TEMPORAL ARTERITIS Meaning and
Definition
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Temporal arteritis, also known as giant cell arteritis, is a chronic inflammation and swelling of the medium and large arteries, particularly those found in the head, specifically the temporal arteries. It is a form of vasculitis that predominantly affects individuals who are over the age of 50, with the average age of onset being in the 70s. This condition is more common in women than in men.
The inflammation in temporal arteritis is believed to be an immune response, although the exact cause is still unclear. It is thought to involve an abnormal immune reaction against the blood vessel walls, which leads to their inflammation and subsequent narrowing. The symptoms of temporal arteritis can be diverse and may include persistent headaches, scalp tenderness or pain, jaw pain, fatigue, weight loss, and vision problems.
If left untreated, temporal arteritis can lead to severe complications, especially involving vision. It can cause irreversible damage to the blood vessels that supply the eyes, resulting in a condition called ischemic optic neuropathy. This can lead to partial or complete loss of vision.
The diagnosis of temporal arteritis typically involves a thorough medical history review, physical examination, blood tests to assess inflammation markers, and a biopsy of the temporal artery. Treatment for temporal arteritis usually involves the prompt administration of corticosteroids to reduce inflammation and prevent complications. Long-term treatment may be required, with medications adjusted based on individual response to therapy.
In summary, temporal arteritis is a chronic inflammatory condition affecting the medium and large arteries of the head, primarily the temporal arteries. Prompt diagnosis and treatment are necessary to prevent potentially serious complications, particularly concerning vision.
Common Misspellings for TEMPORAL ARTERITIS
- remporal arteritis
- femporal arteritis
- gemporal arteritis
- yemporal arteritis
- 6emporal arteritis
- 5emporal arteritis
- twmporal arteritis
- tsmporal arteritis
- tdmporal arteritis
- trmporal arteritis
- t4mporal arteritis
- t3mporal arteritis
- tenporal arteritis
- tekporal arteritis
- tejporal arteritis
- temooral arteritis
- temloral arteritis
- tem-oral arteritis
- tem0oral arteritis
Etymology of TEMPORAL ARTERITIS
The word "temporal arteritis" is derived from two components: "temporal" and "arteritis".
The term "temporal" refers to the temporal arteries, which are the blood vessels located on the temples of the head. They are branches of the external carotid artery that supply blood to the scalp and the front part of the head.
The term "arteritis" is composed of two parts: "artery" and the suffix "-itis". "Artery" comes from the Latin word "arteria", meaning "windpipe" or "artery". The suffix "-itis" refers to inflammation or infection of a particular organ or tissue.
Thus, "temporal arteritis" refers to the inflammation of the temporal arteries, which is a condition characterized by swelling and damage to these blood vessels.
Similar spelling words for TEMPORAL ARTERITIS
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