| 释义 |
‖ sputum Med.|ˈspjuːtəm|
Pl. sputa |ˈspjuːtə|.
[L. spūtum spit, spittle, neut. pa. pple. of spuĕre to spit.]
Saliva or spittle mixed with mucus or purulent matter, and expectorated in certain diseased states of the lungs, chest, or throat; a mass or quantity of this. spec. (see quot. 19732).
sing.1693tr. Blancard's Phys. Dict. (ed. 2), Sputum, a Liquor thicker than ordinary Spittle. 1784Med. Comm. I. 397 The qualities of the sputum. 1803Med. Jrnl. IX. 378 Although the cough continues, the expectoration is more free, the sputum being of a thicker consistence and milder quality. 1881Tablet 28 Feb. 358 Some of the sputum left on the edge of the cup. 1973Lancet 24 Feb. 420/1 Bacteriologists and exfoliative cytologists often report on a specimen sent as sputum: ‘No sputum present, saliva only.’ Ibid., Sputum is material brought up from the trachea by the actions of coughing or hawking, or the same material spat out with (usually) an admixture of saliva. (Material hawked up into the pharynx and swallowed is generally referred to as swallowed sputum, so the first half of this definition is necessary—sputum is sputum even if it is not spat out.)
pl.1829Cooper Good's Study Med. II. 470 Frequently the characteristic sputa are observed only at the very beginning of the disease. 1876J. S. Bristowe Th. & Pract. Med. (1878) 438 With the advance of the disease..the sputa usually become increased in quantity. |