Omphalocele is a congenital abdominal wall defect where the intestines and sometimes liver protrude outside the abdomen into a protective sac, due to failure of the abdominal muscles to close properly before birth. It typically requires surgical repair after birth and varies in severity based on contents and sac integrity. The term combines Greek roots indicating belly-related structures and hernia.
"The newborn was diagnosed with omphalocele shortly after birth."
"Advances in neonatal surgery have improved outcomes for omphalocele patients."
"Prenatal imaging raised concerns about the risk of associated anomalies with omphalocele."
"Parents attended counseling to understand treatment options for their baby’s omphalocele."
Omphalocele derives from late Latin omphalos (navel) from Greek omphalos, itself from the root amphi- (both sides) and -phalos (navel). The medical term indicates a navel-centered herniation, reflecting earliest descriptions of the condition as a protrusion at the umbilical region. The first known uses appear in 19th-century medical literature when detailed prenatal and neonatal anatomy classifications expanded, with the term becoming standardized in obstetrics and pediatric surgery by the early 20th century. Historically, the condition has been distinguished from gastroschisis and other abdominal wall defects by the presence of a protective sac (the omphalocele membrane) and by its centric location at the umbilicus. Over time, refinements in imaging, surgical technique, and neonatal care have improved prognosis and definitions, yet the core meaning — a herniation of abdominal contents through the umbilical ring — remains anchored in its Greek-derived name.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Omphalocele" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Omphalocele"
-kle sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Say om-FAH-luh-seel with primary stress on the second syllable. IPA: US ˌɒmfəˈloʊsiːl, UK ˌɒmfəˈləʊsiːl, AU ˌɒmfəˈləːsiːl. Break it into three parts: om- (uhm) with a short o, -pha- as a soft ah or fuh, -locele ending sounding as -loh-seel. Tip: keep the sac-like second syllable prominent and finish with a clear lispy 'see' ending.
Common errors include stressing the wrong syllable (say om-PHAL-o-cell instead of om-PHAl-o-seel) and dropping the long o in -locele (pronouncing it as -lo-sell). Another frequent error is conflating ‘om’ with ‘omph’ as a single syllable. Correction: pause between syllables, stress the second syllable with a clear long o in 'lo' and end with a light 'seal' sound. IPA reminders: ˌɒmfəˈloʊsiːl.
US tends to reduce the first syllable slightly and stress the -alo- portion: ˌɒmfəˈloʊsiːl. UK preserves a more pronounced 'om-fuh-LO-səl' with clearer rhotics in some speakers and a slightly longer final vowel: ˌɒmfəˈləʊsiːl. Australian speakers may exhibit a broader vowel in the second syllable and a sharper 'l' before the 'oseel' end: ˌɒmfəˈləːsiːl. Across all, the stress remains on the second syllable; rhoticity is a key difference.
The difficulty lies in the multi-syllabic structure with four strong phonemic segments starting with a tricky ‘omph’ cluster, the mid-syllable vowel changes, and the final elongation of the -osele segment. Learners often misplace stress, mispronounce the -ph- as an f sound, or flatten the final vowel. Focus on segmenting into three parts: om-pha-lo-cele; keep the second syllable prominent and finish with a clear, elongated -siːl.
Unique query about silent letters or silent consonants in this term? There are no silent letters in omphalocele, but the 'ph' is an aspirated /f/ sound and the 'e' at the end is often pronounced as a long /iːl/ in careful speech. Ensure you articulate the 'ph' as /f/ and end with a clear /siːl/. IPA reference: /ˌɒmfəˈloʊsiːl/ (US).
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