AEROTHORAX Meaning and
Definition
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Aerothorax refers to a medical condition characterized by the presence of air or gas within the pleural cavity, which is the space between the lungs and the chest wall. This abnormal accumulation of air causes the lungs to collapse partially or completely, leading to respiratory distress and impaired lung function.
The term "aerothorax" is derived from the fusion of two words: "aero" meaning air or gas, and "thorax" referring to the chest region. Aerothorax can occur as a result of traumatic injury to the chest, such as a penetrating wound or fractured rib, which allows air from the outside environment to enter the pleural space. It can also arise spontaneously in certain medical conditions, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, or infections like tuberculosis.
Symptoms of aerothorax may include shortness of breath, chest pain, rapid breathing, and decreased lung sounds on physical examination. Diagnosis is typically made using imaging techniques such as chest X-rays or computed tomography (CT) scans, which can visualize the presence of air in the pleural cavity.
Treatment of aerothorax depends on the severity of the condition. In some cases, conservative management may be sufficient, such as allowing the air to reabsorb spontaneously over time. However, more severe cases may require interventions such as needle aspiration or chest tube insertion to remove the trapped air and reinflate the collapsed lung.
In conclusion, aerothorax is a medical term that describes the abnormal presence of air or gas within the pleural cavity, resulting in partial or complete lung collapse and respiratory distress.
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A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for AEROTHORAX
- zerothorax
- serothorax
- werothorax
- qerothorax
- awrothorax
- asrothorax
- adrothorax
- arrothorax
- a4rothorax
- a3rothorax
- aeeothorax
- aedothorax
- aefothorax
- aetothorax
- ae5othorax
- ae4othorax
- aerithorax
- aerkthorax
- aerlthorax
- aerpthorax
Etymology of AEROTHORAX
The word "aerothorax" is a combination of two Greek roots: "aero-" and "thorax".
The prefix "aero-" comes from the Greek word "aêr" (ἀήρ), which means "air" or "atmosphere". It is commonly used in scientific terms related to air or gases, such as aerodynamics, aerosol, aerobics, etc.
The root "thorax" comes from the Greek word "thōrax" (θώραξ), which means "chest" or "breastplate". In medical terminology, it often refers to the chest or the part of the body between the neck and abdomen.
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