Pulmonic

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Concerning the anatomical and functional aspects of the lungs, this term applies to medical discussions surrounding respiratory functions and conditions affecting breathing
2. Involving all elements associated with lung health, this word encompasses physiology, diseases, and any processes related to respiration and gas exchanges
3. Referring to matters related to the lungs, this term signifies both respiratory mechanics and the health aspects impacting breathing and oxygen exchange

Etymology: "Pulmonic" is an adjective built on the Latin word for lung, "pulmō." It was borrowed from Medieval Latin "pulmonicus," a derivative of that same root, and carries the sense of relating to the lungs. The Latin root "pulmō" is the source of the English "pulmonary," which shares this meaning and has become the more familiar of the two. The word's job is to label anything connected with the lungs, from the organs themselves to the processes they carry out. Medical writing uses it for "pulmonic" circulation, the route of blood through the lungs, and for certain sounds that are produced by airflow from the lungs, which is where its most specialized use appears in phonetics.

Synonyms: pulmonary, respiratory