atelectasis

at·e·lec·ta·sis  (tl-kt-ss)

n. pl. at·e·lec·ta·ses (-sz)

1. Total or partial collapse of the lung.

2. A congenital condition characterized by the incomplete expansion of the lungs at birth.

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[New Latin : Greek atels, incomplete (a-, not; see a-¹ + telos, end; see telo-) + Greek ektasis, stretching out (from ekteinein, to stretch out : ek-, out; see ecto- + teinein, to stretch; see epitasis).]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

atelectasis - collapse of an expanded lung (especially in infants); also failure of pulmonary alveoli to expand at birth pathology - any deviation from a healthy or normal condition