Nursing 130 - Olol - Respiratory Terminology

Front 1

Airway resistance

Back 1

A measure of the impedance to airflow through the bronchopulmonary system. It is the reciprocal of airway conductance and is indicated by (Rair)

Front 2

Air trapping

Back 2

Incomplete emptying of alveoli during expiration due to loss of long tissue elasticity (emphysema), bronchospasms (asthma) or airway obstruction.

Front 3

Alpha 1 antitrypsin deficiency

Back 3

genetic disorder resulting from deficiency of alpha 1 antitrypsin, a protective agent for the lungs; increases patients risk for developing panacinar emphysema even in the absence of smoking.

Front 4

Apnea

Back 4

Cessation of breathing

Front 5

Asbestosis

Back 5

diffuse lung fibrosis resulting from exposure to asbestos fibers

Front 6

Asthma

Back 6

a disease with multiple precipitating mechanisms resulting in a common clinical outcome of reversible airflow obstruction; no longer considered a category of COPD

Front 7

Atelectasis

Back 7

collapse or airless condition of the aveoli caused by hypoventilation, obstruction to the airways or compression

Front 8

Bronchitis

Back 8

A disease of the airways defined as the presence of cough and sputum production for at least a combined total of 3 months in each of 2 consecutive years; a category of COPD

Front 9

Bronchiectasis

Back 9

chronic dilation of a bronchus or bronchi; the dilated airways become saccular and are a medium for chronic infection. No longer considered a category of COPD

Front 10

Bronchoscopy

Back 10

Direct examination of the larynx, trachea and bronchi using an endoscope

Front 11

Central cyanosis

Back 11

bluish discoloration of the skin or mucous membranes due to HgB carrying reduced amount of oxygen

Front 12

Cheyne-Stokes

Back 12

an abnormal pattern of respirations characterized by alternating periods of apnea and deep, rapid breathing. Begins with slow, shallow breaths and end with abnormally deep and rapid. Gradually becomes slower and shallower followed by 10-20 sec of apnea before cycle is repeated. Each lasts 45 sec -3min

Front 13

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

Back 13

disease state characterized by airflow limitation that is not fully reversible; sometimes referred to as chronic airway obstruction or chronic obstructive lung diseases

Front 14

Cilia

Back 14

short hairs that provide a constant whipping motion that serves to propel mucus and foreign substances away from the lungs toward the larynx

Front 15

Clubbing of the fingers

Back 15

abnormal enlargement of the distal phalanges

Front 16

Compliance (lung)

Back 16

the measure of distensibility of the lung volume produced by a unit of pressure change

Front 17

Consolidation

Back 17

lung tissue that has become more solid in nature due to collapse of alveoli or infectious process (pneumonia)

Front 18

Cor pulmonale

Back 18

“heart of lungs;” enlargement of the right ventricle from hypertrophy or dilation or as a secondary response to disorders that affect the lungs

Front 19

Crackles

Back 19

soft, high pitched, discontinuous popping sounds during inspiration caused by delayed reopening of the airways

Front 20

Cyanosis

Back 20

bluish discoloration of the skin or mucous membranes due to HgB carrying reduced amount of oxygen

Front 21

Central cyanosis

Back 21

bluish discoloration of lips and mucous membranes

Front 22

Peripheral cyanosis

Back 22

bluish discoloration in fingers and extremities

Front 23

Diaphragmatic breathing

Back 23

a pattern of exhalation and inhalation in which most of the ventilatory work is done with the diaphragm

Front 24

Diffusion

Back 24

exchange of gas molecules from areas of high concen. to low concen.

Front 25

Dyspnea

Back 25

labored breathing or shortness of breath

Front 26

Effusion

Back 26

the escape of fluid from blood vessels as a result of the rupture or seepage, usually into a body cavity

Front 27

Egophony

Back 27

a change in the voice sound of a patient with pleural effusion as heard on asculation

Front 28

Emphysema

Back 28

a disease of the airways characterized by destruction of the walls of over distended alveoli; a category of COPD

Front 29

Empyema

Back 29

accumulation of purulent material in the pleural space

Front 30

Eupnea

Back 30

normal quiet breathing at a rate of 12-20 breaths/min in adults

Front 31

Expiratory reserve volume

Back 31

the max volume of gas that can be exhaled after a resting volume exhalation

Front 32

FEV 1

Back 32

the volume of air that can be forcibly expelled in a fixed

Front 33

Fine-needle aspiration

Back 33

insertion of a needle through the chest wall to obtain cells of a mass or tumor; usually performed under fluoroscopy or chest CT guidance

Front 34

Fremitus

Back 34

a tremulous vibration of the chest wall caused by vocalization that is primarily palpated during physical exam

Front 35

Friction rub

Back 35

a dry, grating sound heard with a stethoscope during asculation. It is normal over liver and splenic areas. Over pleural area = lung disease, pericardial = pericarditis

Front 36

FVC

Back 36

vital capacity performed with a maximally forced expiratory effort

Front 37

Goblet cells

Back 37

one of the many specialized epithelial cells that secrete mucus and form glands of the epithelium of the stomach, instestines and parts of the resp. tract

Front 38

Hemoptysis

Back 38

expectoration of blood from the respiratory tract

Front 39

Hemothorax

Back 39

partial or complete collapse of the lungs due to blood accumulating in the pleural space; may occur after surgery or trauma

Front 40

Hypoxemia

Back 40

decrease in arterial oxygen tension in the blood

Front 41

Hypoxia

Back 41

decrease in the oxygen supply to tissues and cells

Front 42

Induration

Back 42

an abnormally hard lesion or reaction, as in a positive Tb skin test

Front 43

Incentive spirometry

Back 43

method of deep breathing that provides visual feedback to help the patient inhale deeply and slowly and achieve maximum lung inflation

Front 44

Influenza

Back 44

a highly contagious infection of the respiratory tract caused by a myxovirus and transmitted by airborne droplet infection

Front 45

Inspiratory reserve volume

Back 45

the max volume of gas that can be inhaled by a normal resting inspiration

Front 46

Metered-dose inhaler (MDI)

Back 46

patient activated medication canister that provides aerosolized meds that the patient inhales into the lungs

Front 47

Milary TB

Back 47

tiny tubercules throughout the body; extensive dissemination by the bloodstream with tubercle bacilli

Front 48

Nosocomial

Back 48

originating from hospitalization; not present at the time of admission

Front 49

Orthopnea

Back 49

inability to breathe easily except in an upright position

Front 50

Percussion

Back 50

a technique in physical exam of tapping the body with finger tips to evaluate size, borders and consistency of some of the internal organs and to discover presence and amount of fluid

Front 51

Physiologic dead space

Back 51

portion of the tracheobronchial tree that does not participate in gas exchange.

Front 52

Pleura

Back 52

a delicate serous membrane enclosing the lung; composed of a single layer of flattened mesothelial cells

Front 53

Visceral pleura

Back 53

covers the lung, dipping into the fissures between the lobes

Front 54

Parietal pleura

Back 54

lines the chest wall, covers the diaphragm and reflects over the structures in the mediastinum

Front 55

Pleural space

Back 55

the area between the parietal and visceral pleurae; a potential space

Front 56

Pleural effusion

Back 56

abnormal accumulation of fluid in the pleural space

Front 57

Pleural friction rub

Back 57

localized grating or creaking sound caused by the rubbing together of inflamed parietal and visceral pleura

Front 58

Pleurisy

Back 58

inflammation of the parietal pleura of the lungs

Front 59

Pneumonia

Back 59

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

Front 60

Pneumoconiosis

Back 60

any disease of the lung caused by chronic inhalation of dust, usually mineral dust, occupational or environmental origin

Front 61

Silicosis (Pneumoconiosis)

Back 61

a lung disorder caused by continued long term inhalation of the dust of an inorganic compound, silicon dioxide, which is found in sands, quartz and many other stones

Front 62

Asbestosis (Pneumoconiosis)

Back 62

diffuse lung fibrosis resulting from exposure to asbestos fibers

Front 63

Coal worker’s (Pneumoconiosis)

Back 63

a.k.a. anthracosis; a chronic lung diseases characterized by the deposit of coal dust in the lungs and by the formation of black nodules on the bronchioles, resulting in focal emphysema

Front 64

Pneumothorax

Back 64

partial or complete collapse of the lung due to positive pressure in the pleural space

Front 65

PPD (purified protein derivative)

Back 65

a form of TB testing to determine past or present infection with tubercle bacilli

Front 66

Polycythemia

Back 66

increase in RBC concentration in the blood; in COPD the body attempts to improve oxygen carrying capacity by producing increasing amounts of RBC

Front 67

Postural drainage

Back 67

positioning the patient to allow drainage from all lobes of the lungs and airways

Front 68

Pulmonary edema

Back 68

increase in the amount of extravascular fluid in the lung

Front 69

Pulmonary embolism

Back 69

obstruction of pulmonary vasculature with an embolus; embolus may be due to blood clot; air bubbles or fat droplets

Front 70

Pulmonary perfusion

Back 70

blood flow through the pulmonary vasculature

Front 71

Pulse oximetry

Back 71

a device that measures the amount of saturated hemoglobin in the tissue capillaries

Front 72

Pursed-lip breathing

Back 72

respiration characterized by deep inspirations followed by prolonged expirations through pursed lips

Front 73

Purulent

Back 73

consisting of, containing, or discharging pus

Front 74

Rales (crackles)

Back 74

a common, abnormal respiratory sound consisting of discontinuous bubbling noises heard on auscultation of the chest during inspiration

Front 75

Residual volume

Back 75

the amount of air remaining in the lungs at the end of max expiration

Front 76

Respiration

Back 76

gas exchange between the atmospheric air and the blood and between the blood and cells of the body

Front 77

External respiration

Back 77

the part of respiratory process that involves the exchange of gases in the alveoli of the lungs.
(The exchange of gases between atmosphere and blood.)

Front 78

Internal respiration

Back 78

the metabolic processes whereby certain organisms obtain energy from organic molecules; processes that take place in the cells and tissues during which energy is released and carbon dioxide is produced and absorbed by the blood to be transported to the lungs

Front 79

Resonance

Back 79

auscultation; modification of the laryngeal tone as it passes through the pharynx and oral cavity to produce an increase in the intensity and quality

Front 80

Restrictive lung disease

Back 80

disease of the lungs that causes a decrease in lung volume

Front 81

SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome)

Back 81

an infectious respiratory illness, first reported in Asia and characterized by fever, dry cough and breathing difficulty, often accompanied by headache and body aches

Front 82

Spirometer

Back 82

an instrument that measures and records the volume of inhaled and exhaled air, used to assess pulmonary function

Front 83

Spirometry

Back 83

pulmonary function test that measures specific lung volumes (FEV, FVC) and rates. May be measured before and after bronchodilator administration

Front 84

Subcutaneous emphysema

Back 84

A condition caused by air being forced into the tissues beneath the skin of the neck. Typically associated with feelings of fullness in the neck tissues, although in extreme cases a crackling of the skin when touched can be felt.

Front 85

Surfactant

Back 85

certain lipoproteins that reduce the surface tension of pulmonary fluids, allowing the exchange of gases in the alveoli of the lungs and contributes to the elasticity of pulmonary tissue

Front 86

Tachypnea

Back 86

an abnormally rapid rate of breathing (>20) such as seen with hyperpyrexia

Front 87

Thoracentesis

Back 87

insertion of a needle into the pleural space to remove fluid that has accumulated and decreases pressure on the lung tissue; may also be used diagnostically to identify potential cause
of a pleural effusion

Front 88

Tuberculosis

Back 88

a chronic granulomatous infection caused by an acid fast bacillus, myocardium Tb. Generally transmitted by inhalation

Front 89

Ventilation

Back 89

movement of air in and out of the airways

Front 90

Ventilation-perfusion ratio

Back 90

the ratio between ventilation and perfusion in the lung; matching of ventilation to perfusion to optimize gas exchange

Front 91

Wheezes

Back 91

continuous musical sounds associated with airway narrowing or partial obstruction