Atelectasis is a medical condition where part or all of a lung collapses or fails to inflate properly. It results from blocked airways or pressure changes and can affect oxygen exchange. Clinically, it is described as incomplete expansion of the lung tissue, leading to reduced breath sounds and impaired gas exchange.
"The patient developed atelectasis after prolonged bed rest."
"Chest physiotherapy aims to re-expand areas of atelectasis."
"Imaging revealed focal atelectasis in the lower lobe."
"Postoperative atelectasis is a common concern in thoracic surgery."
Atelectasis derives from the Greek atélaktos (unperfected, imperfect) from a- (not) + telēsis (filling, inflation) and from the later Latinized form -ectasis indicating expansion. The word entered medical English in the late 19th to early 20th century as physicians described pathologic partial or complete collapse of lung tissue. The root elements reflect the concept of “not stretched” or “incompletely expanded.” Over time, atelectasis has been used to denote various forms of lung collapse—from focal subsegmental areas to entire lung involvement—though modern usage often distinguishes between reversible subsegmental atelectasis and more extensive forms associated with ventilation issues or disease. First known uses appear in medical literature around the 1880s–1900s as radiographic imaging and clinical descriptions of postoperative pulmonary complications emerged, cementing atelectasis as a standard term in pulmonology and anesthesiology.
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Words that rhyme with "Atelectasis"
-sis sounds
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US/UK/AU pronunciation centers the stress on the third syllable: /ˌæ.təˈlæk.tə.sɪs/ (US: ˌa-tuh-LEK-tuh-sis). You’ll start with a light schwa in the first syllables, then a clear /ˈlæk/ for the stressed syllable. Mouth position: start with a relaxed open front vowel, glide into a velar-alveolar /t/ cluster, and finish with a light /sɪs/. Audio reference: consult medical pronunciation tools or pages like Forvo, Pronounce, or YouGlish using “atelectasis.”
Three common errors: 1) Misplacing the stress, saying a-TE-LECT-a-sis instead of a-te-LEC-ta-sis. 2) Slurring consonants: pronouncing /ˈlæk.tə/ as /ˈlæk.tək/ or dropping the ‘t’ in the middle. 3) Vowel quality errors: using a tense /e/ in the first syllable instead of a quick schwa. Correction: use unstressed schwas in the first two syllables, place the primary stress on the third syllable, and enunciate the /t/ clearly before the /ə/.
US speakers typically produce /ˌæt.əˈlæk.tə.sɪs/ with a slightly longer /æ/ in the first syllable and a prominent /t/; the stress remains on the third syllable. UK vowels tend to be a bit more clipped with a shorter /æ/ and a crisp /t/ release; the final /ɪs/ often sounds more centralized. Australian pronunciation often features a broader fronted /æ/ and a less rhotical 'r' environment affecting connected speech, but the stress pattern remains on the third syllable. Always listen for the /ˈlæk/ cluster and ensure /t/ is released clearly.
The difficulty lies in the long, multi-syllabic structure and the sequence of rhotics and alveolar stops in quick medical speech. The combination of three unstressed syllables around a stressed /ˈlæk/ can blur syllable boundaries for non-native speakers. The presence of the /t/ and /s/ clusters, plus the indistinct first syllables with a subtle schwa, adds to the challenge. Practice slow, then speed up while maintaining clear /t/ release and consistent /s/ at the end.
There are no silent letters in atelectasis; every letter participates in the expected syllables. The first syllable has a light, unstressed /æ/ or /ə/ depending on speaker, then a strong /ˈlæk/ with a hard /k/ onset for the stressed syllable. The trailing -sis ends with /sɪs/, sounding like “sis.” The key cue is the strong /læk/ in the third syllable and the final /sɪs/ sounding like “sis.”
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