splenomegaly
Meaning of splenomegaly: Splenomegaly is enlargement of the spleen beyond its expected size.
Definition of splenomegaly
Splenomegaly means that the spleen is enlarged. It is a clinical or imaging finding, not a disease by itself, and can occur with infections, blood disorders, liver or portal-vein disease, inflammatory conditions, storage disorders, and some cancers. An enlarged spleen may cause no symptoms or may produce fullness or discomfort in the left upper abdomen.
How splenomegaly is built
- splen/o Combining form · Greek spleen
- -megaly Suffix · Greek enlargement
A medical term is read from its ending backwards: the suffix first, then the prefix, then the root. See all 223 word parts.
Also known as
Used in a sentence
Imaging showed splenomegaly during the evaluation of left upper-abdominal fullness.
Good to know
An enlarged spleen can be more vulnerable to injury and may trap increased numbers of blood cells. Evaluation and activity advice depend on the cause, spleen size, symptoms, and clinical setting.
Word origin
Where “splenomegaly” comes from
Built from spleno-, meaning “spleen,” and -megaly, meaning “enlargement.”