sputum

/'spju:təm/

Thân thiện

A patient coughs sputum into a tissue.

Definition

1. 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.

Học thuật

Noun

1. expectorated matter; saliva mixed with discharges from the respiratory passages; in ancient and medieval physiology it was believed to cause sluggishness

Từ đồng nghĩa

• phlegm