A cyst is a membranous bladder that forms abnormally.
Cyst is a term derived from a Greek word meaning “bladder.” In medicine , a cyst is a membranous bladder that develops abnormally in different parts of the body and contains altered matter or fluid.
Cysts may arise due to a failure in embryonic development during pregnancy or due to an infection . They may also appear spontaneously without any apparent cause or reason.
Causes of the appearance of cysts
One of the most common causes of the appearance of cysts is due to parasites of different types such as the dog tapeworm, trichinae or the so-called echinococcus. All of these can cause the appearance of cysts in both organs (liver, brain, eyes, etc.) and muscles.
When dealing with a cyst, it is necessary to take into account its size, its cause and the place where it is located within the patient's body. Based on this, either the removal of the cyst through a surgical intervention or its drainage will be carried out.
Ovarian cysts accumulate fluid inside the ovaries.
Classification according to type
We must emphasize that cysts can be classified into two large groups. Thus, on the one hand, there are those that are filled with air , which are those that are usually found in the lungs. And, on the other hand, we have those that are filled with liquid , which are those that originate in the kidneys and in the lymphatic system.
It is important to note that cysts often have negative effects on nearby tissues. Therefore, in some cases, they are dangerous formations. Ovarian cysts (which concentrate fluids inside the ovary), cysts in the fallopian tubes and branchial cysts are some of the most common.
Cysts, on the other hand, can be benign (they arise as a psychosomatic bodily reaction or to an unknown biotic agent, but disappear without consequences) or malignant (they arise from the action of viruses or bacteria; by developing amorphous cells, they affect the organs of the body).
A genetic disease that includes the development of cysts is cystic fibrosis , which produces cysts in the lung tissue that release mucus, causing chronic cough and reducing lung capacity.
Pilonidal cyst
One of the most well-known cysts is the so-called pilonidal cyst. This appears in the area of the buttocks, specifically between the end of the spine and the anus. Symptoms that indicate the existence of this cyst include fever, pus, excessive sensitivity in the area where it is located and inflammation.
In this case, it can appear for very different reasons such as excess body hair, wearing very tight clothing or trauma of varying severity in that area.
Other uses of the term
A cyst, on the other hand, is a body formed by a waterproof and resistant envelope and the small animal or plant it encloses. The term is also used to refer to the envelope that isolates the animal or plant from its environment.
Finally, a pseudocyst is a formation that does not have its own membrane.