Definition

A small tube or device placed in a blood vessel or other hollow structure to keep it open and allow fluid to pass through.

Example

The doctor inserted a stent to help improve blood flow in the patient's artery.

Conversation

Did you hear about my dad's surgery last week?

No, what happened?

They had to put a stent in his artery to keep it open.

Wow, that sounds serious! I hope he's recovering well.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

**Stent** → The word 'stent' originates from the name of Charles Stent, a 19th-century English dentist who developed a method for making dental impressions. The term has since been adopted in medical contexts to refer to a device used to support or hold open a bodily passage, particularly in blood vessels.

Memory Tip

Think of Charles Stent, who created a method to support dental impressions — this helps you remember that a stent is a device that supports or holds open a passage in the body.

Visually Confused Words