Body Substance
sputum
spu·tum [ spyoo-tuhm ]
Subclass of:
Bodily secretions
Etymology:
Latin spuere = to spit
Definitions related to sputum:
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A mixture of saliva and mucus that is coughed up from the respiratory tract. Sputum may be examined in a laboratory for signs of disease.Harvard Dictionary of Health TermsHarvard Medical Publishing, 2011
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Material containing mucus, cellular debris, microorganisms and sometimes blood or pus. It is ejected through the mouth from the lungs, bronchi, and trachea.NCI ThesaurusU.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
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Material coughed up from the lungs and expectorated via the mouth. It contains MUCUS, cellular debris, and microorganisms. It may also contain blood or pus.NLM Medical Subject HeadingsU.S. National Library of Medicine, 2021
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Mucus material produced by the cells lining the respiratory tract.CRISP ThesaurusNational Institutes of Health, 2006
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