Term | Definition |
Alveolus (pl. alveoli) | a hollow sphere of cells that expands and contracts with each breath |
Ambu bag | a hand-held device that is used to manually breathe for the patient on a temporary basis |
Anoxic | a patient with a complete lack of oxygen in the arterial blood and body tissues |
Apex | the rounded top of each lung |
Asphyxia | an abnormally high level of carbon dioxide and an abnormally low level of oxygen |
Asthma | hyperactivity of the bronchi and bronchioles with bronchospasm |
Atelectatic | incomplete expansion of collapse of part or all of a lung due to mucus, tumor, trauma or a foreign body that blocks the bronchus |
Bronchus (pl. bronchi) | either of the two primary divisions of the trachea that lead respectively into the lungs |
Cancer | any type of malignant growth or tumor, caused by abnormal and uncontrolled cell division |
Cannula | a small tube for insertion into a body cavity, duct, or vessel |
Carbon dioxide | a colorless, odorless, incombustible gas formed during respiration and organic decomposition |
Cilia | small hairs that flow in coordinated waves to move mucus and trapped particles toward the throat |
Concha (pl. conchae) | any of various structures, such as the external ear, that resemble a shell in shape. |
Diaphragm | a sheet of skeletal muscle, lies along the inferior border of the thoracic cavity |
Edema | fluid collection in tissue |
Embolus | a blood clot or fat globule in the circulatory system |
Epiglottis | a lid-like structure |
Heimlich maneuver | procedure to assist a choking victim with an airway obstruction |
Hilum (pl. hila) | an indentation on the medial surface of the lung where a bronchus enters the lung |
Hypoxic | very low level of oxygen in the cells |
Influenza | acute viral infection of the upper and lower respiratory system with fever, aches and a cough |
Larynx | voice box |
Legionnaire’s disease | severe, sometimes fatal, bacterial infection with flu-like symptoms, aches and fever |
Legionella pneumophilia | bacteria responsible for Legionnaire’s disease |
Lobe | large divisions of the lung, whose dividing lines are visible on the outer surface of the lung |
Lumen | the cavity of a tubular organ or part, as in lumen of a blood vessel |
Mantoux | test to determine if a patient has been exposed to tuberculosis |
Mediastinum | an irregularly shaped area that contains the trachea, heart and esophagus |
Mucosa | a mucous membrane that humidifies the air and produces mucus |
Oxygen | an element, normally a gas, that makes up about one-fifth of the atmosphere of the Earth |
Parenchyma | the functional part of the lung |
Pharynx | throat |
Pleura | the thin serous membrane that envelops each lung and folds back to make a lining for the chest cavity |
Pneumocystis jiroveci | a fungus causing severe pneumonia |
Rales | irregular crackling or bubbling sounds during inspiration |
Rhonchi | humming, whistling, or snoring sounds during inspiration or expiration |
Reye’s syndrome | vomiting, seizures, liver failure, sometimes fatal condition from the use of aspirin to treat the flu |
Septum | lung membrane |
Sputum | mucus production |
Status asthmaticus | a prolonged, extremely severe, life-threatening asthma attack |
Stridor | high-pitched, harsh, crowing sound due to edema or obstruction in the trachea or larynx |
surfactant | a protein-fat compound that reduces surface tension and keeps the walls of the alveolus from collapsing with each exhalation. |
Thorax | a bony cage that consists of the sternum, the ribs and spinal column |
Trachea | windpipe |
Wheezes | high-pitched whistling or squeaking sounds during inspiration or expiration |