sputum
/'spju:təm/
Definition
- Noun:
- Matter that is expectorated (coughed up) from the respiratory tract: "Sputum" refers to a mixture of saliva and mucus or other discharges from the lungs, bronchi, and trachea, which is expelled from the mouth, typically by coughing.
- Historical/Medieval physiology: In ancient and medieval medical theory, "sputum" was considered one of the bodily humors believed to cause sluggishness or apathy.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- The doctor asked for a sputum sample to test for infection.
- A persistent cough with green sputum can be a sign of bronchitis.
- In medieval texts, an excess of sputum was thought to make a person phlegmatic.
Advanced Usage
- Medical Context: The term is primarily used in clinical and diagnostic settings. The color, consistency, and volume of sputum can be important indicators of respiratory health.
- Purulent sputum often indicates a bacterial infection.
- Microbiological Analysis: "Sputum" is the specific material collected for tests like a sputum culture.
- The sputum culture confirmed the presence of tuberculosis bacteria.
Variants and Related Words
- Sputa (n): The less common plural form of "sputum."
- The lab analyzed multiple sputa from different patients.
- Expectorate (v): To cough and spit out phlegm or sputum from the respiratory tract.
- Patients were instructed to expectorate into a sterile cup.
Synonyms
- Phlegm: Often used interchangeably in general contexts, though "phlegm" can specifically refer to the thick mucus secreted by the respiratory mucosa, while "sputum" is the material actually expelled.
- Mucus: A more general term for the slimy substance produced by membranes.
Related Phrases
- Sputum smear: A laboratory technique where sputum is examined under a microscope.
- A sputum smear is a standard test for diagnosing TB.
- Sputum production: The act or amount of sputum being coughed up.
- Increased sputum production is a common symptom.
Noun
-
expectorated matter; saliva mixed with discharges from the respiratory passages; in ancient and medieval physiology it was believed to cause sluggishness
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