distend

This term describes a specific type of expansion where an organ or cavity is pushed outward by internal pressure. It carries a strong medical or biological connotation, often implying an abnormal or pathological state rather than a natural growth process. In clinical settings, it is used to describe the physical manifestation of bloating or edema. The word evokes a sense of tension and stretching of the walls of a vessel or organ, distinguishing it from general enlargement.