Plethysmography
/ˌplɛθɪzˈmɑː.ɡrə.fi/noun
A medical technique for measuring changes in volume within an organ or body part.
Did you know?Plethysmography comes from Greek roots tied to fullness and measurement, so the word literally encodes the idea of “recording swelling” rather than any mystical meaning.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
πληθυσμός (plethysmós)
“a filling, increase, or being full”
Ancient Greek
Greek
πλήθειν / πλήθειν?
“to be full, increase in number”
Modern Scientific Greek
Greek
πληθυσμο-γραφία
“recording or description of fullness”
19th Century
French/English
plethysmographie
“a technical medical term for measuring changes in volume”
Modern English
English
plethysmography
“measurement of changes in volume in a body part or organ”