How Do You Spell CERUMEN INSPISSATUM?

Pronunciation: [sˈɛɹuːmˌɛn ɪnspɪsˈɑːtəm] (IPA)

Cerumen inspissatum is a medical term used to describe the condition of thickened earwax. The spelling of this word can be broken down into its phonetic components: /sɛˈruːmɛn ɪnˈspɪsətəm/. The first part, /sɛˈruːmɛn/, is pronounced "seh-ROO-men" and refers to earwax. The second part, /ɪnˈspɪsətəm/, is pronounced "in-SPISS-uh-tuhm" and refers to the thickening or hardening of the earwax. Understanding the phonetics of this term can help healthcare professionals communicate effectively with each other and with their patients.

CERUMEN INSPISSATUM Meaning and Definition

1. Cerumen inspissatum, commonly known as impacted cerumen, refers to an accumulation or buildup of earwax within the ear canal. Earwax, also called cerumen, is a waxy substance produced by the ceruminous glands in the ear canal. It serves as a protective barrier, trapping dust, debris, and foreign particles, while also lubricating and moisturizing the ear canal.

   When cerumen becomes impacted, it means that it has hardened or become compacted, making it difficult for the ear to naturally expel the wax. This can occur due to various factors such as excessive wax production, narrow or convoluted ear canals, improper cleaning methods, or the use of hearing aids or earplugs.

   The symptoms of cerumen inspissatum may include hearing loss, earache, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), feeling of fullness in the ear, dizziness, and even coughing or an itchy throat due to stimulation of the branches of the vagus nerve.

   Treatment for impacted cerumen often involves earwax removal. This can be done using methods such as irrigation, where warm water is gently flushed into the ear to soften and dislodge the wax, or by manual removal with specialized tools like curettes or suction devices.

   It is generally advisable to seek medical assistance from a healthcare professional or an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist to ensure safe and effective removal of impacted cerumen.

2. Inspissated cerumen, dried ear-wax plugging the external auditory canal.

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

Common Misspellings for CERUMEN INSPISSATUM

• cerumeninspiessatum
• c erumen inspissatum
• ce rumen inspissatum
• cer umen inspissatum
• ceru men inspissatum
• cerum en inspissatum
• cerume n inspissatum
• cerumen i nspissatum
• cerumen in spissatum
• cerumen inspi ssatum
• cerumen inspis satum
• cerumen inspiss atum
• cerumen inspissa tum
• cerumen inspissat um
• cerumen inspissatu m

Etymology of CERUMEN INSPISSATUM

The term "cerumen inspissatum" is a Latin phrase. Here is the breakdown of its etymology:

1. Cerumen: This word comes from the Latin "cērumen", which means "wax". It is derived from the Latin verb "cērō", meaning "to wax" or "to seal".

2. Inspissatum: This word comes from the Latin "inspissatus", which is the past participle of "inspissare". "Inspissare" is a combination of the prefix "in-" (meaning "into" or "upon") and the verb "spissare" (meaning "to thicken" or "to make thick").

When combined, "cerumen inspissatum" translates to "thickened earwax" or "wax that has become thickened".

Plural form of CERUMEN INSPISSATUM is CERUMENS INSPISSATUM