Professional
Technical
In the Industry Vocabulary Test
anisocoria
Pronunciation: an-eye-so-CORE-ee-ah
Unequal pupil sizes, often indicating neurological pathology.
Full Definition
Anisocoria refers to a condition where the pupils are of unequal size. This finding can be physiological (present in about 20% of normal individuals) or pathological, indicating damage to the autonomic nervous system pathways controlling pupil size. When pathological, it may suggest conditions such as Horner's syndrome, third cranial nerve palsy, or intracranial mass lesions. Clinical assessment includes testing pupillary light reflexes and examining for associated neurological signs.
Usage
Usage note: Always specify whether anisocoria is physiological or pathological in clinical documentation.
In Context
- "The patient presented with acute anisocoria following head trauma, prompting immediate neuroimaging." — Emergency department assessment
- "Physiological anisocoria was documented as a normal variant in the patient's baseline examination." — Neurological examination report
Also known as
pupil asymmetry
Contrasted with
isocoria
Don't confuse with
mydriasis
miosis