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Glite Dictionary
lower respiratory tract smear

lower respiratory tract smear

7.9
A sample from the lungs placed on a slide to look for infection or cancer
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : frotis de las vías respiratorias inferiores
  • The doctor ordered a lower respiratory tract smear to check for signs of infection in the lungs.

Examples

  • Pathologists examined the lower respiratory tract smear for evidence of tuberculosis.

  • A lower respiratory tract smear can help detect cancerous cells in patients with persistent cough.

  • A lower respiratory tract smear is essential.

  • The lower respiratory tract smear was done.

  • A lower respiratory tract smear can help detect cancerous cells in patients with persistent cough.

  • Pathologists examined the lower respiratory tract smear for evidence of tuberculosis.

  • The doctor ordered a lower respiratory tract smear to check for signs of infection in the lungs.

Synonyms

bronchoscopic smear
vslower respiratory tract smear
  • Specialized
8.2

A sample of cells taken from the lungs with a small camera to check for lung disease

is a general lower airway slide sample not limited to one collection method
sputum smear
vslower respiratory tract smear
  • Specialized
7.0

A lab test that spreads lung mucus on a slide and checks it under a microscope for disease

is taken directly from the lower airway and prepared on slides for cytology

Surface Forms

lower respiratory tract smear singular
lower respiratory tract smears plural

Morphology

lower + respiratory + tract + smear

The meaning is directly compositional: 'lower respiratory tract' identifies the part of the breathing system and 'smear' denotes a specimen spread on a microscope slide, so a learner who knows the constituent words can infer it is a sample from the lower breathing passages prepared on a slide for examination. This follows standard adjectival + noun composition common across languages and is therefore immediately understandable to learners familiar with the individual words.

Etymology

Lower respiratory tract smear names a clear image: a tiny sample taken from the lower respiratory tract, the deep parts of the lungs, and spread on a glass slide as a smear to look under a microscope. So, the term means 'a prepared slide sample from the lower lungs used to check for disease'.