Word Origin and History for tertiary Expand. adj. 1650s, of the third order, rank, degree, etc., from Latin tertiarius of or pertaining to a third, from tertius third, a third, from root of tres three (see three).
Water and Fluid retention in legs, also known as edema, is a medical condition caused by abnormal accumulation of water or fluids in the bodyâs tissues. Though excess water can be accumulated anywhere in the body, the most common areas are the ankles and legs.
(At other times, edema is caused by heart, kidney or liver disease that causes water to accumulate in the lungs, abdomen and elsewhere.) Fluid usually pools in the feet, ankles and legs, but it can also be more generalized throughout the body. Swelling can either disappear overnight or persist. The severity and duration will depend on the condition causing it. Fluid retention has many causes, and not all of them are alarming, says Ann OâHare, an associate professor of medicine at the University of Washington in Seattle. âMany people will get some mild ankle swelling when they are on a long plane ride, or they may get hand swelling on a hot day,â OâHare says.