ptosis

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.

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-

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?