hyaline membrane disease: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowTechnical/Medical
Quick answer
What does “hyaline membrane disease” mean?
A severe respiratory condition in premature newborns, caused by insufficient surfactant in the lungs.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A severe respiratory condition in premature newborns, caused by insufficient surfactant in the lungs.
A medical term for a specific lung disorder in infants, primarily affecting premature babies, where a glassy (hyaline) membrane lines the alveoli, preventing proper oxygen exchange. It is now more commonly referred to as Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS) of the newborn.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Both regions now predominantly use 'Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS)' or 'Neonatal RDS'.
Connotations
The term 'hyaline membrane disease' has a slightly more pathological/anatomical connotation, focusing on the tissue change, while 'RDS' is a more clinical, syndrome-based term.
Frequency
Equally rare in contemporary professional use in both the UK and US, favouring 'RDS'. It may appear slightly more often in UK historical medical literature.
Grammar
How to Use “hyaline membrane disease” in a Sentence
The premature infant was diagnosed with hyaline membrane disease.Hyaline membrane disease is a major cause of morbidity in neonates.The pathology showed evidence of hyaline membrane disease.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “hyaline membrane disease” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The hyaline membrane disease pathology was confirmed post-mortem.
American English
- The infant had a hyaline-membrane-disease diagnosis.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in medical history, pathology, and neonatology textbooks to describe the specific histological findings and the historical context of the disease.
Everyday
Virtually never used. A parent would be told their baby has 'breathing problems' or 'RDS'.
Technical
Used by healthcare professionals (neonatologists, paediatric pathologists) when discussing specific histopathology or the historical evolution of the condition.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “hyaline membrane disease”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “hyaline membrane disease”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hyaline membrane disease”
- Misspelling 'hyaline' as 'hyalin', 'hialine', or 'hyalene'.
- Using it as a general term for any breathing problem in infants.
- Pronouncing 'hyaline' with a short 'i' (/ˈhɪə.laɪn/) instead of the long 'i' (/ˈhaɪ.ə.laɪn/).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, for all practical purposes. 'Hyaline membrane disease' is the pathological description of the tissue changes seen in Neonatal Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS), which is the clinical term used today.
Primarily premature infants, especially those born before 28 weeks of gestation, as their lungs have not yet produced enough pulmonary surfactant.
Because modern medicine focuses on the clinical syndrome (RDS) and its functional cause (surfactant deficiency) rather than just the histological appearance (the hyaline membrane). The term 'RDS' is more precise for treatment and communication.
Yes. Modern treatment involves administering artificial surfactant directly into the lungs, respiratory support (like CPAP or a ventilator), and careful management of the premature infant's overall health.
A severe respiratory condition in premature newborns, caused by insufficient surfactant in the lungs.
Hyaline membrane disease is usually technical/medical in register.
Hyaline membrane disease: in British English it is pronounced /ˌhaɪ.ə.laɪn ˈmɛm.breɪn dɪˌziːz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌhaɪ.ə.lɪn ˈmɛm.breɪn dɪˌziz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a HYALINE (clear, glassy) MEMBRANE covering the baby's lung sacs, causing the DISEASE. H-M-D: Hard for My baby to Breathe.
Conceptual Metaphor
LUNGS ARE BAGS FOR AIR (the bags are lined with a stiff, non-porous film preventing air exchange).
Practice
Quiz
In modern clinical practice, 'hyaline membrane disease' is most commonly called: