How to Pronounce Obstructive Jaundice

Say it like this: ob-STRUK-tiv JAWN-dis. The stress falls on the second syllable of the first word (STRUK) and the first syllable of the second word (JAWN). Think of it as saying "ob" quickly, then putting strong emphasis on "STRUK," then finishing with "tiv" softly, followed by "JAWN-dis."

Obstructive means something is blocked or preventing flow. In medical language, when you see 'obstructive' in front of any condition, it means a blockage is causing that condition. The word comes from the Latin 'obstruere,' which means 'to block up.'

Jaundice is a yellowing of the skin and eyes. It's one symptom or sign that something is wrong with how the body is processing a yellowish substance. The word comes from the French word 'jaune,' which simply means 'yellow.'

Yes: ob-STRUK-tiv JAWN-dis. The first word has three syllables (ob, STRUK, tiv) and the second word has two syllables (JAWN, dis). When you say it, blend them together naturally, but remember to stress STRUK in the first word and JAWN in the second.

People often stress the wrong syllable and say 'ob-struk-TIV' instead of 'ob-STRUK-tiv.' They also sometimes say 'JAUN-dis' instead of 'JAWN-dis' (rhymes with 'pawn,' not 'aunt'). Remember: the stress belongs on the second syllable of each word.

Yes, doctors sometimes just say 'obstructive jaundice' or abbreviate it as 'OJ,' though this is less common in writing. You'll more often hear the full two-word term in medical conversation. Both the full term and the abbreviation are pronounced the same way as we've discussed.

Several medical conditions use this word: obstructive sleep apnea, obstructive airway disease, and obstructive uropathy all mean blockages in different parts of the body. Anytime you see 'obstructive' in a medical term, you know it means something is blocked and preventing normal flow.

You might read or hear: 'The doctor explained that the patient's yellowish skin was due to obstructive jaundice.' Or: 'The imaging showed a stone causing obstructive jaundice.' The term is used to name and describe a specific medical condition when explaining what's happening.