The opaque makes it difficult for light to pass through.
Opaque is something dark or gloomy . The term, which comes from the Latin opacus , can be used in a physical sense (as a reference to that which prevents the passage of light ) or symbolic (linked to sadness or melancholy ).
For example: “This opaque stone is used to create very elegant jewelry,” “I prefer opaque dresses to clothes that are too colorful,” “The accident made last year opaque for me.”
Opaque materials
The quality of opaque is called opacity . A material is said to be opaque when it does not allow light to pass through in a proportion that can be seen. It is possible, therefore, to refer to different degrees of opacity. Some terms contrary to opaque are translucent , diaphanous and transparent , which imply the total or large part of the light passing through.
Opaque implies blocking the passage of visible light . It could be said that brick is an opaque material: if a brick wall is built in a place where the sun's rays are reflected, said luminosity will not pass through the wall. On the other hand, a glass wall will allow light to pass through, since glass is a translucent material.
Opaque materials block light.
A type of enema
An x-ray that is performed in the large intestine and reaches the rectum and colon is called an opaque enema . This test can be performed in a radiology room or in an office and should always be performed when the colon is absolutely empty, for which doctors provide their patients with specific instructions.
Emptying the intestines completely before an opaque enema is very important, as otherwise certain large intestine problems may not be detected. The bowel cleansing process, also called preparation , must be followed to the letter to obtain the desired results, and consists of following a strictly liquid diet for a maximum of 3 days before the exam, ingesting one of the following products: broth fat-free, isotonic drinks, strained fruit juices, clear tea or coffee, water or gelatin.
The main objectives of an opaque enema are the following:
- Monitor or diagnose Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, both characterized by internal inflammation.
- Diagnose the cause of diarrhea, very solid stools, or blood when defecating.
- Detect colon cancer.
The opaque enema is performed with the patient lying on their side and a lubricated tube is gently inserted into the rectum. Thanks to a liquid known as barium sulfate , which is sprayed through said probe inside the body, the images resulting from the x-rays are clearer and highlight certain areas of importance in this context.
It is worth mentioning that nowadays the opaque enema is usually replaced by colonoscopy, an inspection of the interior of the colon using a flexible probe that has a camera at the end that enters the intestine. Through a colonoscopy it is possible to extract tissue samples from the colon, with the help of small forceps attached to the colonoscope, and even take photographs of the internal walls.
Other uses of the term opaque
The idea of opaque can also be applied to a government or an organization according to how they manage information . A government will be said to be opaque if it does not correctly communicate the destination of public funds; That is, if the population does not have access to the information that accounts for the use of those funds.
Something opaque, finally, can be something boring or lacking in creativity : “In an opaque match, the team tied without goals against Costa Rica” , “The truth is that I was very bored: it seemed like an opaque, lackluster film” .