dehiscence

noun

de·​his·​cence di-ˈhi-sᵊn(t)s 

: a splitting open or bursting along a line or seam : an act or instance of dehiscing

… I began to see milkweeds that were further along in the process of seed production. Their pods were no longer green but were a desiccated brown. They had already split open and burst, in a process called dehiscence, dispersing their precious freight of seeds to the wind.

—M. I. Beam

Although it may only be a small opening or one suture that's broken, wound dehiscence can quickly escalate to infection …

—Scott Frothingham

Examples of dehiscence in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Risks associated with laparotomy include bleeding, infection, and wound dehiscence. —David Hampton, Verywell Health, 1 Aug. 2024

Wound dehiscence: This occurs when the surgical wound reopens after it has been closed. —Lindsay Curtis, Verywell Health, 23 July 2024

Mongolian gerbils who receive semicircular canal fenestration in their left inner ears offer a successful animal model for superior semicircular canal dehiscence. —Michael W. Clune, Harper’s Magazine , 10 Apr. 2023

But Martha then experienced complications following the revision, including dehiscence, where the edges of a wound split, as well as hypergranulation, where raised scar tissue forms above the site of the wound. —Suzy Katz, Allure, 7 Feb. 2023

Superior canal dehiscence and Patulous Eustachian Tube can be treated with surgery. —Julie Stewart, Men's Health, 26 July 2022

In addition, loud noises can make someone with superior canal dehiscence feel dizzy. —Julie Stewart, Men's Health, 26 July 2022

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin dēhīscentia, derivative of Latin dēhīscent-, dēhīscens, present participle of dēhīscere "to split open, yawn, gape" — more at dehisce

First Known Use

1802, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

dehiscence

noun

de·​his·​cence di-ˈhis-ᵊn(t)s 

: the parting of the sutured lips of a surgical wound

wound dehiscence resulting from infection