Crossword clues for tenesmus
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Tenesmus \Te*nes"mus\, n. [NL., fr. Gr. ?, fr. ? to stretch: cf. L. tenesmos.] (Med.) An urgent and distressing sensation, as if a discharge from the intestines must take place, although none can be effected; -- always referred to the lower extremity of the rectum.
Vesical tenesmus, a similar sensation as to the evacuation of urine, referred to the region of the bladder.
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
"a straining" (to void the contents of the bowels), 1520s, medical Latin, from Greek tenesmos "a straining," from teinein "to stretch" (see tenet).
Wiktionary
n. 1 The painful and often ineffectual straining to relieve the bowels 2 a painfully urgent need to urinate or defecate that results in little being passed
WordNet
n. painful spasm of the anal sphincter along with an urgent desire to defecate without the significant production of feces; associated with irritable bowel syndrome
Wikipedia
Tenesmus may refer to:
- Rectal tenesmus - a clinical symptom, where there is a feeling of constantly needing to pass stools, despite an empty colon. When the word "tenesmus" is used by itself, this is usually what is meant.
- Vesical tenesmus - a clinical symptom, where there is a feeling of constantly needing to urinate, despite an empty bladder.
Usage examples of "tenesmus".
Shortly afterward I felt an attack of tenesmus coming on, but to my surprise and relief I discovered that I was evacuating, for the first time in thirty-three days.
However, his malady increased upon him, and in spite of my colleague's efforts and of my own he is now on shore with an obstinate tenesmus that will keep him there.
In any case it was almost time for his evening rounds: they amounted to a couple of obstinate gleets and a tenesmus, and when they had been attended to he said to Jacob, 'I shall look after Daniel's last dressing with Poll, if you like to sit with your comatose patient and take notes on pulse, rate of breathing and sensitivity to light.
In any case it was almost time for his evening rounds: they amounted to a couple of obstinate gleets and a tenesmus, and when they had been attended to he said to Jacob, ‘I shall look after Daniel’s last dressing with Poll, if you like to sit with your comatose patient and take notes on pulse, rate of breathing and sensitivity to light.