How to Pronounce Cutis Laxa
Definition, meaning, and phonetic spelling
Cutis Laxa Pronunciation
KYOO-tis LAK-sah
Stressed syllable in ALL CAPS · hyphens separate syllables
Syllable Breakdown
KYOO
stress here
tis LAK
sah
3 syllables
What is Cutis Laxa?
A rare connective tissue disorder, either inherited or acquired, in which the skin becomes loose, wrinkled, and hangs in folds because elastic fibers in the skin are absent or damaged. It can also affect internal organs such as the lungs and aorta.
Questions About Cutis Laxa
How do you pronounce 'cutis laxa'?
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Say it as KYOO-tis LAK-sah. The first part rhymes with 'cute' and the second part sounds like 'lax' with an 'ah' at the end. The stress falls on the first syllable of each word: KYOO-tis and LAK-sah.
What does 'cutis' mean?
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Cutis is a Latin word that means 'skin.' You'll see this word part in many dermatology (skin) terms, like 'cutaneous' which also means skin-related.
What does 'laxa' mean?
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Laxa comes from Latin and means 'loose' or 'slack.' In medical terms, it describes something that is not tight or is drooping, which is exactly what happens to the skin in this condition.
Can you break 'cutis laxa' into syllables?
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Yes! Cutis breaks into CU-tis (two syllables), and laxa breaks into LAX-a (two syllables). Put together, it's CU-tis LAX-a, with the emphasis on the first syllable of each word.
What's a common mistake when pronouncing this word?
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Many people stress the second syllable and say ku-TIS, but the correct way is to stress the first syllable: KU-tis. Also, don't rush through 'laxa'—say it clearly as LAK-sah, not 'lax' by itself.
What does 'cutis laxa' mean in plain English?
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The term simply means 'loose skin.' It describes a condition where the skin becomes slack and saggy, like it's lost its firmness and hangs in folds.
What other medical words share the root 'cutis'?
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Several words use the 'cutis' root, such as 'subcutaneous' (under the skin), 'cutaneous' (relating to skin), and 'cuticle' (the outer layer). All of these are about skin or skin-related structures.
Can you use 'cutis laxa' in a simple sentence?
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You might hear a healthcare provider say: 'The patient's diagnosis is cutis laxa, which explains why their skin appears loose and wrinkled.' This sentence shows how the term is used in medical conversation.