Laryngostenosis

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Pathological constriction of the larynx that restricts the passage of air through the vocal cords and throat
2. A medical condition in which the laryngeal opening becomes abnormally narrowed, impeding airflow and breathing
3. Abnormal tightening or reduction of the laryngeal lumen that obstructs normal respiration and voice function

Etymology: Doctors describing a narrowed voice box needed a precise term, so they built one from two Greek roots. The first part, "laryng-," comes from "larynx," the Greek word for the larynx, or voice box. The second, "-stenosis," comes from "stenoun," meaning to narrow, which derives from the adjective "stenos," narrow. Together, the word literally names a narrowing of the larynx. "-stenosis" works as a general medical suffix for an abnormal narrowing of a passage, so the same ending appears in terms for other organs and vessels. Like most such words, this is a modern technical compound assembled from classical Greek elements. Ancient Greek physicians had no such term, though they did use the root "stenos" for narrowness in other contexts.

Synonyms: laryngeal stenosis