Brown induration is a medical term used to describe a condition characterized by the hardening of lung tissue due to chronic inflammation. The IPA phonetic transcription of the word is /braʊn ˌɪndjʊˈreɪʃən/. The first part of the word, "brown," is pronounced as /braʊn/ with an open central vowel sound, while the second part, "induration," is pronounced as /ˌɪndjʊˈreɪʃən/ with the stress on the second syllable and a schwa sound at the end. The spelling of the word is important for medical professionals to properly diagnose and treat patients.
Brown induration refers to a medical condition characterized by the abnormal thickening and hardening of tissues, resulting in a brownish discoloration. It primarily affects the lung tissue and is most commonly associated with chronic congestive heart failure.
The term "brown" in brown induration is derived from the appearance of the affected tissue, which takes on a brown or dark-red coloration due to the accumulation of hemosiderin, a pigment derived from the breakdown of red blood cells. This pigment deposit is a result of chronic venous congestion and stasis, leading to the leakage of red blood cells and subsequent phagocytosis by macrophages. The phagocytosed hemosiderin then accumulates within the lung tissue, causing the characteristic color change.
The induration aspect of this condition refers to the thickening and hardening of the affected tissue. The chronic congestion and hemosiderin accumulation lead to fibrosis and proliferation of connective tissue within the lungs, contributing to the hardening and loss of elasticity. This process can impair lung function and oxygen exchange, resulting in respiratory symptoms such as shortness of breath and reduced exercise tolerance.
Brown induration typically occurs as a consequence of longstanding congestive heart failure, a condition in which the heart is unable to pump blood adequately to meet the body's demands. Chronic increased pressure and backflow of blood within the pulmonary circulation can lead to congestion and subsequently result in brown induration. Prompt diagnosis and management of the underlying heart condition are crucial for mitigating the progression of brown induration and improving patient outcomes.
Proliferation of the fibrous tissue of the lungs, with increased pigmentation, in certain cases of valvular disease of the heart.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word "brown induration" is a medical term used to describe a specific type of lung disease. However, "brown induration" is not a term with a clear and widely recognized etymology like most common words.
The term is a combination of two words: "brown" and "induration".
1. "Brown" refers to the color that often characterizes the affected lung tissue in this disease. This discoloration occurs due to the accumulation of certain brownish pigments, such as hemosiderin or lipofuscin. The word "brown" itself comes from the Old English word "brún", which has Germanic origins, likely derived from the Proto-Indo-European root word "*bher-", meaning "shining" or "burnish".
2. "Induration" describes the hardening or thickening of the lung tissue associated with this disease.