pneumothorax

[ noo-muh-thawr-aks, -thohr-, nyoo- ]

nounPathology.
  1. the presence of air or gas in the pleural cavity.

Origin of pneumothorax

1
From New Latin, dating back to 1815–25; see origin at pneumo-, thorax

Words Nearby pneumothorax

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How to use pneumothorax in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for pneumothorax

pneumothorax

/ (ˌnjuːməʊˈθɔːræks) /


noun
  1. the abnormal presence of air between the lung and the wall of the chest (pleural cavity), resulting in collapse of the lung

  2. med the introduction of air into the pleural cavity to collapse the lung: a former treatment for tuberculosis

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for pneumothorax

pneumothorax

[ nōō′mō-thôrăks′ ]


  1. Accumulation of a gas, such as air, in the space between the pleurae of the lungs and the pleurae lining the chest wall (called the pleural cavity), occurring as a result of disease or injury or induced to collapse the lung in the treatment of tuberculosis and other lung diseases. A large pneumothorax is treated by inserting a syringe or a tube into the pleural cavity to aspirate air, which helps the collapsed lung to expand.

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