How to Pronounce Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn
Definition, meaning, and phonetic spelling
Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn Pronunciation
per-SIS-tent PUL-moh-nair-ee hy-per-TEN-shun uv thuh NOO-born
Stressed syllable in ALL CAPS · hyphens separate syllables
Syllable Breakdown
per
SIS
stress here
tent PUL
moh
nair
ee hy
per
TEN
stress here
shun uv thuh NOO
born
10 syllables
What is Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn?
A life-threatening condition in newborns in which the normal decrease in pulmonary blood pressure after birth fails to occur, causing blood to bypass the lungs (as it did in the womb) and resulting in severe oxygen deficiency. It often complicates other conditions such as meconium aspiration and is treated with inhaled nitric oxide, high-frequency ventilation, and sometimes ECMO.
Questions About Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn
How do you say 'Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn'?
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Say it like this: per-SIS-tent PUL-moh-nair-ee hy-per-TEN-shun uv thuh NOO-born. The stress falls on the second syllable of 'persistent' (SIS), the first syllable of 'pulmonary' (PUL), and the third syllable of 'hypertension' (TEN). The last part, 'of the newborn,' is said smoothly without any special stress.
What does 'persistent' mean in this medical term?
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'Persistent' means something that continues or doesn't go away when it normally should. In this case, it describes a condition that stays present after birth, when it shouldn't. The word comes from the Latin root 'persistere,' which means 'to stick with' or 'to continue.'
What does 'pulmonary' refer to?
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'Pulmonary' always refers to the lungs. It comes from the Latin word 'pulmo,' which means lung. You'll see this root in other medical words like 'pulmonologist' (a lung doctor) and 'pulmonary artery' (the blood vessel that goes to the lungs).
What does 'hypertension' mean?
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'Hypertension' is a medical word for high blood pressure. It breaks down into two parts: 'hyper-' (meaning high or excessive) and 'tension' (meaning pressure). So hypertension literally means excessive pressure, in this case the pressure of blood in the lungs.
How do you break this term into syllables?
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Here's how to divide it: per-SIS-tent / PUL-moh-nair-ee / hy-per-TEN-shun / uv / thuh / NOO-born. When you say it out loud, pause slightly between each main word part to help separate the sounds clearly.
What's the abbreviation for this condition, and how is it pronounced?
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The abbreviation is PPHN, pronounced letter-by-letter: 'P-P-H-N.' You'll hear doctors and nurses use this shortened form when talking quickly or in written notes, so it's helpful to know both the full name and the abbreviation.
What's a common mistake people make when saying this word?
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Many people stress the wrong syllable in 'persistent'—they say per-sis-TENT instead of per-SIS-tent. Remember that the stress goes on the second syllable, which makes the first 'SIS' sound stand out most when you say it aloud.
How would you use this term in a simple sentence?
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You might hear it used like this: 'The medical team discussed a case of persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn in their rounds.' This sentence shows how the full medical name is used when talking about the condition in a clinical setting.