How to Pronounce Enteroenteric Fistula

Say it like this: en-ter-oh-en-TER-ik FIS-tyoo-lah. The stress falls on the third syllable of the first word (TER) and the first syllable of the second word (FIS). It helps to say each part slowly at first, then speed it up once you're comfortable.

The prefix 'entero' comes from Greek and means 'intestine' or 'bowel.' You'll see this same prefix in other medical words like 'gastroenterology' (the study of the stomach and intestines) and 'enteritis' (inflammation of the intestines).

A 'fistula' is an abnormal tunnel or opening that connects two body parts that aren't normally connected. The word comes from Latin and literally means 'pipe' or 'tube,' which makes sense because a fistula acts like an unwanted pipe between two areas.

The word 'enteroenteric' literally means 'intestine to intestine' because 'entero' appears twice—once at the beginning and once in the middle (after the dash in ent-ero-ent-eric). This tells you the fistula connects one loop of bowel to another loop of bowel.

Many people stress the wrong syllable and say en-TER-oh-en-ter-ik instead of en-ter-oh-en-TER-ik. The stress should fall on the second 'ter,' not the first one. Remember: the stress moves to the right in this word.

Break it into six syllables for the first word: en-ter-oh-en-TER-ic. Then add the second word: FIS-tyoo-lah (three syllables). So altogether it's nine syllables: en-ter-oh-en-TER-ic FIS-tyoo-lah.

In everyday language, you could call it 'a hole or tunnel between two parts of the intestines' or 'an abnormal opening between two loops of bowel.' It's an unwanted connection that shouldn't be there.

Yes! Words like 'enterology' (the study of the intestines), 'enteric' (relating to the intestines), and 'enteropathy' (disease of the intestines) all share the same Greek root. Once you learn 'entero,' you can recognize it in many other medical terms.