aufweitung

Aufweitung is a German noun that denotes the widening or dilation of a structure. It is formed from the verb aufweiten (to widen) with the noun suffix -ung and is used in medical, dental, and technical contexts to describe an increase in diameter or cross-section produced by physiological processes, pharmacological effects, or mechanical action.

In medical terminology the term commonly refers to vasodilatation (Aufweitung der Blutgefäße), bronchial or airway dilation (Aufweitung der Atemwege) and pupillary dilation (Aufweitung der Pupillen). Vasodilatation can be physiological, as part of normal regulation of blood flow, or pharmacologically induced by drugs such as vasodilators. Pupilläre Aufweitung corresponds to mydriasis, a standard concept in ophthalmology and anesthesiology.

In dentistry, Aufweitung is used to describe the enlargement of a root canal during endodontic treatment (Aufweitung des Wurzelkanals) to facilitate cleaning, shaping and obturation of the canal system.

Outside strictly medical fields, the term may appear in technical or biological discussions to indicate expansion or widening of an element or tissue, though in many domains more specific terms are preferred. Overall, Aufweitung highlights a change toward a larger diameter or cross-section, achieved through natural, pharmacological, or instrumental means.