarriage" or "premature birth". The Latin term is derived from the verb "ab" meaning "away" and "oriri" meaning "to appear" or "to rise".