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== Cloister ==
'''Cloister''' (/ˈklɔɪstər/), from the Latin ''claustrum'' meaning "enclosed space", is a term used in the medical field to describe a condition or state of being secluded or shut in, often used metaphorically to describe certain medical conditions.

=== Etymology ===
The term ''cloister'' originates from the Latin ''claustrum'', which translates to "enclosed space". It was first used in the English language in the 13th century, and its medical usage began in the 19th century.

=== Medical Usage ===
In the medical field, ''cloister'' is often used metaphorically to describe conditions where a part of the body is isolated or shut off from the rest of the body. For example, a ''cloistered hernia'' refers to a hernia that is trapped or isolated within a sac and cannot return to the abdominal cavity.

=== Related Terms ===
* [[Hernia]]: A condition in which an organ pushes through an opening in the muscle or tissue that holds it in place.
* [[Abdominal cavity]]: The largest cavity in the body, it contains the stomach, liver, gallbladder, spleen, pancreas, small intestines, kidneys, and large intestines.
* [[Sac]]: A pouch within an organism that is typically filled with fluid.

=== See Also ===
* [[Medical terminology]]
* [[Latin in medical terminology]]

[[Category:Medical terminology]]
[[Category:Latin words and phrases]]

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