How to Pronounce Lateral Internal Sphincterotomy
Definition, meaning, and phonetic spelling
Lateral Internal Sphincterotomy Pronunciation
LAT-er-al in-TER-nal sfink-teh-ROT-oh-mee
Stressed syllable in ALL CAPS · hyphens separate syllables
Syllable Breakdown
LAT
stress here
er
al in
TER
stress here
nal sfink
teh
ROT
stress here
oh
mee
9 syllables
What is Lateral Internal Sphincterotomy?
A surgical procedure to treat chronic anal fissures (painful tears in the lining of the anus) in which a small portion of the internal anal sphincter muscle is cut to reduce muscle spasm and allow the fissure to heal. It is the most effective surgical treatment for this condition.
Questions About Lateral Internal Sphincterotomy
How do you pronounce 'lateral internal sphincterotomy'?
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Say it like this: LAT-er-al in-TER-nal sfink-teh-ROT-oh-mee. The first syllable 'LAT' gets the heaviest stress, and the third syllable 'TER' in 'internal' gets a lighter stress. The 'sph' at the start of 'sphincter' makes an 'f' sound, not an 's' sound.
What is the stressed syllable in this word?
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The first syllable 'LAT' is stressed the most—you say it louder and longer than the others. A common mistake is stressing the 'ROT' part in 'sphincterotomy,' but that's not correct. Always start with a strong 'LAT.'
How do you break this word into syllables?
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Here's how to divide it: lat-er-al in-ter-nal sphinc-ter-ot-o-my. That's 9 syllables total. Breaking it this way helps you see that 'lateral' and 'internal' are two separate word parts, each with their own rhythm.
What does 'lateral' mean in medical terms?
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'Lateral' comes from Latin and means 'to the side' or 'sideways.' In medical language, lateral always refers to something on the side of the body, away from the center. It's the opposite of 'medial,' which means toward the middle.
What does 'sphincter' mean?
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'Sphincter' comes from Greek and refers to a ring-shaped muscle that opens and closes to control the flow of something. You have sphincters throughout your body, like in your eyes and digestive system. The word literally means 'to squeeze' in Greek.
What does '-otomy' mean at the end of this word?
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The ending '-otomy' comes from Greek and means 'to cut' or 'surgical incision.' You'll see it in many surgical words like 'tracheotomy' (cutting the windpipe) and 'vasectomy' (cutting the vas deferens). It tells you the procedure involves making a surgical cut.
What's a simpler way to say 'lateral internal sphincterotomy'?
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You could say 'a surgical cut to the side of the internal sphincter muscle,' though the full medical term is more precise. In conversation, doctors might shorten it to 'LIS' (the abbreviation), pronounced like the name 'Liz.'
What are some related words that share the 'sphincter' root?
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Other words with 'sphincter' include 'esophageal sphincter' (muscle in the food tube), 'pyloric sphincter' (muscle in the stomach), and 'urethral sphincter' (muscle that controls urination). All of these words refer to ring-shaped muscles at different places in your body.
How would you use this word correctly in a sentence?
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You might hear: 'The surgeon recommended a lateral internal sphincterotomy to treat the patient's condition.' This sentence tells you what procedure was suggested, without giving any medical advice or opinions about outcomes.