GC: n
S: WHO – https://goo.gl/uiyHdI (last access: 9 November 2016); MEDLP – https://goo.gl/I5pyAe (last access: 9 November 2016).
N: 1. It dates back to the early 15th century, from Medieval Latin aneurisma, which comes from Greek aneurysmos, “dilation”, from aneurynein, “to dilate”, from ana-, “up” + eurynein, “widen”, from eurys, “broad”, “wide”.
The Online Etymology Dictionary also mentions the less correct, but more popular, spelling ‘aneurism’, by influence of words in -ism. The -y- is etymologically correct; the spelling with -i- suggests the meaning “nervelessness”.
Its adjective is “aneurysmal”.
2. The Mosby’s Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing & Health Professions defines it as «a localized dilatation of the wall of a blood vessel».
3. It may result from a weakness in the artery wall that is present at birth (congenital) or, more frequently, from atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries due to cholesterol), but also from injuries caused by stab or gunshot wounds or from bacterial or fungal infections in the wall of the artery that develop after recreational use of intravenous drugs, such as heroin. High blood pressure, high cholesterol, and cigarette smoking raise the risk of certain types of aneurysm.
4. It may rupture, causing hemorrhage, or thrombi may form in the dilatation and give rise to emboli that may obstruct smaller vessels.
5. There are various types of aneurysm, such as the abdominal aortic aneurysm, the berry aneurysm, the racemose aneurysm, the fusiform aneurysm and the pseudoaneurysm.
Spanish equivalents: aneurisma aórtico abdominal, aneurisma de Berry, aneurisma racemoso, aneurisma fusiforme, seudoaneurisma.
French equivalents: anévrisme de l’aorte abdominale, anévrisme de Berry, anévrisme racémeux, anévrisme fusiforme, pseudo-anévrisme.
6. Cultural Interrelation: We can mention the song Aneurysm, by the American grunge band Nirvana, released in 1991 and contained in the album Incesticide (1992) and written by Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic and Kurt Cobain. It could either be interpreted as a song about heroin use or about Cobain’s relationship with ex-girlfriend Tobi Vail.
S: 1. OED – https://goo.gl/KsnNNV (last access: 9 November 2016); MOSBY, p. 96 – https://goo.gl/bZgoH1 (last access: 9 November 2016). 2. MOSBY, p. 96 – https://goo.gl/bZgoH1 (last access: 9 November 2016). 3. MM – https://goo.gl/snRg2a (last access: 9 November 2016); MEDLP – https://goo.gl/I5pyAe (last access: 9 November 2016). 4 & 5. MOSBY, p. 96 – https://goo.gl/bZgoH1 (last access: 9 November 2016). 6. GEN – https://goo.gl/ZUUzbY (last access: 9 November 2016).
SYN:
S:
CR: artery, thrombosis, vein.
