How to Pronounce Bilateral Vocal Cord Paralysis
Definition, meaning, and phonetic spelling
Bilateral Vocal Cord Paralysis Pronunciation
by-LAT-er-al VOH-kal KORD pah-RAL-ih-sis
Stressed syllable in ALL CAPS · hyphens separate syllables
Syllable Breakdown
by
LAT
stress here
er
al VOH
kal KORD pah
RAL
stress here
ih
sis
8 syllables
What is Bilateral Vocal Cord Paralysis?
Paralysis of both vocal cords, usually leaving them in or near the midline (paramedian position), which causes significant breathing difficulty and stridor despite the voice being surprisingly adequate. It is a potentially life-threatening condition requiring tracheostomy or procedures to lateralize one cord.
Questions About Bilateral Vocal Cord Paralysis
How do you pronounce 'bilateral vocal cord paralysis'?
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Say it like this: by-LAT-er-al VOH-kal KORD pah-RAL-ih-sis. The stress falls on the second syllable of "bilateral" (LAT) and the first syllable of "paralysis" (PAR). The word "vocal" rhymes with "local."
Which syllable gets the stress in this term?
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There are two main stress points. The strongest stress is on "LAT" in bilateral (by-LAT-er-al), and a secondary stress is on "PAR" in paralysis (pah-RAL-ih-sis). A common mistake is stressing the first syllable of "bilateral" instead—remember to emphasize the second syllable.
What do the word parts mean?
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"Bilateral" comes from Latin and means "both sides" (bi = two, lateral = side). "Vocal cord" refers to the voice box structures. "Paralysis" comes from Greek and means "to loosen" or "loss of movement." Together, the term describes a condition affecting both voice box cords.
How do you break this term into syllables?
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Break it into parts like this: bi-LAT-er-al (4 syllables) VOH-kal (2 syllables) KORD (1 syllable) par-AL-ih-sis (4 syllables). Saying it in chunks like "by-LAT-er-al" then "VOH-kal KORD" then "pah-RAL-ih-sis" makes it easier to pronounce.
What is the plain English meaning of this medical term?
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In everyday terms, it means both voice box cords are stuck and cannot move. The vocal cords are the tiny folds in your throat that vibrate to make your voice, and when both are paralyzed, it causes serious breathing trouble.
What is the abbreviation for bilateral vocal cord paralysis?
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The abbreviation is BVCP. You'll sometimes see it shortened this way in medical writing, but the full term is more commonly used when speaking.
What are related words that use the same roots?
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"Unilateral" (one-sided) uses the same root as bilateral. "Vocal" is used in words like "vocalize" (to make sound with your voice). "Paralysis" appears in "paralyze" and "paralytic," all relating to loss of movement.
Can you use this term in a sentence?
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Here's an example: "The doctor explained that the patient had bilateral vocal cord paralysis, which is why breathing had become difficult." This shows how the term is used to describe the specific medical condition in context.