What is the term for expectoration of blood?

Study for the Canadian Health Information Management Association (CHIMA) NCE Test. With flashcards and multiple choice questions, each query is clarified with hints and explanations to ensure you're well-prepared for your exam!

Expectoration of blood is specifically referred to as hemoptysis. This term is derived from the Greek words "haima," meaning blood, and "ptysis," meaning to spit or cough. When a person expels blood from the respiratory tract through coughing, it can indicate various medical conditions, such as infections, pulmonary diseases, or other serious health issues affecting the lungs.

Cyanosis pertains to a bluish discoloration of the skin resulting from low oxygen levels in the blood and is not related to blood expulsion. Orthopnea describes difficulty breathing that occurs when lying flat, which is associated with conditions like heart failure or respiratory diseases, but again, does not relate to expectorating blood. Clubbing refers to the enlargement of the fingertips and can be indicative of chronic lung disease or heart conditions but does not have any connection to the act of coughing up blood. Thus, hemoptysis is the precise term that captures the medical phenomenon of blood being expelled from the lungs.

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