pneumomediastinum

noun

The condition of having the presence of air in the mediastinum.

OriginEnglish mediastinum ← Ancient Greek πνεῦμα (pneûma) ← Proto-Hellenic *pnéumə →
Scrabble 26
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Meanings

nounpneumomediastinum (countable and uncountable, plural pneumomediastina)

plural pneumomediastina

  1. countableuncountableThe condition of having the presence of air in the mediastinum.

    Pneumomediastinum usually goes undiagnosed unless chest x-rays are used for evaluation.

    1996, Richard A. Clinchy, Dive First Responder, page 73

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*pnew-
  2. Proto-Indo-European*pnéwmn̥
  3. Proto-Hellenic*pnéumə
  4. Ancient Greekπνεῦμα (pneûma)
  5. Englishpneumo-
  6. Englishmediastinum
  7. Englishpneumomediastinum

From pneumo- + mediastinum.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

pneumomediastinum. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pneumomediastinum

MLA

“pneumomediastinum.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pneumomediastinum. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “pneumomediastinum,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pneumomediastinum.

Source: pneumomediastinum on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.