How to Pronounce Secondary Pneumothorax

Say it like this: SEK-un-dair-ee noo-moh-THOR-aks. The first word rhymes with 'checklist,' the second word sounds like 'new-moh,' and the last part rhymes with 'Thor' plus 'axe.' The stress falls on the first syllable of 'secondary' and the third syllable of 'pneumothorax.'

Many people say 'pnoo-moh-THOR-aks' instead of 'noo-moh-THOR-aks'—they try to pronounce the 'p' at the beginning of 'pneumothorax,' but that 'p' is silent. Just start with the 'n' sound and you'll have it right.

Break it like this: sec-un-dar-y (four syllables) pneu-mo-tho-rax (four syllables). The full term has eight syllables total, which is why it sounds long when you first hear it.

'Pneumo' comes from Greek and means 'air' or 'lung,' while 'thorax' also comes from Greek and means 'chest.' So 'pneumothorax' literally breaks down to 'air in the chest'—which describes what is happening in this condition.

'Secondary' means 'coming after something else' or 'caused by something else.' In this case, it refers to a pneumothorax that develops as a result of an existing lung problem, rather than happening on its own.

The abbreviation is 'SPX' or sometimes written as 'secondary PTX' (where PTX stands for pneumothorax). You'll see these short forms used in medical writing and conversations.

In everyday language, you could call it 'a collapsed lung that happens because of another lung disease.' It's a complication rather than something that develops all by itself.

Other medical words with 'pneumo' include pneumonia (a lung infection), pneumothorax (the root word for secondary pneumothorax), and pneumoconiosis (a lung disease from inhaling particles). They all relate to the lungs or air in the body.

You might hear: 'The patient's secondary pneumothorax developed because of the existing COPD.' This sentence shows that the collapsed lung is connected to a pre-existing condition, not a random event.