SUPPOSITORIA Meaning and
Definition
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Suppositoria, also known as suppositories, refer to a form of medication that is administered through the rectum or vagina. They are solid, cone-shaped objects that contain medicines or lubricants which are designed to dissolve or melt once inserted into the body. Suppositories are typically made of a combination of active ingredients and a base material like cocoa butter, glycerin, or gelatin.
Suppositories are used when other routes of medication administration, such as oral or injectable methods, may not be appropriate or effective. They are commonly employed to treat conditions affecting the rectum or rectal area, as well as those related to the vagina or cervix. For example, suppositories can be used to alleviate symptoms of constipation, hemorrhoids, vaginal infections, vaginal dryness, or to deliver hormonal treatments.
Upon insertion, suppositories undergo a melting or dissolving process which allows the active ingredients to be absorbed through the mucous membranes of the rectum or vagina, subsequently entering the bloodstream or directly acting on the local area. Due to the direct absorption, suppositories can provide quicker relief or a more targeted effect compared to other methods.
It is important to note that suppositories should be used according to a healthcare professional's instructions and guidelines. They should be stored in a cool place to avoid melting and should be handled carefully to prevent damage before use.
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Suppositories. A suppository is a small mass shaped for ready introduction into one of the orifices of the body, made of a substance, usually medicated, which is solid at ordinary temperatures but melts at blood heat; it is composed usually of oil of theobroma, soap (sodium stearate), or glycerinated gelatin. A rectal suppository is in the shape of a cone or a spindle, weighing about 30 grains (2.0). An urethral suppository, or bougie, is pencil-shaped, pointed at one extremity, either 2.8 inches (7 cm.) or 5.6 inches (14 cm.) in length, weighing 30 or 60 grains (2.0 or 4.0) when made of glycerinated gelatin. A vaginal suppository is globular or egg-shaped, weighing about 150 grains (10.0), if made of glycerinated gelatin, or 60 grains (4.0) if made of cocoa butter.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for SUPPOSITORIA
- suppositorry
- suppositori
- auppositoria
- zuppositoria
- xuppositoria
- duppositoria
- euppositoria
- wuppositoria
- syppositoria
- shppositoria
- sjppositoria
- sippositoria
- s8ppositoria
- s7ppositoria
- suopositoria
- sulpositoria
- su-positoria
- su0positoria
- supoositoria
- suplositoria
Etymology of SUPPOSITORIA
The word "suppositoria" can be traced back to Latin. It is the plural form of the Latin word "suppositorium", which means "a means of introducing". "Suppositorium" is derived from the Latin verb "supponere", which means "to place beneath". The word refers to a medical form that is introduced into the rectum, which is placed beneath or inserted into the body.
