phrenospasm

English

Etymology

phreno- +‎ spasm, from Ancient Greek φρήν (phrḗn, “diaphragm”) and Ancient Greek σπασμός (spasmós, “spasm, convulsion”) respectively.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈfrɛnoʊˌspæzm̩/
• (fren'ō-spazm)

Noun

phrenospasm (countable and uncountable, plural phrenospasms)

1. (medicine, biology) A blow to the chest which causes the diaphragm to go into spasm, making it difficult to draw a breath.
2. (medicine, biology) Diaphragmatic spasm, as in hiccups.

See also

• kleptopnea
• poleaxed
• shortness of breath
• winded