decompression sickness

decompression sickness
decompression sickness n a sometimes fatal disorder that is marked by neuralgic pains and paralysis, distress in breathing, and often collapse and that is caused by the release of gas bubbles (as of nitrogen) in tissue upon too rapid decrease in air pressure after a stay in a compressed atmosphere called also bends, caisson disease, decompression illness, decompression syndrome see AEROEMBOLISM

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joint pains, respiratory manifestations, skin lesions, and neurologic signs occurring in aviators who ascend too quickly to high altitudes or in persons who have been breathing compressed air in caissons or diving apparatus if air pressure is reduced too rapidly, because gases that were dissolved in the blood under the high pressure suddenly go out of solution and form bubbles that go into the capillaries and interfere with blood flow. Called also caisson s. or disease, compressed-air s., divers' palsy, and divers' paralysis.

Medical dictionary. 2011.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • decompression sickness — ► NOUN ▪ a serious condition that results when too rapid decompression causes nitrogen bubbles to form in the tissues of the body …   English terms dictionary

  • decompression sickness — ☆ decompression sickness n. a condition caused by the formation of nitrogen bubbles in the blood or body tissues as the result of a sudden lowering of atmospheric pressure, as in deep sea divers, astronauts, and pilots ascending too quickly: it… …   English World dictionary

  • Decompression sickness — Caisson disease [decompression sickness] Classification and external resources Two United States Navy sailors prepare for training inside a decompression chamber …   Wikipedia

  • decompression sickness — Pathol. aeroembolism (def. 2). [1940 45] * * * also called the bends or caisson disease Harmful effects of rapid change from a higher to a lower pressure environment. Small amounts of the gases in air are dissolved in body tissues. When pilots of …   Universalium

  • decompression sickness — A sickness caused by the evolution of nitrogen bubbles in the body as a result of the effects of reduced atmospheric pressure. Normal symptoms of decompression sickness are the bends, chokes, creeps, unconsciousness, and neurological symptoms. It …   Aviation dictionary

  • decompression sickness — Caisson disease Cais son dis*ease (Med.) A disease frequently induced by remaining for some time in an atmosphere of high pressure, as in caissons, diving bells, etc. It is characterized by neuralgic pains and paralytic symptoms. It is caused by… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • decompression sickness — noun A sometimes fatal condition resulting from the formation of nitrogen bubbles in the blood and tissues, because of too rapid decompression, seen especially in deep sea divers ascending rapidly from a dive. It is characterized by severe pains… …   Wiktionary

  • decompression sickness — noun a condition that results when too rapid decompression causes nitrogen bubbles to form in the tissues of the body, characterized by pain in the muscles and joints, cramp, numbness, nausea, and paralysis …   English new terms dictionary

  • decompression sickness — decom pression .sickness n [U] a dangerous medical condition that people get when they come up from deep under the sea too quickly = ↑the bends …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • decompression sickness — decom pression ,sickness noun uncount a serious medical condition that affects DIVERS who come up to the surface of water too quickly …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

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