SPLENUNCULUS Meaning and
Definition
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Splenunculus refers to a small accessory spleen that may develop during embryonic development. It is a term derived from the Latin word "splen" meaning spleen, combined with the suffix "-unculus," meaning small or diminutive. An accessory spleen, also known as splenunculus or supranumerary spleen, is an additional mass of splenic tissue that is not part of the typical spleen's structure.
The spleen is a vital organ of the lymphatic system responsible for filtering and purifying the blood by removing old or damaged red blood cells and fighting against foreign substances, such as bacteria and viruses. However, during embryogenesis, some splenic tissue may migrate and remain separate from the main spleen. These small accessory spleens, or splenunculi, usually measure less than a few centimeters in diameter and are typically round or oval-shaped.
Despite their small size, splenunculi tend to have similar histological features as the main spleen, consisting of red and white pulp. They can be found adjacent to the main spleen, in the splenic ligaments, or along the course of the splenic vessels. While splenunculi are generally harmless and do not cause any health issues, they can occasionally be associated with certain conditions, such as hypersplenism or lymphoproliferative disorders.
Splenunculi are usually discovered incidentally during imaging tests or when performing surgical procedures that involve the spleen. Their presence does not typically require any intervention or treatment unless they cause complications or become enlarged. Overall, splenunculus refers to a small accessory spleen, which, although anatomically distinct from the main spleen, has similar histological characteristics and functions.
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Accessory spleen, splenculus, splenulus, lienunculus.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for SPLENUNCULUS
- aplenunculus
- zplenunculus
- xplenunculus
- dplenunculus
- eplenunculus
- wplenunculus
- solenunculus
- sllenunculus
- s-lenunculus
- s0lenunculus
- spkenunculus
- sppenunculus
- spoenunculus
- splwnunculus
- splsnunculus
- spldnunculus
- splrnunculus
- spl4nunculus
- spl3nunculus
- splebunculus
Etymology of SPLENUNCULUS
The word "splenunculus" is derived from two roots: "splen" and "unculus".
1. "Splen" is derived from the Latin word "splen", which means "spleen". This root is often used medical terminology related to the spleen.
2. The suffix "-unculus" is a diminutive suffix in Latin, indicating a small or lesser version of something. It is derived from the Latin word "uncus", which means "hook". In this case, the suffix is used to create a diminutive form of "spleen".
Therefore, the word "splenunculus" can be understood to mean a small or lesser form of the spleen. It is often used in medical contexts to refer to a small accessory spleen or a small abnormal mass of splenic tissue.
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