tussive

Tussive is an adjective used in medical and clinical contexts to describe anything related to coughing. It denotes a cough or a stimulus that provokes coughing. In some contexts, tussive can also be used as a noun to refer to a substance that induces coughing, though the more common term for coughing-causing agents is tussigenic, with tussive often reserved for describing the cough itself or the irritant nature of a stimulus. The term is frequently encountered in phrases such as “tussive cough.”

Etymology and usage: Tussive derives from the Latin tussis, meaning cough, with the suffix -ive forming an adjective. It is used to distinguish cough-related phenomena from other respiratory symptoms.

Medical context and mechanism: Cough is a protective reflex that clears the airways. A tussive stimulus activates sensory receptors in the larynx, trachea, and bronchi, sending signals via the vagus nerve to the medullary cough center in the brain. This triggers an orchestrated motor response involving a deep inhalation, glottal closure, and a forceful expiration. Coughs may be described as tussive when they are provoked by airway irritation or disease, such as viral infections, bronchitis, asthma, COPD, or exposure to irritants like smoke or pollutants.

Classification and related terms: Tussive describes the cough or its provoking stimuli, in contrast to antitussive agents, which suppress coughing. Other related terms include tussigenic (cough-inducing) and non-tussive (not provoking coughing). See also cough, cough reflex, antitussive, tussigenic agent.