4 syllables: ar, thro, de, sis. Stress on de.
ahr-THROH-duh-sis
/ˌɑɹˈθroʊdəsɪs/
arthrodesis is pronounced ahr-THROH-duh-sis (/ˌɑɹˈθroʊdəsɪs/). It has four syllables (ar-thro-de-sis), with the stress on "de". Arthrodesis is a surgical procedure that fuses a joint to eliminate motion and relieve pain, typically in the spine, pelvis, or limbs. The term combines Greek roots referring to joints and binding, and the procedure results in a rigid, single-bone unit. It is a specialized medical term used mainly in orthopedic contexts and surgical planning.
Arthrodesis is a surgical procedure that fuses a joint to eliminate motion and relieve pain, typically in the spine, pelvis, or limbs. The term combines Greek roots referring to joints and binding, and the procedure results in a rigid, single-bone unit. It is a specialized medical term used mainly in orthopedic contexts and surgical planning.
- You often misplace stress on the second syllable (ar-THRO-de-sis vs arthro-DE-sis). Ensure the primary stress is on the third syllable: ar-thro-DE-sis. - The /θ/ in 'arthro' is tricky; drop or soften it, making 'arthro' sound like 'ar-thro' with a hard dental fricative; practice by exaggerating the /θ/ and then easing into a natural position. - Final cluster before -sis can blur; keep a clean /d/ and short /ɪ/ or /əs/ to avoid an extra vowel. - Vowel in the second syllable should not become a diphthong or reduce to a schwa; keep it /roʊ/ or /roʊ/ as appropriate.
"The surgeon discussed arthrodesis as a last-resort option for the severely degenerated spine."
"Postoperative care after arthrodesis includes immobilization and gradual mobilization of adjacent joints."
"The radiology report noted successful arthrodesis at the lumbar facet joints."
Break it as ar-THRO-de-sis with the primary stress on the third syllable: ar-THRO de-sis. IPA (US/UK/AU broadly): US ˌɑːrθroʊˈdɛsɪs, UK ˌɑːθrəʊˈdesɪs, AU ˌaːθrəˈdɛsɪs. Focus on the VCV pattern in the second and third syllables: the mid- to open-mid vowel in the second, then a crisp /d/ before a final /ɪs/ or /əs/. Practicing slow, then natural tempo will help you lock the stress on the third syllable.
Two frequent errors are misplacing the stress and clustering consonants too tightly. People often say ar-THROH-de-sis or ar-THROUGH-deh-sis, which softens the /d/ or shifts vowel quality. Correct it by keeping the /d/ as a clear alveolar stop between /ro/ and /d/ and stressing the third syllable: ar-THRO de-sis with a crisp /d/ and a slight pause before the final /s/. Ensure the vowel in the second syllable is not reduced; keep it as /oʊ/ or /oʊ/ depending on speaker.” ,
In US and UK accents, the initial /ɑr/ can be slightly different; US often has a rhotic /r/ with a longer /oʊ/ in the second syllable, while UK may show a shorter /əʊ/ or a rolled /r/ depending on region. Australian tends to have a flatter vowel in the first syllable and may reduce the final /ɪs/ to /əs/ in faster speech. In all, the primary stress remains on the third syllable. IPA references help: US ˌɑːrθroʊˈdɛsɪs, UK ˌɑːθrəʊˈdesɪs, AU ˌaːθrəˈdɛsɪs.” ,
It combines a multi-syllabic structure with a consonant cluster and a rare /θr/ sequence at the start. The /θ/ sound is delicate for some listeners, and the /ro/ sequence followed by a /d/ can blur in rapid speech. Maintaining the correct /ˈdɛsɪs/ final ~sis can be tricky, especially when the speaker accelerates. Practice steady syllable-timed rhythm, anchor the second syllable with a clear /ro/ and keep the /d/ crisp before the final /ɪs/ or /əs/.
A distinctive feature is the double-consonant boundary around the /d/: /ˌɑːrθroʊˈdɛsɪs/ in many pronunciations. Focusing on the /θ/ in the first stressed syllable and keeping the /r/ and /θ/ separation helps avoid blending into /θroʊ/ or /roʊd/. Also, ensure the final -sis is pronounced with a short, crisp /s/ rather than a prolonged vowel sound. IPA guidance and careful enunciation are key.
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- US: emphasize the rhotic /r/ and the long /oʊ/ in the second syllable; keep the /θ/ precise and avoid simplifying to /t/ or /f/. - UK: the /θ/ is still clear; the /r/ is non-rhotic in some accents, so you may hear a lighter /ə/ between /θ/ and /d/; maintain the /d/ clearly. - AU: typically broader vowels; keep the /θ/ distinct, and the final /s/ crisp; stress on the penultimate or antepenultimate depending on speaker. IPA references help: US ˌɑːrθroʊˈdɛsɪs, UK ˌɑːθrəʊˈdesɪs, AU ˌaːθrəˈdɛsɪs.
Arthrodesis traces to Greek arthron (joint) and desis (binding, tying). The word entered medical English through Latinized Greek usage in the 19th to early 20th centuries, as orthopedic procedures describing fusion of joints gained prominence. Arthrodesis named the surgical attainment of a permanent, immobile joint by bone formation across the joint space. Early references described spinal and peripheral joint fusions with terms like arthrodesis to distinguish from arthrotomy (opening a joint) or arthroplasty (joint replacement). Over time, arthrodesis broadened to multiple joints beyond the axial skeleton, with refinements in instrumentation and bone grafting increasing success rates. The root desis connotes binding or tying, which underpins the core meaning: to fuse. The first known uses appear in medical texts around the late 1800s to early 1900s, aligning with the evolution of orthopedic surgery as a formal discipline. Today, arthrodesis remains a precise term in surgical planning and radiology reports, with variations like cervical, lumbar, or subtalar arthrodesis reflecting the joint involved and the method used.
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