'asphyxial' originates from the Late Latin/Modern Latin term 'asphyxia', ultimately from Ancient Greek 'ἀσφυξία' (asphyxía), where the prefix 'a-' meant 'without' and the root 'sphyx-' (σφυγ-) related to 'pulse' (hence loss of pulse/respiration).

'asphyxial' developed from the noun 'asphyxia' in English (borrowed earlier from Late Latin/Greek) by adding the adjectival suffix '-al' to form 'asphyxial', meaning 'relating to asphyxia'.

Initially the Greek-derived term referred more narrowly to 'absence of pulse' or 'the stoppage of vital signs'; over time it broadened to its current medical sense of 'relating to suffocation or oxygen-deprivation injury'.