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Glite Dictionary
hydrothorax

hydrothorax

9.9
A build-up of fluid in the space around the lungs often from heart or kidney disease
  • noun
  • /ˌhaɪdrəˈθɔræks/
  • Specialized
: hidrotórax
  • Many patients suffering from heart failure can develop hydrothorax, leading to breathing difficulties.

Examples

  • After undergoing tests, the medical team confirmed that her condition involved hydrothorax due to kidney complications.

  • In the absence of cardiac or lung disease, the presence of a pleural effusion in a cirrhotic patient is known as hepatic hydrothorax 1.

    Academic text (2007)

  • The doctor diagnosed him with hydrothorax after noticing the accumulation of fluid in his chest during the examination.

Surface Forms

hydrothorax singular
hydrothoraces plural

Morphology

hydrothorax = thorax (semi-transparent) = hydro + thorax

The word is built from the combining form hydro- meaning fluid/water and thorax meaning chest, but the term is specialized medical vocabulary rather than an everyday transparent combination.

Etymology

Hydrothorax combines hydro- 'water', as in hydrate, and thorax 'chest'. So it literally means 'water in the chest', which helps you remember it is the build-up of fluid around the lungs often caused by heart or kidney problems.