Body Substance
sputum Audio
spu·tum [ spyoo-tuhm ]
Subclass of:
Bodily secretions
Definitions related to sputum:
  • A mixture of saliva and mucus that is coughed up from the respiratory tract. Sputum may be examined in a laboratory for signs of disease.
    Harvard Dictionary of Health Terms
    Harvard Medical Publishing, 2011
  • Material containing mucus, cellular debris, microorganisms and sometimes blood or pus. It is ejected through the mouth from the lungs, bronchi, and trachea.
    NCI Thesaurus
    U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
  • Material coughed up from the lungs and expectorated via the mouth. It contains MUCUS, cellular debris, and microorganisms. It may also contain blood or pus.
    NLM Medical Subject Headings
    U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2021
  • Mucus material produced by the cells lining the respiratory tract.
    CRISP Thesaurus
    National Institutes of Health, 2006
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This content should not be used in place of medically-reviewed decision support reference material or professional medical advice. Some terms may have alternate or updated definitions not reflected in this set. The definitions on this page should not be considered complete or up to date.