sputum
Sign in to saveSputum is mucus that is coughed up from the lower airways (the trachea and bronchi). It is commonly referred to as "phlegm". In medicine, sputum samples are usually used for a naked-eye examination, microbiological investigation of respiratory infections, and cytological investigations of respiratory system.
Key facts
- Medical condition (new).name
- Abnormal sputum
- Medical condition (new).synonyms
- Mucus
- Medical condition (new).image
- Enterococcus histological pneumonia 01.png
- Medical condition (new).caption
- Cocci-shaped Enterococcus sp. bacteria taken from a pneumonia patient
- Medical condition (new).field
- Pulmonology
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Article
5 sectionsContents
- Description
- Interpretation
- See also
- References
- External links
Sputum is mucus that is coughed up from the lower airways (the trachea and bronchi). It is commonly referred to as "phlegm". In medicine, sputum samples are usually used for a naked-eye examination, microbiological investigation of respiratory infections, and cytological investigations of respiratory system.
These naked-eye examinations have been found to be successful, but are subjective to the examiner (in a professional setting, a clinician). Current technologies exist that can analyze sputum more objectively, but are often expensive, complex, or difficult to use.