HemoPTysis

Hemoptysis Here’s a mnemonic that I overheard in class one day. It’s for the word Hemoptysis. Hemoptysis is the coughing up or spitting of blood from one’s lungs. It can be a sign of a serious medical condition. It can be caused by infections such as tuberculosis, cancer, and problems in blood vessels in the lungs. In my class hemoptysis is introduced with several other terms that are new but have similar meaning, epistaxis, melena and others. This creates a perfect occasion for a good mnemonic. Here is the one that I heard: When you say hem-pt-ysis you can put an emphasis on the “pt” sound and create a sound that is similar to a “spitting” sound. Of course, spitting often includes involves sputum so the correlation is solid. I hope this helps you manage some of the pathology terms to get you through the boards.