adhesion (redirected from peritoneal adhesion)

adhesion /ad·he·sion/ (ad-he´zhun)

1. the property of remaining in close proximity.

2. the stable joining of parts to one another, which may occur abnormally.

3. a fibrous band or structure by which parts abnormally adhere.

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interthalamic adhesion  a band of gray matter joining the thalami; it develops as a secondary adhesion and is often absent.

primary adhesion  healing by first intention.

secondary adhesion  healing by second intention.

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ad·he·sion (d-hzhn)

n.

1. A condition in which body tissues that are normally separate grow together.

2. A fibrous band of scar tissue that binds together normally separate anatomical structures.

3. The union of opposing surfaces of a wound, especially in healing. Also called conglutination.

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Adhesion

The joining or sticking together of parts of an organ that are not normally joined together.

Mentioned in: Hysterosonography, Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

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adhesion

[adhē′zhən]

Etymology: L, adhaerens, sticking to

a band of scar tissue that binds anatomic surfaces that normally are separate from each other. Adhesions most commonly form in the abdomen after abdominal surgery, inflammation, or injury. A loop of intestine may adhere to unhealed areas. Scar tissue constricting the bowel's lumen may cause intestinal obstruction, blocking intestinal flow and causing abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, and distention. Nasogastric intubation and suction may relieve symptoms. If the intestinal obstruction does not resolve spontaneously, surgery to lyse adhesions may be necessary. See also adhesiotomy.

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adhesion,

n a lumpy scar that forms when at least two layers of soft tissue adhere as a result of trauma, thus interfering with free movement between and within the layers.

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adhesion (adh´zhn),

n 1. the attraction of unlike molecules for one another.
2. the molecular attraction existing between surfaces in close contact.
3. the condition in which a material sticks to itself or another material.
4. the abnormal joining of tissues, generally by fibrous connective tissue, to each other after repair of an injury.

adhesion, bacterial,

n a microbial surface antigen that frequently exists in the form of filamentous projections and binds to specific receptors on epithelial cell membranes.

adhesion, sublabial,

n the abnormal union of the sublabial mucosa of the upper lip to the alveolar process; usually present in a unilateral or bilateral cleft of the lip.

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adhesion

union of two surfaces that are normally separate; also, any fibrous band that connects them. Surgery within the abdomen sometimes results in adhesions. As an organ heals, fibrous scar tissue forms around the incision. Fibrinous exudate and scar tissue may cling to the surface of adjoining organs, causing them to kink. Adhesions are usually painless and cause no difficulties, although occasionally they produce obstruction or malfunction by distorting the organ. They can also occur following peritonitis and other inflammatory conditions. They may also occur in the pleura, in the pericardium, and around the pelvic organs. Surgery is sometimes recommended to relieve adhesions.

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bowel adhesion

see peritoneal adhesion (below).

cervical a's

adhesions in the uterine cervix; they usually result from infection and in mares encourage the development of pyometra.

interthalamic adhesion

the midline union of the two halves of the thalamus; during development of the brain the two thalami encroach into the primitive disk-shaped third ventricle transforming it into a ring.

intestinal adhesion

takes the form of nonelastic bands between loops of intestine or between the intestine and other organs, or of constricting bands around the intestine. They often cause no clinical signs. Long bands may cause intermittent colic due to obstruction of the intestinal lumen which is relieved spontaneously. When they are not relieved they are life-threatening. Cicatricial bands within the wall of the intestine are more likely to cause persistent, subacute abdominal pain. See also equine colic.

pericardial a's

fibrous adhesions that restrict the action of the heart and that follow late stages of pericarditis. This may cause cardiac inefficiency that leads to congestive heart failure.

peritoneal adhesion

part of the healing process in peritonitis, and disruption by surgical means or by violent activity may result in recrudescence of peritonitis. In the late cicatrization stage, adhesions may, by contraction, cause partial obstruction of the intestine and chronic or intermittent pain; a common cause of chronic colic in horses.

pleural adhesion

develops in the healing stages of pleurisy but is soon attenuated by constant thoracic movement and causes little respiratory insufficiency.

reticular adhesion

if extensive, can restrict the movements of the reticulum so much that the reticular groove cannot open to allow emptying of the rumen through the reticulo-omasal orifice. Chronic distention and frothy bloat result.

vaginal a's

common only in mares. Interfere with mating by preventing penetration of the penis, or with fertilization by blocking the movement of spermatozoa. Vaginal and rectal examination reveal bands of adhesion across the passage, or transverse partitions that completely block it. In the latter there may be an accumulation of exudate or secretion cranial to it. Three-dimensional adhesions convert the vagina into a solid mass with a similar obstructive effect. See also vaginal.

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synechia

Adhesion of parts of the body. In the eye it refers to the iris. Note: also spelt synechiae.
annular synechia Adhesion of the entire pupillary margin of the iris to the capsule of the crystalline lens. Syn. ring synechia. See iris bombé; pupillary block.
anterior synechia Adhesion of the iris to the cornea. It may give rise to angle-closure glaucoma. Syn. goniosynechia (if at the AC angle). See inflammatory glaucoma; indentation gonioscopy; prolapse of the iris; Peter's anomaly; Rieger's syndrome.
posterior synechia Adhesion of the iris to the capsule of the crystalline lens. See iris bombé; iritis; uveitis.
ring synechia See annular synechia.

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adhesion

The stable joining of parts to each other, or the union of 2 opposing tissue surfaces, which may be normal or abnormal Hematology See Platelet adhesion Surgery Synechia A collagen-rich fibrous band, scar, or stricture, that forms after an intervention in a surgical field, classically in the peritoneal cavity after abdominal surgery or laparotomy; adhesions may be related to a focal ↓ in plasminogen activator in the mesothelial lining or to local inflammation or infection; gentle manipulation of the organs and removal of blood minimizes adhesive band formation, which may be severe enough to cause intestinal obstruction; nothing effectively prevents adhesions. See Violin string adhesions.