synechia

synechia /syn·ech·ia/ (sĭ-nek´e-ah) pl. syne´chiae   [Gr.] adhesion, as of the iris to the cornea or lens.

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synechia vul´vae  a congenital condition in which the labia minora are sealed in the midline, with only a small opening below the clitoris through which urination and menstruation may occur.

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syn·ech·i·a (s-nk-, -nk-)

n. pl. syn·ech·i·ae (s-nk-, -nk-)

1. An adhesion of parts, especially involving the iris.

2. Anterior synechia.

3. Posterior synechia.

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synechia

[sinek′ē·ə] pl. synechiae

Etymology: Gk, continuity

an adhesion, especially of the iris to the cornea or lens of the eye. It may develop from glaucoma, cataracts, uveitis, or keratitis or as a complication of surgery or trauma to the eye. Synechiae may prevent or impede flow of aqueous fluid between the anterior and posterior chambers of the eye, resulting in angle closure glaucoma.

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synechia

pl. synechiae [Gr.] adhesion, as of the iris to the cornea or the lens.

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annular synechia

adhesion of the whole rim of the iris to the lens.

anterior synechia

adhesion of the iris to the cornea.

Anterior synechia (left); posterior synechia (right). By permission from Slatter D, Textbook of Small Animal Surgery, Saunders, 2002

peripheral anterior synechia

adhesion of the peripheral iris to the cornea.

posterior synechia

adhesion of the iris to the capsule of the lens or to the surface of the vitreous body.

total synechia

adhesion of the whole surface of the iris to the lens.

synechia vulvae

a congenital condition in which the labia are sealed in the midline, with only a small opening below the clitoris through which urination may occur.

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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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synechia

An adhesion, usually of the anterior pole of the eye, which may be anterior–iris to cornea, or posterior–iris to lens capsule