distending

Distending is the act of causing something—typically a hollow organ, cavity, or vessel—to become larger or more swollen as a result of internal pressure orContents. In biology and medicine, distending describes the expansion of structures as they fill with gas, liquid, or tissue mass. The related noun distension (or distention) denotes the state of being distended.

The verb distend means to stretch, widen, or swell. Distending is the present participle form. The term derives from Latin distendere, from dis- “apart” and tendere “to stretch.”

In medical contexts, distension is a common descriptor for symptoms and findings. Abdominal distension refers to an enlarged or swollen abdomen caused by gas, fluid (ascites), stool, or mass effect; bladder distension denotes a full, enlarged bladder often due to urinary retention; and bowel distension can occur with obstruction or excessive gas. Vascular or tissue distension may describe veins becoming more prominent or organs expanding beyond normal size due to pressure or disease. Distension can be a sign of underlying pathology, ranging from benign physiological filling to urgent conditions such as obstruction, perforation, or severe fluid accumulation.

Assessment of distension typically involves physical examination and imaging or laboratory studies to identify the cause and guide management. Treatment targets the underlying reason for distension, whether it be relieving obstruction, draining fluid, or addressing metabolic or inflammatory processes. Distending and distension are routinely used in clinical notes to describe the observable expansion of a structure and its functional implications.