nonswollen

Nonswollen is an adjective used to describe tissues or body parts that lack swelling, edema, or enlargement. While more common in medical writings, the term can also appear in everyday descriptions of health.

Swelling results from the accumulation of fluid in the interstitial spaces, often due to inflammation, injury, infection, or systemic conditions affecting fluid balance. A nonswollen presentation indicates that no detectable edema is present in the area at the time of examination, suggesting normal tissue volume.

In clinical use, nonswollen or nonedematous is used to distinguish from edematous states. Assessment often includes visual inspection, palpation for signs of pitting or nonpitting edema, and measurements of limb girth when appropriate. The absence of swelling does not by itself confirm health, since some conditions may cause swelling later or affect deep tissues without visible surface swelling.

Common contexts include evaluating injuries, cardiac or renal conditions, and postoperative recovery, where a nonswollen appearance may indicate a lack of acute edema. Conversely, an area that remains nonswollen despite symptoms may prompt further testing to rule out other causes.

Origin of the word derives from the prefix non- meaning not, and swollen from Old English swellen, with related medical terms such as nonedematous.