Pronunciation: [hjˈuːməɹə͡l] (IPA) 
The word "humoral" is spelled with an "h" followed by "u-m-o-r-a-l". The "u" is pronounced as in "truth" and the "o" as in "go". The "h" is silent in this word, which may be confusing for some. "Humoral" refers to the body's fluids, such as blood and lymph, which are involved in immune responses. Understanding the proper spelling and pronunciation of this word is important in medical and scientific fields where it is commonly used.
Humoral is an adjective that stems from the concept of humor, dating back to ancient medicine, particularly the Hippocratic and Galenic theories. It refers to the belief that the human body is composed of four primary fluids or humors: blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile. According to this theory, the balance or imbalance of these humors directly affects a person's physical and mental well-being.
In a medical context, humoral refers to bodily fluids or secretions that are thought to contribute to health or disease. For example, humoral immunity is the branch of the immune system that involves the production and circulation of antibodies in the blood and other bodily fluids to combat infections. It is distinct from cell-mediated immunity which involves immune cells directly attacking pathogens.
Furthermore, humoral imbalances or disorders refer to the abnormal levels or proportions of the humors in the body, resulting in various health issues. This concept has been largely superseded by modern medical understanding, but the term is still used in historical or theoretical contexts.
In a broader sense, humoral can also describe anything related to or influenced by bodily fluids, such as humoral transmission of diseases through contact with blood or other bodily fluids. It can also refer to humor in a more metaphorical sense, such as the humoral response to a particular situation, which refers to the general mood or attitude of individuals.
Relating to a humor in any sense, especially to humor (1).
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Pert. to the fluids or humours of the body, or proceeding from them; in med., applied to that doctrine which ascribes all diseases to a degenerate or disordered state of the fluids of the body.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
The word "humoral" originates from the Latin term "humoralis", which is derived from "humor", meaning "fluid" or "moisture". In ancient Greek and Roman medicine, it was believed that the human body was composed of four basic fluids or humors: blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile. These humors were thought to determine a person's temperament and health, and an imbalance among them was believed to lead to illness. The word "humoral" was later adopted in English to describe anything related to the humors or bodily fluids.
