The word "detritus" can be found in a variety of situations, from a doctor's office to studying a textbook on the ecology of aquatic ecological systems. Let's see what can be hidden behind this term. After all, "detritus" is a word with many meanings.
Let's start with what is common to all the phenomena that are denoted by this term. Detritus is a decay product of some tissue (usually organic).
Most often the term is found in medicine, so we will pay more attention to this issue. But first things first.
What is detritus in terms of life processes in aquatic ecological systems?
Despite the importance of this component in aquatic ecosystems, it is not well understood, so it cannot be accurately and comprehensively defined.
In general, the word "detritus" means particles of dead organic matter present in the water, with microorganisms that live on these particles (fungi, protozoa, etc.). It turns out that detritus is a kind ofan ecosystem in miniature, consisting of living and non-living organisms. Naturally, it functions according to its own rather complex laws. And for the existence of any body of water (whether a small pond or the ocean), detritus is very important.
This can complete the deciphering of this term from a non-medical side, since such a process will still be of interest to narrow specialists, and move on to what many people may encounter in everyday life.
Detritus in medicine: what you need to know
This aspect is more important for ordinary people, so let's look at it from several angles. Studying medical reference books, you can find out that detritus is a product of the breakdown of body tissues. Also, this term refers to scraping, which is collected from the skin of animals artificially infected with smallpox. It is needed to produce vaccines that protect against this disease.
Quite often in urology you can hear such a diagnosis as necrotic detritus - this is, in fact, the designation of the strongest inflammation of the genitourinary system, which occurs with detachment of the epithelium. Hearing this diagnosis, do not panic: competent treatment, including surgery, will help to localize the process, excising dead tissue, but saving the patient's life and he alth.
Many are interested in the answer to the question of what is detritus in a smear. It's completely natural! After all, most often such smears are given by a gynecologist. Having found the word "detritus" in the conclusion, you should notget upset. In fact, you just learn that in your body there are remnants of the epithelium of the cervix and already dead flora, characteristic of the female reproductive system. There is nothing terrible here. And the doctor will undoubtedly confirm this.
Another point when it comes to detritus is the interpretation of the results of the coprogram. In this case, detritus is not a pathology at all. Rather, confirmation of the normal functioning of the digestive system. If at the same time there is no mention of mucus and leukocytes in the results of the analysis, then everything is in order. In the case when these elements are present, it can be assumed that inflammation occurs in the body. And you can't do without the help of a qualified doctor.
Conclusion
Now you know how to decipher this word depending on the context of its use. So, you are insured against many unpleasant moments!
