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sputum Definition

spu·tum (spyo̵̅o̅təm)

noun pl. sputa

saliva, usually mixed with mucus from the respiratory tract, ejected from the mouth

Etymology: L, that which is spit out < sputus, pp. of spuere, to spit

sputum Usage Examples

Preposition: from

  • subject: IL-8 has been detected in BAL fluid and sputum from such subjects and in the systemic circulation.

Converse of object

  • induce: Outcomes included inflammatory cells in induced sputum and bronchial biopsies, and methacholine responsiveness.
  • produce: Patients with Legionnaires ' disease usually have fever, chills, and a cough, which may be dry or may produce sputum.
  • have: Eleven of these mothers were sputum positive and the two children who died both had a sputum positive mother.

Adjective modifier

  • purulent: For example, a person suffering with pneumococcal pneumonia may have chest pain, cough, purulent sputum, and fever.
  • frothy: Frothy sputum on ascent, blood in the spit, the works.
  • infected: Swallowed infected sputum has resulted in spread to the Peyer's patches of the ileum.
  • bloody: He surfaced up to his waist and started shouting and groaning, with bloody sputum coming from his mouth.
  • green: Green sputum does not necessarily mean that you have a secondary chest infection.
  • blood-stained: Chest pains, or coughing up blood or blood-stained sputum.

Modifies a noun

  • smear: Infection is most commonly acquired by aerosol spread from index cases, who are sputum smear positive.
  • specimen: The GP may arrange for sputum specimens to be sent to the laboratory.
  • induction: A possible factor is shown in the results of UV light intensity in the sputum induction room.
  • sample: Please note an emergency request for a sputum sample should be accompanied by a laboratory call out.
  • production: Abstract: In patients with COPD, chest infection causes an increase in sputum production.
  • culture: Repeat episodes of pneumonia were defined by the presence of new pathogens on sputum culture.

Noun used with modifier

  • and/or: Pulmonary tuberculosis is usually diagnosed by chest X-ray and/or sputum analysis ( microscopy and culture ); serological tests are increasingly available.

Browse dictionary entries near sputum

  1. sputter
  2. sputnik
  3. spurt
  4. spurry
  5. spurrier
  6. spurred
  7. spurn
  8. spurious
  9. spurge laurel
  10. spurge
  1. Spuyten Duyvil
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  3. SPX
  4. spy
  5. spyglass
  6. spying
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  10. SQL Injection