Rhexis
/ˈrɛk.sɪs/noun
A rupture or tearing of a bodily structure, especially in medical terminology.
Did you know?Rhexis comes from Ancient Greek rhē̂xis, “a breaking,” related to the Greek verb rhēgnýnai, “to break or burst,” the same root used in terms for hemorrhaging.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*wreg-
“To break, crush, or burst apart”
Ancient Greek
Greek
rhḗgnymi (ῥήγνυμι)
“To break, tear, or burst”
Ancient Greek
Greek
rhêgma (ῥῆγμα)
“A break, rupture, or fragment”
Ancient Greek
Greek
rhêxis (ῥῆξις)
“A breaking or rupture”
19th Century
Medical English
rhexis
“A rupture or tearing, used in specialized medical compounds”
Modern English
English
rhexis
“A medical rupture or incision involving the tearing of tissue”
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