How to Pronounce Jejunal Atresia
Definition, meaning, and phonetic spelling
Jejunal Atresia Pronunciation
jeh-JOO-nal ah-TREE-zhah
Stressed syllable in ALL CAPS · hyphens separate syllables
Syllable Breakdown
jeh
JOO
stress here
nal ah
TREE
stress here
zhah
5 syllables
What is Jejunal Atresia?
A congenital interruption of the jejunum (the middle portion of the small intestine) in which a segment is absent or sealed off, blocking intestinal passage and causing bile-stained vomiting, abdominal distension, and failure to pass meconium in newborns. It is thought to result from a vascular accident (intrauterine intestinal ischemia) rather than failure of intestinal development, and is treated surgically.
Questions About Jejunal Atresia
How do you pronounce 'jejunal atresia'?
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Jejunal atresia is pronounced "jeh-JOO-nal ah-TREE-zhah." The stress falls on the second syllable of the first word (JOO) and the third syllable of the second word (TREE). Say it like you're saying "jeh" (rhymes with "deh"), then "JOO" (rhymes with "blue"), then "nal," followed by "ah," "TREE" (rhymes with "free"), and "zhah" (like the "s" in "measure").
How many syllables does 'jejunal atresia' have?
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Jejunal atresia has five syllables total: je-JU-nal a-TRE-sia. The first word (jejunal) has three syllables, and the second word (atresia) has four syllables when pronounced slowly, but in medical speech it's often said as four syllables total: ah-TREE-zhuh.
What is the most common mispronunciation of this term?
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Many people stress the first syllable and say "JEH-ju-nal" instead of "jeh-JOO-nal," or they pronounce the second word as "uh-TRAY-zhuh" instead of "ah-TREE-zhuh." Remember: the stress goes on JOO in jejunal, not on the first syllable.
What do the word parts 'jejunal' and 'atresia' mean separately?
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Jejunal comes from the Latin word for the jejunum, which is the middle section of the small intestine. Atresia comes from Greek and means the absence or closure of a normal body opening or passage. So jejunal atresia literally means "closure of the jejunum."
What related words share the 'atresia' root?
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Several medical terms use 'atresia' to describe a closed-off or missing passage, including biliary atresia (affecting the bile ducts), duodenal atresia (affecting another part of the small intestine), and esophageal atresia (affecting the food tube). All of these words follow the same pronunciation pattern for the 'atresia' part: ah-TREE-zhuh.
How would you use 'jejunal atresia' correctly in a sentence?
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You might hear: "The medical team explained that the newborn had been diagnosed with jejunal atresia" or "She is studying different types of intestinal conditions, including jejunal atresia." The term is used as a medical diagnosis name, similar to how you'd say someone has a specific condition.
Is there a short way to write or say 'jejunal atresia'?
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In medical writing, it's sometimes shortened to "JA" on forms or charts, and you would say "J-A." However, in everyday conversation with healthcare providers, doctors usually say the full term "jejunal atresia" rather than the abbreviation.
Why is the stress on 'JOO' in jejunal?
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In Latin-based medical words, the stress often falls on the second-to-last syllable (called the penultimate syllable) when that syllable has a long vowel sound. In jejunal, the 'JOO' sound is that stressed syllable, which is why you hear the emphasis there rather than at the beginning of the word.