How to Pronounce Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenator
Definition, meaning, and phonetic spelling
Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenator Pronunciation
eks-trah-kor-POR-ee-ul MEM-brayn ok-SIJ-eh-nay-tor
Stressed syllable in ALL CAPS · hyphens separate syllables
Syllable Breakdown
eks
trah
kor
POR
stress here
ee
ul MEM
brayn ok
SIJ
stress here
eh
nay
tor
11 syllables
What is Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenator?
A machine that pumps blood outside the body, adds oxygen to it, and removes carbon dioxide before returning it to the patient, temporarily doing the work of both the heart and lungs. It is used in life-threatening situations when the heart and/or lungs cannot function adequately on their own.
Questions About Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenator
How do you pronounce 'Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenator'?
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Say it like this: eks-trah-kor-POR-ee-ul MEM-brayn ok-SIJ-eh-nay-tor. The stress falls on the syllable 'POR' in the middle of the first word, and on 'MEM' in the second word. Take your time with each part, and remember that 'corporeal' is the tricky middle section.
What does 'extracorporeal' mean?
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'Extra' means 'outside' and 'corporeal' means 'body,' so extracorporeal means 'outside the body.' This word part tells you that this machine works on blood that is pumped outside the patient's body, not inside it.
What is the abbreviation for Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenator?
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It is usually shortened to ECMO, which you pronounce by saying each letter: 'ee-see-em-oh.' You will often hear medical professionals use 'ECMO' in conversation because it is much faster to say than the full term.
What does the word 'membrane' mean in this term?
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'Membrane' refers to a thin layer that lets certain things pass through it while blocking others. In this machine, a special membrane is used to add oxygen to the blood and remove carbon dioxide, doing work similar to what lungs do.
What does 'oxygenator' mean?
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'Oxygenator' comes from 'oxygen' plus '-ator,' which means 'something that does an action.' An oxygenator is a device that adds oxygen to something—in this case, to blood.
How do you break 'Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenator' into syllables?
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Break it like this: ex-tra-cor-POR-ee-ul (6 syllables) | MEM-brayn (2 syllables) | ok-SIJ-eh-nay-tor (5 syllables). The longest word is 'extracorporeal' at the start, so practice that part first if you find it hard.
What is a common mispronunciation of this term?
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People often stress the wrong syllable and say 'ex-TRAP-or-ee-ul' instead of 'eks-trah-kor-POR-ee-ul.' Remember that the stress lands on 'POR,' not at the beginning, and 'extra' sounds like 'eks-trah,' not 'ex-TRAP.'
Can you use this term in a simple sentence?
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Here is an example: 'The medical team explained that the Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenator, or ECMO, would support the patient's heart and lungs while they recovered.' This sentence shows how the full term and its abbreviation work together.