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Calcification: meaning, definitions and examples

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calcification

 

[ ˌkæl.sɪ.fɪˈkeɪ.ʃən ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

medical process

Calcification is the process in which calcium builds up in soft tissue, blood vessels, or organs, causing the tissue to harden. This is a normal process that occurs in the body but can also indicate pathology when excessive calcification occurs. It often plays a role in diseases such as atherosclerosis or osteoarthritis.

Synonyms

hardening, ossification

Examples of usage

  • The calcification of arteries can lead to serious cardiovascular diseases.
  • Doctors often monitor bone calcification in patients with osteoporosis.
  • Calcification in the breast tissue can sometimes indicate breast cancer.

Translations

Translations of the word "calcification" in other languages:

🇵🇹 calcificação

🇮🇳 कैल्सीफिकेशन

🇩🇪 Verkalkung

🇮🇩 kalsifikasi

🇺🇦 кальцифікація

🇵🇱 kalcyfikacja

🇯🇵 石灰化 (せっかいか)

🇫🇷 calcification

🇪🇸 calcificación

🇹🇷 kalsifikasyon

🇰🇷 석회화 (seokhoe-hwa)

🇸🇦 تكلس (taklus)

🇨🇿 kalcifikace

🇸🇰 kalcifikácia

🇨🇳 钙化 (gàihuà)

🇸🇮 kalcifikacija

🇮🇸 kalsífering

🇰🇿 кальцификация

🇬🇪 კალციფიკაცია (kalts'ifikatsia)

🇦🇿 kalsifikasiya

🇲🇽 calcificación

Etymology

The term 'calcification' originates from the Latin word 'calx', which means 'lime' or 'calcium'. It was first introduced in scientific literature during the 19th century as researchers began to understand the roles of calcium in biological systems and disease processes. The concept of calcification has since evolved to encompass a variety of physiological and pathological states where calcium deposits are present in tissues. In medicine, the understanding of calcification has been crucial for diagnosing and treating conditions like arteriosclerosis, kidney stones, and certain types of tumors. The study of calcification continues to be an important area of research in both histology and pathology.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #17,311, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.