
Sputum: Definition, colors, causes, and when to see a doctor
Jan 22, 2024 · Sputum is a type of thick mucus produced by the lungs. This article explains the types of sputum, what causes changes, and when to speak with a doctor.
Mucus: Phlegm, Causes, Colors & How To Get Rid Of It
Sep 18, 2024 · It lines your mucous membranes and helps trap and destroy or clear out germs and harmful particles. Mucus gets thick and sticky and might be white, yellow or green when you have an …
Sputum - Wikipedia
Sputum is mucus that is coughed up from the lower airways (the trachea and bronchi). In medicine, sputum samples are usually used for a naked-eye examination, microbiological investigation of …
Mucus vs. Phlegm vs. Sputum: What's the Difference? (2025)
May 14, 2025 · Sputum is phlegm that is coughed up from the lower airways—the trachea, bronchi, and lungs. While phlegm refers to the substance itself, sputum refers to the expectorated (expelled by …
Phlegm Color Chart: What the Color of Your Phlegm Means
Aug 2, 2024 · Producing clear phlegm often means your body is reacting to irritants or inflammation, while yellow or green phlegm may suggest an infection. Red, pink, brown, or black phlegm …
Understanding Sputum and What the Different Colors Mean
Aug 22, 2025 · Sputum is a mix of cells, foreign matter, and white blood cells produced in the respiratory tract. An increased amount of sputum is often due to increased respiratory inflammation and is the …
Understanding Mucus in Your Lungs - American Lung Association
Jul 14, 2021 · Mucus in the lungs is known as phlegm or sputum. It is a common symptom in chronic lung diseases such as COPD (including chronic bronchitis and emphysema), cystic fibrosis, …
Phlegm: Causes and How To Get Rid of It - Health
Oct 21, 2025 · Bloody, brown, white, yellow, or green phlegm may be a sign of an underlying condition or infection. You can use a humidifier to help keep your throat and nose moist, which lowers mucus …
Sputum - Physiopedia
Sputum is not saliva but the thick mucus (sometimes called phlegm) which is coughed up from the lungs. The body produces mucus to keep the thin, delicate tissues of the respiratory tract moist so …
What Is a Sputum Culture? - WebMD
Apr 30, 2024 · What is sputum? Your lungs create sputum, a type of mucus that can appear when you cough due to an infection or a chronic illness.