edema
[U] Uncountable
pl: edemas
This term describes a clinical state of swelling that feels heavy or spongy to the touch. It is a medical descriptor used to pinpoint the physiological failure of fluid regulation, often linked to heart, kidney, or liver dysfunction. In a healthcare setting, it is a neutral, diagnostic term. It differs from general swelling or inflammation because it specifically refers to the buildup of water and salts rather than a reaction to injury or infection.
Used as a medical condition to describe the presence of fluid, such as saying a patient has pulmonary edema.
Meanings
Noun
An abnormal accumulation of fluid in the interstitial spaces of tissues.
"The patient presented with severe edema in the lower extremities."