plexus pulmonalis

9.9

A group of nerves in the lung that control how open the airways are and how much mucus it makes

noun
/ˈplɛksəs pʌlˈmoʊnəlɪs/

Specialized

: plexo pulmonar

The plexus pulmonalis plays a crucial role in regulating bronchial secretions and airway constriction.

Examples

Damage to the plexus pulmonalis can affect lung function and respiratory health.
Surgeons must understand the plexus pulmonalis during lung operations.
Both sympathetic and parasympathetic fibers are present in the plexus pulmonalis of the lung.
The plexus pulmonalis plays a crucial role in lung function.
Both sympathetic and parasympathetic fibers are present in the plexus pulmonalis of the lung.
Damage to the plexus pulmonalis can affect lung function and respiratory health.
The plexus pulmonalis plays a crucial role in regulating bronchial secretions and airway constriction.

Surface Forms

plexus pulmonalis singular

plexus pulmonales plural

Morphology

plexus + pulmonalis

The phrase is fully compositional: 'plexus' denotes a network of nerves or vessels and 'pulmonalis' means 'of the lungs', so the meaning 'nerve plexus in the lung' is directly derivable from its parts. 'Pulmonalis' is a Latin/medical form cognate with English 'pulmonary', making the relation predictable for learners who know the constituents and basic medical roots.

Etymology

Plexus pulmonalis comes from Latin words: plexus meaning 'braid' or 'network' and pulmonalis meaning 'of the lung'. It gives a clear picture: a net of nerves in the lung that help control breathing, so the name now means 'the nerve network in each lung'.