What it means
An everyday word used often in health care. Plaque buildup in an artery narrows it; fluid buildup in the lungs or legs is edema; earwax buildup can block the ear canal; a drug buildup happens when the body cannot clear a drug as fast as it is given.
At a glance
| Also written | build-up |
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Related terms
edema
Swelling caused by extra fluid trapped in the body's tissues.
atherosclerosis
A buildup of fatty deposits (plaque) inside the walls of the arteries.
cerumen
Earwax: the soft yellow or brown substance made by glands in the outer ear canal.