How to Pronounce Choanal Atresia
Definition, meaning, and phonetic spelling
Choanal Atresia Pronunciation
koh-AY-nal ah-TREE-zhah
Stressed syllable in ALL CAPS · hyphens separate syllables
Syllable Breakdown
koh
AY
stress here
nal ah
TREE
stress here
zhah
5 syllables
What is Choanal Atresia?
A congenital condition in which the back of the nasal passage (choana) is blocked by abnormal tissue — either membranous or bony — preventing the flow of air from the nose to the throat. Because newborns are obligate nose breathers, bilateral choanal atresia causes immediate respiratory distress at birth requiring emergency airway management; surgical repair is definitive treatment.
Questions About Choanal Atresia
How do you say 'choanal atresia'?
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Say it like this: koh-AY-nal ah-TREE-zhah. The stress falls on the second syllable of the first word (AY), so you emphasize "koh-AY" more than the rest. The second word ends with a soft "zh" sound, like the 's' in 'measure.'
What does 'choana' mean?
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The word 'choana' comes from ancient Greek and means 'funnel' or 'opening.' In anatomy, it refers to the back opening of the nasal passage where air normally flows from your nose toward your throat.
What does 'atresia' mean?
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Atresia comes from Greek and means 'without an opening' or 'closed.' In medical terms, when you add 'atresia' to any body part, it means that part is abnormally closed or blocked where there should normally be an opening.
How do you break 'choanal atresia' into syllables?
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Break it like this: cho-A-nal ah-TRE-zhah. The first word has three syllables, and the second word has three syllables too, for six syllables total.
What's a common mispronunciation of this word?
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People often put the stress on the wrong syllable and say 'CHOH-anal' instead of 'koh-AY-nal,' or they pronounce the 'ch' like in 'chair' rather than 'k.' Remember: it starts with a 'k' sound, and the stress goes on the second part (AY).
How would you use 'choanal atresia' in a simple sentence?
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You might hear: 'The doctor explained that choanal atresia is a condition where the nasal passage is blocked.' It's the medical name for this specific type of blockage, and it's used when healthcare professionals are discussing or explaining the condition.
What medical words share the root 'atresia'?
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Other words with 'atresia' include esophageal atresia (a blocked food pipe), biliary atresia (blocked bile ducts), and pulmonary atresia (a blocked lung valve). All of them follow the same pattern: the body part name plus 'atresia' means that part is abnormally closed.
Why is 'choanal' spelled with 'ch' but pronounced with a 'k'?
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This happens because 'choanal' comes directly from Greek, where the 'ch' makes a 'k' sound. English kept the original Greek spelling but the Greek pronunciation, which is why it doesn't sound like the 'ch' in 'chicken' or 'cheese.'