Med/surg I Vocab

Front 1

acute bronchitis

Back 1

an inflammation of the lower respiratory tract that is usually due to infection.

Front 2

adventitious sounds

Back 2

extra breath sounds that are not normally heard, such as crackles, rhonchi, wheezes, and pleural friction rubs.

Front 3

allergic rhinitis

Back 3

the reaction of the nasal mucosa to a specific allergen.

Front 4

apnea

Back 4

an absence of spontaneous respirations.

Front 5

chemoreceptor

Back 5

a sensory nerve cell that responds to a change in the chemical composition (PaCO2 and pH) of the fluid around it.

Front 6

chylothorax

Back 6

a condition marked by lymphatic fluid in the pleural space caused by a leak in the thoracic duct.

Front 7

community-acquired pneumonia

Back 7

a lower respiratory tract infection of the lung parenchyma with onset in the community or during the first 2 days of hospitalization.

Front 8

compliance

Back 8

a measure of the ease of expansion of the lungs and thorax.

Front 9

crackle

Back 9

short, low-pitched sounds consisting of discontinuous bubbling caused by air passing through airway intermittently occluded by mucus, unstable bronchial wall, or fold of mucosa; evident on inspiration and, at times, expiration; similar sound to blowing through a straw under water.

Front 10

deviated septum

Back 10

a deflection of the normally straight nasal septum.

Front 11

dyspnea

Back 11

shortness of breath; difficulty breathing that may be caused by certain heart conditions, strenuous exercise, or anxiety.

Front 12

elastic recoil

Back 12

the tendency for the lungs to recoil or reduce in volume after being stretched or expanded.

Front 13

empyema

Back 13

an accumulation of purulent exudates in a body cavity, especially the pleural space, as a result of bacterial infection, such as pleurisy or tuberculosis.

Front 14

epistaxis

Back 14

nosebleed.

Front 15

esophageal speech

Back 15

a method of swallowing air, trapping it in the esophagus, and releasing it to create sound.

Front 16

flail chest

Back 16

instability of the chest wall resulting from multiple rib fractures.

Front 17

fremitus

Back 17

vibration of the chest wall produced by vocalization.

Front 18

hemothorax

Back 18

accumulation of blood in the pleural space.

Front 19

hospital-acquired pneumonia

Back 19

pneumonia occurring 48 hours or longer after hospital admission and not incubating at the time of hospitalization.

Front 20

lung abscess

Back 20

a pus-containing lesion of the lung parenchyma that results in a cavity formed by necrosis of lung tissue.

Front 21

mechanical receptors

Back 21

receptors located in lungs, upper airways, chest wall, and diaphragm that are stimulated by irritants, muscle stretching, and alveolar wall distortion.

Front 22

nasal polyps

Back 22

benign mucous membrane masses that form slowly in response to repeated inflammation of the sinus or nasal mucosa and project into the nasal cavity.

Front 23

obstructive sleep apnea

Back 23

a condition characterized by partial or complete upper airway obstruction during sleep, causing apnea and hypopnea.

Front 24

pleural effusion

Back 24

an abnormal accumulation of fluid in the intrapleural spaces of the lungs.

Front 25

pleural friction rub

Back 25

creaking or grating sound from roughened, inflamed surfaces of the pleura rubbing together, evident during inspiration, expiration, or both and no change with coughing; usually uncomfortable, especially on deep inspiration.

Front 26

pleurisy (pleuritis)

Back 26

inflammation of the pleura.

Front 27

pneumoconiosis

Back 27

a general term for lung diseases caused by inhalation and retention of dust particles.

Front 28

pneumonia

Back 28

an acute inflammation of the lungs, often caused by inhaled pneumococci of the species Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Front 29

pneumothorax

Back 29

a collection of air or gas in the pleural space causing the lung to collapse.