Clinical Diagnosis · Digestive System · Hard
Steatorrhoea
Meaning: Pale, greasy, foul-smelling stools that float, caused by fat malabsorption.
In practice: Seen in pancreatic disease, coeliac disease and biliary obstruction; stools are hard to flush.
Word parts
- -rrhoea means flow or discharge
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 clinical diagnosis words.
Which word means: Involuntary, uncontrolled writhing or jerking movements.
Answer: Dyskinesia
Which word means: Cramping limb pain brought on by exercise and relieved by rest, due to poor arterial supply.
Answer: Claudication
Words like steatorrhoea come up in the daily game
One medical word a day, then a quick three-question quiz. Free on iPhone, or play in your browser on Android and computer.