How Do You Spell PLEURAL FREMITUS?

1. Pleural fremitus refers to a tactile sensation felt upon palpation of the chest wall, commonly used in clinical respiratory examinations. It is a diagnostic technique employed by healthcare professionals to assess the condition of the lungs and pleura, the thin tissue layer covering the lungs and lining the chest cavity.

   During pleural fremitus evaluation, the examiner places their hands on specific areas of the patient's chest and instructs them to speak or recite certain sounds. These sounds create vibrations that can be felt through the chest wall. The intensity of these vibrations can provide insights into the health of the lungs and pleura.

   When the lungs and pleura are healthy, the vibrations produced during speech are transmitted smoothly and evenly across the chest. This is known as normal pleural fremitus. However, if there is an abnormality such as the presence of fluid, air, or inflammation in the pleural space, the vibrations may be altered or diminished. For example, in conditions like pleural effusion or pneumothorax, where there is an accumulation of fluid or air respectively in the pleural cavity, the vibrations may be decreased or absent in the affected areas.

   Pleural fremitus is considered a valuable diagnostic tool in the evaluation of respiratory conditions, as it can aid in identifying underlying pathologies, such as pneumonia, lung tumors, or pleurisy.

2. Vibration in the chest wall produced by the rubbing together of the roughened opposing surfaces of the pleura.

   A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.

Common Misspellings for PLEURAL FREMITUS

The word "pleural fremitus" is a medical term that has its etymology rooted in Latin and Greek.

- "Pleural" is derived from the Latin word "pleura", which means "side" or "rib". In medical terminology, pleura refers to the thin membrane that surrounds the lungs.

- "Fremitus" comes from the Latin word "fremitus", meaning "a dull roar" or "murmur". It is related to the verb "fremere", which means "to murmur" or "to roar".

When combined, "pleural fremitus" refers to the tactile sensation or vibration felt when there is an abnormality in the pleural space, typically caused by underlying lung conditions such as pneumonia or pleural effusion.