Rhexis

Rhexis is a term derived from the Greek rhéxis, meaning rupture or tearing. In medical terminology, rhexis is not a stand-alone condition but a combining form or suffix used to indicate rupture of a specific structure. It is typically attached to a root that names the organ or tissue affected, forming terms that describe the event of tearing.

The form is most commonly encountered in specialized or historical medical literature. Examples include angiorhexis, which denotes rupture of a blood vessel, and myorhexis, indicating rupture of muscle tissue. Neurorhexis has been used in some contexts to describe rupture of a nerve. Because rhexis is a Greek-derived element, its spelling in compound words can vary; when the preceding element ends with r, the combination may yield forms such as angiorrhexis or myorrhexis.

In modern clinical usage, the term rhexis is relatively uncommon outside of specific or historical discussions, and more precise terminology—such as rupture, laceration, or avulsion—is typically preferred to describe tissue tearing. The suffix remains of interest in the study of medical etymology and in the construction of compound terms that convey the concept of rupture.

Rhexis may also appear in nonclinical discussions of anatomical terminology, primarily for historical or linguistic reasons, rather than as a standard descriptor in contemporary practice.