PECTORILOQUY Meaning and
Definition
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Pectoriloquy is a term used in medical and diagnostic fields, primarily within the context of respiratory and pulmonary examinations. Derived from the Latin words "pectus," meaning chest, and "loqui," meaning to speak, pectoriloquy refers to a phenomenon where vocal sounds become easily heard through a stethoscope or by listening directly to the chest wall.
In medical practice, pectoriloquy is employed as a diagnostic tool to assess the sounds and vibrations arising from the chest cavity to evaluate the presence of underlying respiratory conditions. When auscultating the lungs, it is expected to hear faint breath sounds (called vesicular sounds) through a stethoscope. However, in the presence of certain pathologies, such as lung consolidation or cavitation due to infections like pneumonia or tuberculosis, the vocal resonance and spoken sounds are transmitted more effectively through the lung tissue, resulting in enhanced pectoriloquy.
The characteristic feature of pectoriloquy is the clarity and audibility of spoken words, as though they were whispered or spoken directly into the examiner's ear. This prominence of vocal sounds arises from the abnormal transmission of sound waves through consolidated tissue or cavities, which conduct sound more efficiently than normal lung areas. Pectoriloquy can be further classified as "bronchophony" when spoken sounds are more intense and distinct or as "egophony" when vowel sounds are altered and sound like the bleating of a goat.
Pectoriloquy is a valuable clinical sign used by healthcare professionals to aid in the diagnosis of respiratory conditions and to differentiate between the various lung pathologies. It allows for the identification of areas of abnormal lung consolidation, infection, or cavitation, aiding in the appropriate management and treatment of patients.
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Transmission of the voice sound through the pulmonary structures, so that it is audible on auscultation of the chest; it indicates either solidification of the pulmonary structures or the presence of a large cavity.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
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In med., the apparent issuing of the voice from that part of the chest to which the ear or stethoscope is applied.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
Common Misspellings for PECTORILOQUY
- oectoriloquy
- lectoriloquy
- -ectoriloquy
- 0ectoriloquy
- pwctoriloquy
- psctoriloquy
- pdctoriloquy
- prctoriloquy
- p4ctoriloquy
- p3ctoriloquy
- pextoriloquy
- pevtoriloquy
- peftoriloquy
- pedtoriloquy
- pecroriloquy
- pecforiloquy
- pecgoriloquy
- pecyoriloquy
- pec6oriloquy
- pec5oriloquy
Etymology of PECTORILOQUY
The word pectoriloquy is derived from two Latin roots: pectus meaning chest or breast, and loquor meaning to speak or to talk.
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