HealthAugust 6, 2026

spirometry

spy-ROM-ih-tree

Definition

A medical test that measures the volume and speed of air a person can inhale and exhale to assess lung function.

Etymology

Derived from the Latin 'spirare' (to breathe) and the Greek 'metron' (measure), it emerged in the 19th century to describe the scientific process of measuring breathing capacity.

In the news

The article mentions spirometry as a standard diagnostic tool that clinicians should order for patients identified as being at risk for COPD through AI-detected myosteatosis.

Myosteatosis Emerges as a Potential COPD Biomarker

Read the full article ↗

Radiological Society of North America | RSNA

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