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digital plethysmograph

digital plethysmograph

7.1
A small medical device that clips on a finger or toe to measure blood flow
  • noun
  • /ˈdɪdʒɪtəl plɛθɪzməˌɡrɑf/
  • Specialized
translation icon : plethysmógrafo digital
  • The doctor used a digital plethysmograph to check my blood flow.

Examples

  • A digital plethysmograph can help diagnose peripheral artery disease quickly and painlessly.

  • Researchers relied on a digital plethysmograph during the vascular study.

  • The doctor used a digital plethysmograph to assess blood circulation in her finger.

  • A digital plethysmograph is essential for monitoring circulation.

  • The doctor used a digital plethysmograph to assess blood circulation in her finger.

  • A digital plethysmograph can help diagnose peripheral artery disease quickly and painlessly.

  • Researchers relied on a digital plethysmograph during the vascular study.

Synonyms

plethysmograph
vsdigital plethysmograph
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A device that measures changes in the size of a body part, for example a finger or chest

is used on a finger or toe to measure blood flow in skin

Surface Forms

Morphology

digital + plethysmograph

The term is compositionally predictable: 'digital' in the medical sense means relating to a finger or toe and 'plethysmograph' is an instrument that measures volume changes, so a learner can infer it is an instrument for measuring volume/blood flow in a finger or toe. It is technical vocabulary and 'digital' can be ambiguous (often means 'electronic' in everyday use), but given the provided constituent meanings the overall sense is transparent.

Etymology

The name digital plethysmograph comes from two parts: digital means 'finger' or 'toe' and plethysmograph is a machine that records small changes inside the body. So the name paints a clear image, a small clip on a finger that watches the blood, which is why it means 'a device that measures blood flow in the skin'.