Akademik

The act or process of sucking. SEE ALSO: aspiration (1), aspiration (2). [L. sugo, pp. suctus, to suck]

- posttussive s. a s. sound heard on auscultation over a pulmonary cavity at the end of a cough.

- Wangensteen s. a modified siphon that maintains constant negative pressure, used with a duodenal tube for the relief of gastric and intestinal distention. SYN: Wangensteen tube.

suc·tion 'sək-shən n

1) the act or process of sucking

2 a) the act or process of exerting a force upon a solid, liquid, or gaseous body by reason of reduced air pressure over part of its surface

b) force so exerted

3) the act or process of removing secretions or fluids from hollow or tubular organs or cavities by means of a tube and a device (as a suction pump) that operates on negative pressure

suction vt to remove from a body cavity or passage by suction

the use of reduced pressure to remove unwanted fluids or other material through a tube for disposal. Suction is often used to clear secretions from the airways of newly born infants to aid breathing. During surgery, suction tubes are used to remove blood from the area of operation and to decompress the stomach (nasogastric suction) and the pleural space of air and blood (chest suction).