pneumothorax

/,nju:'mə'θɔ:rəks/

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Word: Pneumothorax

Part of Speech: Noun

Simple Explanation:

A pneumothorax is a medical condition where air gets into the space around the lungs (called the pleural cavity). This can cause the lung to collapse, meaning it cannot fully expand when you breathe. There are two main reasons this can happen: 1. Spontaneous Pneumothorax - This happens on its own, often due to an injury to the chest. 2. Induced Pneumothorax - This is done deliberately as a treatment for certain medical conditions, like tuberculosis.

Usage Instructions:

You can use "pneumothorax" when talking about health issues, especially in medical contexts. It is typically used by healthcare professionals, but you can use it when discussing related topics in everyday conversations about health.

Example Sentence:

• "After the accident, the doctors found that he had a pneumothorax, which required immediate treatment."

Advanced Usage:

In more advanced discussions, you might encounter terms like "tension pneumothorax," which is a more serious form where the trapped air increases pressure and can be life-threatening.

Word Variants:

• Pneumothoraces (plural form) – when referring to multiple instances of pneumothorax.
• Pneumothorax's (possessive form) – discussing something that belongs to or is related to a pneumothorax.

Different Meaning:

"Pneumothorax" is primarily a medical term and doesn't have different meanings in common language. It specifically refers to the presence of air in the pleural cavity.

Synonyms:

• Air in the pleural cavity (although this is a phrase rather than a single-word synonym, it describes the condition).
• Collapsed lung (though this is a broader term and can refer to other issues as well).

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

There are no common idioms or phrasal verbs directly related to "pneumothorax." This word is very specific to medical discussions.

Summary:

"Pneumothorax" is an important medical term used to describe a condition that can lead to serious health issues.

Academic

Noun

1. abnormal presence of air in the pleural cavity resulting in the collapse of the lung; may be spontaneous (due to injury to the chest) or induced (as a treatment for tuberculosis)