What does stenosis mean?
Stenosis is a noun meaning an abnormal narrowing of a passage, opening, or blood vessel. Its most familiar uses are medical: aortic stenosis restricts blood flow through the heart’s main valve, carotid stenosis narrows an artery supplying the brain, and spinal stenosis reduces space around the spinal nerves. The word can also describe any substantial narrowing of a route or channel. Unlike the general term narrowing, stenosis usually suggests a condition that is abnormal, persistent, or restrictive, and it often implies that flow or passage is impeded. In medicine, it is paired with the affected body part or vessel, as in “aortic stenosis” and “spinal stenosis.” The term derives from Greek stenos, meaning “narrow,” and is related to forms such as stenotic and stenography. It is especially useful when discussing a structural problem that cannot simply be described as a general reduction in size.
nounA narrowing or constriction of a passage, opening, or blood vessel, especially one that is abnormally severe and restricts flow. The term is most commonly used in medicine for conditions affecting the heart, arteries, veins, valves, airways, or spinal canal.
- An abnormal narrowing of a bodily passage or vessel that impedes the passage of air, blood, or other material.
- A general narrowing or restriction of a passage, channel, or route.
"The scan revealed significant stenosis of the artery supplying the brain."
"Her father underwent surgery for severe aortic stenosis."
"The report described a gradual stenosis of the canal, leaving too little room for the cable."
The plural is stenoses, with the stress on the first syllable.
"The imaging showed multiple stenoses in the coronary arteries."
Stenosis comes from the Greek word stenos, meaning 'narrow': the condition is named for the passage it closes in.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does stenosis come from?
The word entered English in the 19th century from Greek stenosis, a term formed from stenos, meaning “narrow,” and the suffix -osis, used in the formation of names of conditions. The same Greek root appears in English in forms such as stenotic and stenography. In medical usage, the word developed into a general term for abnormal narrowing in passages and vessels.
Related word forms
How stenosis is actually used
In medicine, stenosis is usually a technical term and is commonly used as an attributive modifier, as in 'mitral stenosis' or 'renal artery stenosis.' It is distinct from occlusion, which denotes complete blockage, although severe stenosis may substantially reduce flow.
Easily confused with stenosis
Stenosis is the condition or process of abnormal narrowing, whereas stenosis is also used attributively to identify the narrowed structure or area, as in 'aortic stenosis.'
Stenosis is primarily a medical term for an abnormally narrowed passage or vessel, while constriction is a more general word for any tightening or narrowing.