Cysts

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /sɪsts/

Definitions

1. Abnormal, enclosed formations containing liquid or gelatinous substances that may form in various tissues due to infections, blockages, or genetic factors
2. Encapsulated lesions filled with fluid or semi-solid material that can manifest in different organs, potentially arising from infection, inflammation, or developmental issues
3. Sac-like structures within tissues that enclose fluid or semi-solid material, often developing due to blockages or infections

Etymology: "Cysts" is simply the plural of "cyst," which entered English from the Late Latin "cystis," itself borrowed from the Ancient Greek "kustis," meaning a bladder or sac. The Greek word is linked to the verb "kuo," meaning to be pregnant or to hold something inside, so the core idea was of a container holding contents. Ancient physicians used the term for the bladder, the urinary organ that stores fluid. The modern medical sense, a closed pouch in body tissue filled with fluid or semi-solid material, developed as anatomists and physicians applied the old word to these abnormal sacs. Because the word came into English through scholarly Latin rather than everyday speech, it kept the classical shape that doctors still use. Its plural follows the regular English pattern of adding "s."

Synonyms: sacs, blisters