Stertor (from Latin stertere 'to snore') is a term first used in 1804 [2] to describe a noisy breathing sound, such as snoring.[3][4] It is caused by partial obstruction of the upper airways, at the level of the nasopharynx or oropharynx.[1]

Stertor
Stertor caused by partial obstruction of the upper airways, at the level of the nasopharynx or oropharynx.[1]
SpecialtyOtorhinolaryngology

It is distinguished from stridor by its pitch.[4] Stertor is low-pitched, and can occur when breathing in, out or both.[5] Stertor and stridor can occur together, such as when adenotonsillar hypertrophy and laryngomalacia occur together.[5]

References

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  1. ^ a b Innes, J. Alastair; Dover, Anna R.; Fairhurst, Karen; Macleod, John, eds. (2018). Macleod's Clinical Examination (14th ed.). Edinburgh London New York: Elsevier. p. 186. ISBN 978-0-7020-6993-2.
  2. ^ "Definition of STERTOR". www.merriam-webster.com. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  3. ^ O Cathain E, Gaffey MM. Upper Airway Obstruction. In: StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing, Treasure Island (FL); 2020.
  4. ^ a b Englar, Ryane E. (3 July 2019). "Stertor and Stridor". Common Clinical Presentations in Dogs and Cats. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd: 449–461. doi:10.1002/9781119414612.ch34. ISBN 9781119414582. S2CID 240751218. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  5. ^ a b Ida, Jonathan; Thomson, Dana Mara (2014). "Paediatric stridor". In Bower, Charles M. (ed.). Common ENT Disorders in Children, An Issue of Otolaryngologic Clinics of North America, E-Book. Elsevier. p. 798. ISBN 978-0-323-32622-3.