What's the difference between distend and swell?

Distend


Definition:

  • (v. t.) To extend in some one direction; to lengthen out; to stretch.
  • (v. t.) To stretch out or extend in all directions; to dilate; to enlarge, as by elasticity of parts; to inflate so as to produce tension; to cause to swell; as, to distend a bladder, the stomach, etc.
  • (v. i.) To become expanded or inflated; to swell.

Example Sentences:

  • (1) The combination of an over-distended uterus caused by a multiple-fetus pregnancy with therapeutic bed-rest may cause mechanical ileus.
  • (2) The epididymis appeared distended but without any visible sperms.
  • (3) In a noncontracting in vitro preparation of combined right and left atria we demonstrated by electron microscopy that, at 37 degrees C, transition from zero pressure to a physiological distending pressure of 5.1 mm Hg rapidly rendered atrial endocardial endothelium permeable to the macromolecular probes horseradish peroxidase (HRP; M(r), approximately 40,000) and wheat germ agglutinin-HRP (M(r), approximately 70,000); each probe was introduced at the atrial cavitary endocardial surface.
  • (4) However, separation of the capsule from the bony glenoid can be detected if a joint effusion is present to adequately distend the joint.
  • (5) The surgical treatment was ligation of the distended vein immediately distal to the fistula in the hand, and fistula function was preserved.
  • (6) Eight 'normal' gallbladders and six distended gallbladders from patients with carcinomatous obstruction of the common bile duct were examined.
  • (7) Immediately after the perforation, the patient entered into vascular collapse and respiratory distress, with a distended abdomen.
  • (8) As the mosquito ingests blood, sensory information from the distending abdomen reaches the mid gut via the nerve cord, brain and stomatogastric system.
  • (9) Chains of low-amplitude contractions (repeated small deviations from base line) were detected before parturition was induced, and these were more common at distended parts of the uterus.
  • (10) The rate of acquisition increased as a function of the distending pressure.
  • (11) Contracted and distended bladders incubated in 0.01 M sodium bicarbonate were compared to identical preparations experimentally incubated in 5 mM thioglycolic acid.
  • (12) Amplitude, duration and magnitude (as measured by planimetry) of anal relaxation elicited by rectal distensions were related to rectal distending volume (P less than 0.001).
  • (13) The periosteal fibroblasts of OI35 contained grossly distended rough endoplasmic reticulum consistent with the 53% reduction in collagen secretion by cultured dermal fibroblasts.
  • (14) Many virus particles were observed within distended cisternae of the endoplasmic reticulum 22 h p.i., and matrices of viroplasm were found close to developing virus particles.
  • (15) In orbital surgery, distended and thinned extraocular muscles were precisely localized and preserved anatomically and functionally.
  • (16) An enlarged cervical lymph node contained many abnormal plasma cells, which were distended with immunoglobulin; this material appeared to be released into lymph spaces when the cells burst.
  • (17) Among 52 unit discharges observed, 36 (69.2%) showed that electro-acupuncturing "Zusanli" point abolished the inhibitory reaction induced by distending stomach.
  • (18) (n = 18) in the presence of a distended bladder and 7.0 cm.
  • (19) The pathogenesis involves the release of kinins, the triggering of neurogen reflex mechanisms by distending the jejunum, the massive flow of fluid in jejunal lumen, the loss of the reservoir function of the stomach, and, possibly, the pathologic release of gastrointestinal hormones.
  • (20) A controlled study is in progress to delineate the optimum distending airway pressures at specific inspired oxygen concentrations in order to reduce the incidence of alveolar rupture to a minimum.

Swell


Definition:

  • (v. i.) To grow larger; to dilate or extend the exterior surface or dimensions, by matter added within, or by expansion of the inclosed substance; as, the legs swell in dropsy; a bruised part swells; a bladder swells by inflation.
  • (v. i.) To increase in size or extent by any addition; to increase in volume or force; as, a river swells, and overflows its banks; sounds swell or diminish.
  • (v. i.) To rise or be driven into waves or billows; to heave; as, in tempest, the ocean swells into waves.
  • (v. i.) To be puffed up or bloated; as, to swell with pride.
  • (v. i.) To be inflated; to belly; as, the sails swell.
  • (v. i.) To be turgid, bombastic, or extravagant; as, swelling words; a swelling style.
  • (v. i.) To protuberate; to bulge out; as, a cask swells in the middle.
  • (v. i.) To be elated; to rise arrogantly.
  • (v. i.) To grow upon the view; to become larger; to expand.
  • (v. i.) To become larger in amount; as, many little debts added, swell to a great amount.
  • (v. i.) To act in a pompous, ostentatious, or arrogant manner; to strut; to look big.
  • (v. t.) To increase the size, bulk, or dimensions of; to cause to rise, dilate, or increase; as, rains and dissolving snow swell the rivers in spring; immigration swells the population.
  • (v. t.) To aggravate; to heighten.
  • (v. t.) To raise to arrogance; to puff up; to inflate; as, to be swelled with pride or haughtiness.
  • (v. t.) To augment gradually in force or loudness, as the sound of a note.
  • (n.) The act of swelling.
  • (n.) Gradual increase.
  • (n.) Increase or augmentation in bulk; protuberance.
  • (n.) Increase in height; elevation; rise.
  • (n.) Increase of force, intensity, or volume of sound.
  • (n.) Increase of power in style, or of rhetorical force.
  • (n.) A gradual ascent, or rounded elevation, of land; as, an extensive plain abounding with little swells.
  • (n.) A wave, or billow; especially, a succession of large waves; the roll of the sea after a storm; as, a heavy swell sets into the harbor.
  • (n.) A gradual increase and decrease of the volume of sound; the crescendo and diminuendo combined; -- generally indicated by the sign.
  • (n.) A showy, dashing person; a dandy.
  • (a.) Having the characteristics of a person of rank and importance; showy; dandified; distinguished; as, a swell person; a swell neighborhood.

Example Sentences:

  • (1) Furthermore echography revealed a collateral subperiosteal edema and a moderate thickening of extraocular muscles and bone periostitis, a massive swelling of muscles and bone defects in subperiosteal abscesses as well as encapsulated abscesses of the orbit and a concomitant retrobulbar neuritis in orbital cellulitis.
  • (2) Undaunted by the sickening swell of the ocean and wrapped up against the chilly wind, Straneo, of Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, one of the world's leading oceanographic research centres, continues to take measurements from the waters as the long Arctic dusk falls.
  • (3) Axons emerge from proximal dendrites within 50 microns of the soma, and more rarely from the soma, in a tapering initial segment, commonly interrupted by one or two large swellings.
  • (4) It is a specific clinical picture with extensive soft tissue gas and swelling of the forearm.
  • (5) Psychiatric morbidity is further increased when adjuvant chemotherapy is used and when treatment results in persistent arm pain and swelling.
  • (6) Chromatolysis and swelling of the cell bodies of cut axons are more prolonged than after optic nerve section and resolve in more central regions of retina first.
  • (7) At 7 days axonal swellings were infrequently observed and the main structural feature was a reduction in myelin thickness in affected nerve fibers.
  • (8) In the companion paper, we quantitatively account for the observation that the ability of a solute to promote fusion depends on its permeability properties and the method of swelling.
  • (9) Admission venom levels also correlated with the extent of local swelling and the occurrence of tissue necrosis at the site of the bite.
  • (10) After 40 minutes of coronary occlusion and 20 minutes of reflow, significant cardiac weight gain occurred in association with characteristic alterations in the ischemic region, including widespread interstitial edema and focal vascular congestion and hemorrhage and swelling of cardiac muscle cells.
  • (11) The intensity of involvement varies in different arteries, localized swelling is of particular importance as a measure of atherosclerotic involvement.
  • (12) The DTH responses were induced by subcutaneous injection of allogeneic epidermal cells (ECs) and were assayed by footpad swelling.
  • (13) Adjunctive usage of elastic stockings and intermittent compression pneumatic boots in the perioperative period was helpful in controlling leg swelling and promoting wound healing.
  • (14) (1970) Endocrinology 87, 993--999), in stimulating both mitochondrial protein synthesis and swelling.
  • (15) Rapid swelling of the knee following a blow or twisting injury is considered a significant injury.
  • (16) Attachment appeared to involve a very close physical proximity of treponemes to the cultured cells; at the site of attachment, no changes such as swelling or indentation of the cultured cell surface were observed.
  • (17) The method is based upon osmotic swelling, sonication and centrifugation in sucrose.
  • (18) By contrast, all the semen samples that fertilized oocytes showed a 60% or higher reaction in the hypoosmotic swelling test, whereas the majority of the "infertile" semen samples showed less than 60% swelling.
  • (19) The changes included swelling, blunting, and flattening of epithelial foot processes, were accompanied by decreased stainability of glomerular anionic sites, and were largely reversed by subsequent perfusion with the polyanion heparin.
  • (20) After 3-5 days of side-arm traction, swelling had usually diminished sufficiently to allow the elbow to be safely hyperflexed to stabilize the fracture after elective closed reduction.