How to Pronounce Hydrops Fetalis
Definition, meaning, and phonetic spelling
Hydrops Fetalis Pronunciation
HY-drops FEE-tah-lis
Stressed syllable in ALL CAPS · hyphens separate syllables
Syllable Breakdown
HY
stress here
drops FEE
tah
lis
4 syllables
What is Hydrops Fetalis?
Excessive accumulation of fluid in at least two fetal body compartments (skin edema, pleural effusion, pericardial effusion, or ascites), which can be immune (caused by Rh incompatibility) or non-immune (caused by cardiac arrhythmias, alpha-thalassemia, infections, or lymphatic malformations). It is a severe, life-threatening condition with high perinatal mortality, and treatment depends on identifying and addressing the underlying cause.
Questions About Hydrops Fetalis
How do you pronounce hydrops fetalis?
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Hydrops fetalis is pronounced HY-drops FEE-tah-lis. The first word rhymes with "dry drops," and the second word sounds like "fee" (rhyming with "bee") followed by "tah-lis" (where "tah" rhymes with "spa"). Say it slowly at first: HY-drops, then FEE-tah-lis.
Which syllable gets the stress in hydrops fetalis?
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The stress falls on the first syllable: HY-drops FEE-tah-lis. A common mistake is stressing the second syllable (hy-DROPS), but the correct emphasis is on the first syllable of the first word. Think of it like "HI-drops" but with a longer vowel sound.
How do you break hydrops fetalis into syllables?
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Hydrops breaks into three syllables: HY-drops (which is sometimes written as HY-drops or HY-dro-ps in medical texts). Fetalis breaks into three syllables: fe-TAL-is. Together the full term has six syllables: HY-dro-ps fe-TAL-is.
What does the word hydrops mean?
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Hydrops comes from Greek and means "water" or "fluid." In medical terms, hydrops refers to an abnormal buildup of fluid in the body. When you see the word hydrops in any medical term, it's telling you that excess fluid is involved.
What does the word fetalis mean?
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Fetalis is a Latin word that means "relating to a fetus" or "in the fetus." When you see fetalis added to a medical term, it means the condition is happening in an unborn baby. It's the Latin way of saying "fetal" or "of the fetus."
What is the plain English meaning of hydrops fetalis?
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Hydrops fetalis means there is too much fluid building up inside an unborn baby's body. The fluid collects in places where it shouldn't be, which is why doctors use the term "excessive fluid accumulation" to describe it. It's a serious condition that doctors watch for during pregnancy.
What related medical words share the same root as hydrops?
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Other medical terms with "hydrops" include hydropsy (an older spelling), hydrops fetalis, and endolymphatic hydrops (a condition in the inner ear). You might also see "hydro-" at the start of many medical words like hydrocephalus or hydrothorax, all referring to fluid buildup in different body areas.
How would you use hydrops fetalis in a simple sentence?
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You might hear someone say: "The ultrasound showed signs of hydrops fetalis." Or: "Doctors need to determine what is causing the hydrops fetalis in order to understand the situation." The term is used by medical professionals when discussing this fluid buildup in an unborn baby.