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Glite Dictionary
atelectasis

atelectasis

1 9.9
A part of the lung that collapses and cannot fill with air or that fails to expand at birth
  • noun
  • /ˌætəˈlɛktəsɪs/
  • Specialized
: atelectasia
  • Chest imaging revealed atelectasis, prompting the doctor to recommend breathing exercises to assist lung expansion.
  • pulmonary atelectasis

Examples

  • Atelectasis and pneumonia can also occur from immobilization.

    Academic text (2006)

  • The patient's lungs showed signs of atelectasis after the surgery, indicating parts were not fully inflated.

  • A major concern about high inspired oxygen concentration is the development of resorption atelectasis.

    Academic text (2003)

  • The patient may experience pain with chest expansion during deep breathing and coughing, and when combined with limited mobility, atelectasis is a risk.

    Academic text (2005)

  • Bilateral pulmonary infiltrations and atelectasis of the upper right lobe can be seen.

    Academic text (2013)

  • General anesthesia in MO patients generates much more atelectasis than in non-obese patients.

    Academic text (2007)

  • However, short-term use of 60-80% FiO2 has been shown not to cause a clinically relevant increase in the rate of pulmonary atelectasis.

    Academic text (2003)

  • Life-threatening profound atelectasis following intubation for alkaline corrosive injury to the upper airway has been reported.

    Academic text (2007)

  • Chest X-ray is not sensitive enough for the diagnosis of endobronchial ACC; however, it can show the ACC-associated atelectasis and post-obstructive pneumonia.

    Academic text (2007)

  • After being immobile for several days, she developed atelectasis, which made it hard for her to breathe deeply.

Surface Forms

atelectasis singular
atelectases plural

Morphology

atelectasis = a + tel + ectasis

Although analyzable into Greek combining forms (a- + tel- + -ectasis), these components are not productive or familiar to average B1 learners, so the medical sense 'collapse / incomplete expansion of the lung' is not transparently derivable.

Etymology

Atelectasis comes from the parts a- 'not' and -ectasis 'expansion', so it means 'not expanding'. That's why atelectasis describes a lung (or part of a lung) that has collapsed or failed to open, causing reduced breathing in that area.