elephantiasis

elephantiasis definition - medical

el·e·phan·ti·a·sis (ĕlˌə-fən-tīˈə-sĭs)

noun
Chronic, often extreme enlargement and hardening of cutaneous and subcutaneous tissue, especially of the legs and external genitals, resulting from lymphatic obstruction and usually caused by infestation of the lymph glands and vessels with a filarial worm.

Related Forms:

  • elˌe·phan·tiˈacˌ (-tīˈăkˌ) adjective

The American Heritage® Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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