How Do You Spell VOCAL FREMITUS?

1. Vocal fremitus refers to the palpable vibration or buzzing sensation that can be felt by placing one's hands over the patient's chest wall as they speak. It is a physical manifestation of sound transmission through the airways and lung tissues during vocalization. The term "fremitus" originates from the Latin verb "fremitus," meaning to roar or murmur.

   During normal speech, sound waves generated by the vocal cords travel through the trachea and bronchial tubes, causing vibrations that can be detected as fremitus. These vibrations are then transmitted to the lung fields, ribcage, and chest wall, allowing them to be felt by the healthcare provider conducting the examination. The intensity or strength of vocal fremitus can vary based on several factors, including the airway obstruction, lung consolidation or collapse, or the patient's body habitus.

   In clinical practice, vocal fremitus is used as a physical examination technique to help assess lung health and detect abnormalities such as pneumonia, pleural effusion, or pneumothorax. Comparisons are made between the level of fremitus felt over different areas of the chest to identify any asymmetry or changes that may indicate an underlying disease process. Additionally, alterations in vocal fremitus can provide valuable information about the presence of fluid, air, or solid masses within the lungs.

   Overall, vocal fremitus is an important diagnostic tool that allows healthcare professionals to gain insights into the condition of a patient's respiratory system by assessing the transmission of sound vibrations during spoken words.

2. • The vibration in the chest wall, felt on palpation, produced by the spoken voice.

   • A vibration felt on palpation of the chest wall when the subject speaks.

   A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.

Common Misspellings for VOCAL FREMITUS

The word "vocal fremitus" is derived from two roots: "vocal" and "fremitus".

1. "Vocal" is derived from the Latin word "vox", meaning "voice" or "sound". The word "vocalis" in Latin means "of or pertaining to the voice". It eventually entered the English language in the late 14th century.

2. "Fremitus" is also from Latin, derived from the verb "fremere", which means "to murmur" or "to growl". "Fremitus" refers to vibration or tremor that can be felt or heard. It entered medical terminology to describe the vibrations of the voice when examining the chest.

Combining these roots, "vocal fremitus" refers to the vibrations or tremors felt or heard when a person speaks or vocalizes, particularly when conducting a chest examination to assess lung health.