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Pulmonary Terms (LC)
Pulmonary Terms
Term | Definition |
---|---|
Ventilation | Ability to move air in and out of lungs. |
Respiration | Gas exchange that supplies oxygen and removes carbon dioxide. |
Hypoxemia | Deficient oxygen in arterial blood caused by respiratory or cardiovascular compromise. |
Hypoxia | Diminished availability of oxygen to the body tissues. |
Hypercapnia | Too much carbon dioxide in the blood. |
Dyspnea | Subjective feeling of shortness of breathe due to hypoxemia or emotional state. |
Cyanosis | Bluish color or skin/membranes due to decreased oxygen saturation. |
Persistent Dry Cough | May be caused by a tumor, congestion, or hypertensive airways (allergies). |
Productive cough w/purulent sputum | May indicate infection. |
Productive cough w/o purulent sputum | Nonspecific & indicates airway irritation. |
Hemoptysis | Indicates pathologic condition including infection, inflammation, abscess, tumor, or infection. |
Apneustic | Gasping inspiration followed by short expirations. |
Hypoventilation | Common, reduction in the amount of air entering the pulmonary alveoli and increases arterial CO2 levels. |
Hyperventilation | Abnormal prolonged deep breathing. |
Lateral-costal breathing | Generalized weakness, Guillian-Barre syndrome, chest flattened anteriorly w/excessive flaring of lower ribs, minimal to no upper chest expansion. |
Crackles/Rales | Discontinuous, low pitched sounds predominantly heard during inspiration that indicates secretions in the peripheral airways. |
Stridor | A shrill, harsh sound heard during inspiration in the presence or laryngeal obstruction. |
Wheezing | High-pitched, continuous whistling sound, usually w/expiration & related to broncho-spasm or other constriction of the airways. |
Pneumonia | Inflammation of parenchyma of the lungs caused by infectious agent or aspiration (often follows the flu). |
Tuberculosis | Causes granuloma and necrosis of lung tissue, systemic infectious inflammatory disease of the lungs |
COPD | Family of lung pathologies that often coexist that limit flow. |
Chronic Bronchitis | Productive cough greater than 3 months/year for 2 consecutive years. |
Emphysema | Pathologic accumulation or air in the lungs. |
Asthma | Reversible obstructive lung disease w/inflammation and increased muscle spasm around airways. |
Cystic Fibrosis | Inherited genetic disorder causing impermeability of epithelial cells to chloride. |
Restrictive Lung Disease | Any condition that reduces lung volume and decreases compliance. |
Pulmonary Fibrosis | Epithelial damage and inflammation leads to progressive scarring in the lungs. |
Scleroderma | autoimmune connective tissue disorder w/excessive collagen deposition in kidneys and lungs. |
Atelectasis | Collapse of normally expanded lung tissue involving all or part of lung. |
Pulmonary Edema | Fluid leaks into alveolar space, decreasing area for gas exchange. |
Pulmonary Embolism | Lodging of blood clot from DVT in pulmonary artery obstructing blood supply to the lungs. |
Pulmonary Hypertension | High BP or pulmonary arteries due to narrowing of the pulmonary arterioles or increase of pressure leaving the heart. |
Cor Pulmonale | Enlargement of right ventricle due to pulmonary hypertension from other disease process (usually emphysema or chronic bronchitis). |
Pneumothorax | Accumulation of air in the pleural cavity, collapsing the lung on the affected side. |
Pleurisy | Inflammation of the pleura caused by infection (pneumonia, TB, Flu). |
Pleural Effusion | Collection of fluid in the pleural space. |