Pyothorax

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A collection of pus trapped in the space between the lungs and the chest wall, usually caused by a severe infection
2. The buildup of purulent fluid within the pleural cavity surrounding the lungs, typically arising from an infection in the chest
3. A medical condition in which pus gathers in the membrane-lined space around the lung, often as a complication of pneumonia or surgery

Etymology: Pyothorax is a medical compound built from two Greek-derived parts. The first, "pyo-", comes from the Greek "pyon", meaning pus, and appears in other medical terms such as pyogenic, the adjective for pus-producing. The second, "thorax", is the Greek word for chest, the same root that gives English its anatomical term for the part of the body between neck and abdomen. Put together, the word describes a collection of pus in the chest cavity, specifically in the pleural space around the lungs. Its construction is transparent once the parts are known, which is typical of technical coinages: physicians formed it from classical roots to name a specific condition, rather than inheriting it from ancient usage. The ancient Greeks had the component words but did not use this compound.

Synonyms: empyema