乙状结肠 (yǐ zhuàng jié cháng) — sigmoid colon (the S-shaped part of the large intestine connecting the descending colon to the rectum)

Definition

A medical term for the sigmoid colon — the S-shaped final section of the large intestine, before the rectum. Often seen in the compound 乙状结肠镜 (sigmoidoscopy).

idiom
sigmoid colon (the S-shaped part of the large intestine connecting the descending colon to the rectum)

Examples

  • 乙状结肠，。
    Yī shēng jiǎn chá le tā de yǐ zhuàng jié cháng, fā xiàn yǒu xiē yán zhèng.
    The doctor examined his sigmoid colon and found some inflammation.
  • 乙状结肠。
    yǐ zhuàng jié cháng Shì xiāo huà xì tǒng de zhòng yào bù fen.
    The sigmoid colon is an important part of the digestive system.
  • 乙状结肠，。
    Tā zuò le yǐ zhuàng jié cháng jìng jiǎn chá, jié guǒ hěn zhèng cháng.
    She had a sigmoidoscopy, and the results were normal.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

乙状S-shaped
乙yǐsecond stem状zhuàngshape
偏正Modifier + head
结肠colon
结jiéknot肠chángintestine
偏正Modifier + head

“乙状” gives the S-like shape, and “结肠” names the knotted intestine.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The origin of 乙 is obscure, with old suggestions including a plant trying to sprout, a fish's intestine or gill bone, or flowing water.

Open 乙 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 狀; 状 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
犬犬quǎn
Sound part声符shēngfú
爿
爿pán狀zhuàng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 狀 pairs 犬 (dog) with 爿 as a sound component; the simplified 状 is a shorthand, not the historical shape.

Open 状 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 結; 结 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糸糸mì
Sound part声符shēngfú
吉
吉jí結jié
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 結 pairs 糸 with 吉; 吉 gives the sound, and 糸 relates to the meaning. The simplified 结 is a later shorthand.

Open 结 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 腸; 肠 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
肉肉ròubody
Sound part声符shēngfú
昜
昜yáng腸cháng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 腸 pairs 肉, the body, with 昜, which gives the sound; the simplified 肠 is a later shorthand.

Open 肠 →

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