pedunculated

Pedunculated is an adjective used in anatomy and pathology to describe a structure that is attached to underlying tissue by a narrow stalk, known as a peduncle. The term derives from Latin pedunculus, meaning a little foot. In botany and zoology, it is used more broadly to describe anything mounted on a stalk.

In medicine, pedunculated lesions are growths attached to the mucosal or tissue surface by a slender stalk, in contrast to sessile lesions with a broad base. This morphology is commonly described for polyps, particularly in the colon and rectum, where pedunculated polyps have a stalk that can be lifted and removed endoscopically. Pedunculated forms also occur with uterine fibroids (pedunculated subserosal fibroids) and with certain tumors in the bladder or stomach.

Diagnosis is typically achieved by endoscopy, imaging, or surgical assessment, with histopathology confirming the tissue type. Management often involves removal of the lesion at the stalk level, using snare polypectomy, ligation, or surgical resection. Because the stalk can be narrow, pedunculated lesions may bleed or twist (torsion), potentially causing pain or obstruction in some contexts.

In botany, the term refers to flowers or inflorescences borne on a stalk (peduncle) that connects the structure to the plant stem. The related term "sessile" describes structures attached directly by their base without a stalk.