ptosis

[ toh-sis ]

noun

, Pathology.

1. a drooping of the upper eyelid.
2. prolapse or drooping of any organ.

ptosis

/ ˈtəʊsɪs; ˈtɒtɪk /

noun

1. prolapse or drooping of a part, esp the eyelid

Derived Forms

• ptotic, adjective

Other Words From

• pto·tic [toh, -tik], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of ptosis¹

1735–45; < New Latin < Greek ptṓsis a falling

Word History and Origins

Origin of ptosis¹

C18: from Greek: a falling

Example Sentences

This was diagnosed as ptosis of his organs, and an operation was done to tuck these up.

From Project Gutenberg

When the ptosis got very bad he would hold his eyelid up with one hand while he wrote.

From Project Gutenberg

This operation is performed for cases of ptosis in which there is partial or complete loss of upward movement of the lid.

From Project Gutenberg

They are often preceded by strabismus, with or without ptosis; the strabismus, is usually accompanied by amblyopia.

From Project Gutenberg

The levator palpebrae superioris is paralysed, and the resulting ptosis completes the picture.

From Project Gutenberg

Words That Use -ptosis

What does -ptosis mean?

The combining form -ptosis is used like a suffix meaning “downward displacement or position.” It is often used in medical terms, especially in pathology.

The combining form -ptosis comes from the Greek ptṓsis, meaning “a falling.”

Note that ptosis is also used on its own as a word meaning “a drooping of the upper eyelid” or “prolapse or drooping of any organ.” And pay attention to words that use the combining form -ptosis; sometimes the p is pronounced, other times it’s silent.

Examples of -ptosis

The combining form –ptosis can be found in the names of several medical conditions, such as enteroptosis, meaning “the abnormal descent of the intestines in the abdominal cavity.” Enteroptis is usually associated with “the downward displacement of other viscera.”

The first part of the word, entero-, means “intestine.” And, as we now know, -ptosis means “falling.” Taking both elements together, enteroptosis literally translates to “falling intestines.” (You definitely don’t want that.)

What are some words that use the combining form -ptosis?

• apoptosis (using the equivalent form of -ptosis in Greek)
• coloptosis
• iridoptosis
• proptosis (using the equivalent form of -ptosis in Greek)
• symptosis (using the equivalent form of -ptosis in Greek)
• thyroptosis

What are some other forms that -ptosis may be commonly confused with?

• -pterous
• ptyalo-
• ptero-

Break it down!

The combining form colo- represents the colon, as in the part of the intestines. With this in mind, what is the medical condition coloptosis in everyday language?