How to Pronounce Empty Sella Syndrome
Definition, meaning, and phonetic spelling
Empty Sella Syndrome Pronunciation
EMP-tee SEL-ah SIN-drohm
Stressed syllable in ALL CAPS · hyphens separate syllables
Syllable Breakdown
EMP
stress here
tee SEL
ah SIN
drohm
4 syllables
What is Empty Sella Syndrome?
A condition in which the pituitary gland shrinks or flattens within the bony structure at the base of the brain that normally contains it, which may be incidental or associated with pituitary hormone deficiencies. It is often discovered incidentally on imaging done for other reasons.
Questions About Empty Sella Syndrome
How do you pronounce 'Empty Sella Syndrome'?
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Say it like this: EMP-tee SEL-ah SIN-drohm. The stress falls on the first syllable of each word—EMP (in empty), SEL (in sella), and SIN (in syndrome). Think of it as three separate short words said together, with the emphasis on the beginning of each one.
What does 'empty sella' literally mean?
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The word 'sella' comes from Latin and means 'saddle' or 'seat.' The sella is a small bony cup at the base of your brain. So 'empty sella' literally means a 'saddle' or 'seat' that appears empty or flattened on imaging scans.
Why is it called a 'syndrome' if it's just about the pituitary gland?
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A 'syndrome' is a group of signs or conditions that appear together. The word 'syndrome' comes from Greek and means 'running together.' In this case, it's called a syndrome because the flattened pituitary gland can appear alongside other findings, even though it's often found by accident.
What is the most common mispronunciation of this term?
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People often mistakenly stress the second syllable, saying emp-TEE instead of EMP-tee. Also, 'sella' is sometimes mispronounced as 'seller' (like a store) instead of SEL-ah. Remember: the stress is at the beginning—EMP-tee SEL-ah.
How do you break 'Empty Sella Syndrome' into syllables?
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Empty breaks into EMP-tee (2 syllables), sella breaks into SEL-ah (2 syllables), and syndrome breaks into SIN-drohm (2 syllables). So the full phrase has six syllables total: EMP-tee SEL-ah SIN-drohm.
What is a simple way to remember what 'sella' means?
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Think of the word 'saddle'—they sound similar! The sella is a saddle-shaped bony pocket in your skull that normally holds the pituitary gland. When it's 'empty,' the gland inside has flattened or shrunk, leaving the saddle looking less full.
Are there other medical words that use the word 'sella'?
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Yes! Doctors also use terms like 'sellar region' (the area around the sella) and 'suprasellar' (meaning above the sella). Once you know that 'sella' means the bony saddle at the brain's base, these related words become easier to understand.
How would you use this term in a simple sentence?
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You might hear: 'The MRI scan showed empty sella syndrome, which was found incidentally while checking for another condition.' This sentence shows that the term is used when describing what doctors see on brain imaging.