胞衣えな

also: ほうい · ほうえ

え

な

Meanings

Refers to the placenta and fetal membranes expelled after childbirth. The reading えな is the native Japanese term; ほうい is the Sino-Japanese medical term.

出しゅっ産さん後ご、胞衣えなは体たい外がいに排はい出しゅつされる。
After childbirth, the placenta is expelled from the body.
胞衣えなの処しょ理り方ほう法ほうは病びょう院いんによって異ことなる。
The method of disposing of the afterbirth varies by hospital.

See all 3 example sentences ›

Kanji

胞placenta, sac, sheath
衣garment, clothes, dressing

Related words

胎たい盤ばん
胎盤 is the standard medical term for 'placenta', while 胞衣 (especially えな) is a more traditional or lay term that includes the entire afterbirth.

Written forms

胞衣Usage50%
- えな
  Standard kanji form for the native Japanese reading えな.
- ほうい
  Sino-Japanese reading; used in medical or formal contexts.
- ほうえ
  Alternate Sino-Japanese reading; less common than ほうい.
えなUsage50%
Kana spelling; common in everyday or non-technical writing.
ほうい
ほうえ

Etymology

The native Japanese reading えな is of uncertain origin. The kanji 胞衣 literally mean 'womb garment' and are used for their meaning rather than phonetic value.