Definition

A condition where a valve, particularly in the heart, becomes inflamed.

Example

The doctor diagnosed her with valvulitis after reviewing her symptoms.

Conversation

I heard that my uncle was diagnosed with valvulitis recently.

Oh no, that sounds serious. What does it mean?

It means there's inflammation of a heart valve, which can be pretty concerning.

Yeah, I hope he gets the right treatment soon.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Valvulitis is formed from "valvula" (from Latin, meaning small valve) and "-itis" (from Greek, meaning inflammation). The term refers to the inflammation of a small valve, typically in the heart or blood vessels.

Memory Tip

Think of 'valvula' as a small valve that is experiencing 'inflammation' ('-itis'). This helps you remember that valvulitis means inflammation of a small valve.

Visually Confused Words