Term | Definition |
arterial | pertaining to one or more arteries |
asthma | a disease that affects the air passages in the lung, causing wheezing and shortness of breath |
cardiopulomonary | pertaining to the heart and lungs |
cardiovascular | pertaining to the heart and lungs |
cerebral vascular accident | Damage to the brain that occurs when the blood supply to an area of the brain is diminished or occluded completely. |
congestive heart failure | A condition in which a weakened heart is unable to pump all of the blood out of the lungs each time it beats. Blood pools at the bottom of the lungs, inerfering with breathing. |
crackles | abnormal respiratory sound heard on auscultation; also called rale (aka crepitation). Sounds produced by air passing over airway secretions |
crepitation | sounds produced by air passing over airway secretions |
diastolic pressure | the pressure of the vascular walls wen the heart is relaxing |
emphysema | a disease characterized by gradual destruction of the alveoli, which fuse to form larger air spaces. Exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide through these larger air sacs is inadequate |
height | the vertical distance from the bottom to the top of an organ or structure |
hypoxia | insufficient oxygen in blood or tissue |
oximeter | it is a sensor attached to the client's finger or earlobe and determines oxygen levels in red blood cells in arterial blood |
peripheral vascular assessment | any condition that causes partial or complete obstruction of the flow of blood to or from the arteries or veins outside chest |
pneumonia | an acute infection of the tissues of the lung |
postural drainage | positioning the client with the head lower than the body so that gravity can help drain the mucus and secretions |
rales | abnormal respiratory sound heard on auscultation; also called crackle |
rhonchus | abnormal breath sound heard on auscultation |
suctioning | drawing of fluids or solids from a surface |
systolic pressure | the pressure on the vascular walls when the heart is contracting |
telemetry | the transmission of data electronically to a distant location |
temperature | the degree of hotness or coldness of a substance/person |
tracheostomy | an artificial airway through an incision in the trachea |
vibrations | rapid movements of flattened hands over the client's chest to move secretions |