PNEUMOTHORAX - Definition

Pronunciation:		`noomu'thowraks
WordNet Dictionary

	Definition:	[n] abnormal presence of air in the pleural cavity resulting in the collapse of the lung; may be spontaneous (due to injury to the chest) or induced (as a treatment for tuberculosis)

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	See Also:	abnormal condition, abnormalcy, abnormality

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

	Definition:	\Pneu`mo*tho"rax\, n. [Gr. ? air + E. thorax.] (Med.) A condition in which air or other gas is present in the cavity of the chest; -- called also {pneumatothorax}.

Biology Dictionary

	Definition:	Pneumothorax is the presence of air in the chest cavity between the wall of the cavity and the lung. Pneumothorax in large volumes can constrict the movement of the lungs and lead to respiratory failure. This condition can be spontaneous, or can be due to trauma, infections, and lung defects.