HealthSeptember 8, 2026

photoplethysmogram

FOH-toh-pleh-THIZ-muh-gram

Definition

An optical measurement technique used to detect blood volume changes in the microvascular bed of tissue, often used to monitor heart rate and pulse variability.

How do you pronounce photoplethysmogram?

Photoplethysmogram is pronounced FOH-toh-pleh-THIZ-muh-gram (IPA: //ˌfoʊtoʊplɛθˈɪzməˌɡræm//).

Listen: how to say photoplethysmogram

Where does photoplethysmogram come from?

Derived from the Greek 'photo' (light), 'plethysm' (increase or fullness), and 'gram' (a record), referring to an instrument that records the varying fullness of blood in body parts using light.

In the news

The article mentions that photoplethysmogram data was collected from participants to analyze heart rate variability and assess the autonomic nervous system's response to dynamic movement.

Biofeedback with heart sounds following a traumatic event

Read the full article ↗

Frontiers

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