bronchospasm

bronchospasm
Contraction of smooth muscle in the walls of the bronchi and bronchioles, causing narrowing of the lumen. Cf.:bronchoconstriction.

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bron·cho·spasm 'bräŋ-kə-.spaz-əm n constriction of the air passages of the lung (as in asthma) by spasmodic contraction of the bronchial muscles
bron·cho·spas·tic .bräŋ-kə-'spas-tik adj

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n.
narrowing of bronchi by muscular contraction in response to some stimulus, as in asthma and bronchitis. The patient can usually inhale air into the lungs, but exhalation may require visible muscular effort and is accompanied by expiratory noises that are clearly audible (see wheeze) or detectable with a stethoscope. The condition in which bronchospasm can usually be relieved by bronchodilator drugs is known as reversible obstructive airways disease and includes asthma; that in which bronchodilator drugs usually have no effect is irreversible obstructive airways disease and includes chronic bronchitis.

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bron·cho·spasm (brongґko-spaz″əm) spasmodic contraction of the smooth muscle of the bronchi, as occurs in asthma. Called also bronchial spasm.

Medical dictionary. 2011.

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  • bronchospasm — [bräŋ′kō spaz΄əm] n. spasmodic contraction of the muscular walls of the bronchial air passages to the lungs, as in asthma, which makes breathing difficult bronchospastic [bräŋ΄kōspas′tik] adj …   English World dictionary

  • bronchospasm — n. narrowing of bronchi by muscular contraction in response to some stimulus, as in asthma and bronchitis. The patient can usually inhale air into the lungs, but exhalation may require visible muscular effort and is accompanied by expiratory… …   The new mediacal dictionary

  • bronchospasm — noun Date: circa 1901 constriction of the air passages of the lung (as in asthma) by spasmodic contraction of the bronchial muscles • bronchospastic adjective …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • bronchospasm — /brong keuh spaz euhm/, n. spasmodic contraction of the muscular lining of the bronchi, as in asthma, causing difficulty in breathing. [1900 05; BRONCHO + SPASM] * * * …   Universalium

  • bronchospasm — noun difficulty in breathing due to a contraction of smooth muscle in the walls of the bronchi and bronchioles …   Wiktionary

  • bronchospasm — n. spasmodic contraction of the bronchi (Medicine) …   English contemporary dictionary

  • bronchospasm — noun Medicine spasm of bronchial smooth muscle, producing narrowing of the bronchi …   English new terms dictionary

  • bronchospasm — bron·cho·spasm …   English syllables

  • bronchospasm — bron•cho•spasm [[t]ˈbrɒŋ kəˌspæz əm[/t]] n. pat spasmodic contraction of the muscular lining of the bronchi, as in asthma, causing difficulty in breathing • Etymology: 1900–05 bron cho•spas′tic ˈspæs tɪk adj …   From formal English to slang

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