Dentistry · Oral & Dental · Medium

Mucocele

Meaning: Painless fluid-filled swelling inside the lip caused by a blocked or damaged minor salivary gland.

In practice: Repeated lip biting led to a bluish mucocele on the inside of her lower lip.

Word parts

  • -cele means a swelling or hernia

Many medical words are built from Greek and Latin parts like these, so learning a few helps you work out new terms.

Quick check

Two questions on related dentistry words.

Which word means: Cell lining the inner surface of a tooth that produces and maintains dentine throughout life.

Which word means: Mottling or white streaking of tooth enamel caused by too much of a decay-preventing mineral during tooth development.

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Related words

More dentistry terms · All medical words