Angiomalacia

/ˌændʒioʊməˈleɪʃə/ noun

Definition

Softening or degeneration of blood vessel walls, which can lead to weakness and potential rupture of the vessel.

Etymology

From Greek 'angeion' (vessel) + 'malakia' (softness). This pathological term describes degenerative changes in vascular tissue, documented in 19th-century pathology.

Kelly Says

Angiomalacia is essentially when blood vessel walls start to fall apart at a cellular level—this is different from hardening of arteries; instead, the vessel gets weak and mushy, which can lead to dangerous aneurysms.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.