Question | Answer |
ABG | Arterial blood gases; blood test that assesses the oxygen and carbon dioxide levels |
Adenoids | Collection of lymphatic tissue within the nasopharynx (pharyngeal tonsils) |
Alveoli | Tiny air sacs within the lungs; resembling small balloons. (alveolus - singular form) the smallest unit in the lungs gas exchange occurs |
Anosmia | Absence of the sense of smell |
Anoxia | Absence or deficiency of oxygen in the tissues |
Antitussive | Medication which prevents or relieves coughing |
Apnea | Without breathing |
Asphyxia | A condition in which there is insufficient oxygen; literally means "without pulse" |
Atelectasis | Inability of the lung to expand properly |
Auscultation | The process of listening to body sounds, especially in the chest, with the use of a stethoscope |
Bronchi | The 2 branches off the trachea which lead to the right left lungs (bronchus - singular form) |
Bronchiectasis | Chronic dilation of a bronchus or bronchi |
Bronchioles | Smaller branches of the bronchi. Secondary branches terminate |
Bronchodilator | Medication which relaxes the muscles of the bronchial passage providing relief of bronchospasms. Drug used to expand bronchi and open breathing passages |
Cheyne-Stokes Respirations | Breathing characterized by fluctuations in the depth of the respirations |
C & S | Culture and sensitivity. A lab test that isolates the organisms for identification and then determines which antibiotics will be effective against it |
CPR | Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation |
Compliance | The ease with which lung tissue can be stretched the ability of our lungs to expand and contract |
COPD | Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease; includes certain lung disorders characterized by decreased ability of the lungs to exchange gases adequately (also known as COLD) |
Cystic Fibrosis | A hereditary disease of the exocrine glands affecting the respiratory system, pancreas, and sweat glands and gastrointestinal system |
Diaphragm | A large muscle located between the chest and the abdominal wall |
Dysphonia | Difficult in speaking; hoarseness |
Dyspnea | difficult breathing |
Epistaxis | Nosebleed |
Eupnea | Good (normal) breathing |
Expectorant | Agent which facilitates the removal of sputum |
Hemoptysis | Condition of spitting up blood |
Hemothorax | Blood in the chest cavity |
Histamines | Body substances that dilate blood vessels, causing swelling and inflammation in nasal passages |
Hypercapnia | Condition of an increased amount of carbon dioxide in the blood |
Hyperpnea | Increased breathing, deeper than normal |
Hypoxemia | Deficient amount of oxygen in the blood |
Laryngoscopy | Visual examination of the larynx |
Larynx | Voice box. Responsible for sound production |
Lobular | pertaining to a lobe |
Mediastinum | The space between the right and left lung, which contains the heart, aorta, esophagus and the bronchi |
Nares | Nostrils (naris - singular form) |
Nasopharynx | The portion of the pharynx above the soft palate and behind the nose |
Orthopnea | Respiratory condition of discomfort breathing in any but an erect or standing position |
PA (&L) | Posteroanterior refers to the direction of x-ray beams that travel through the body from back to front (L refers to the lateral direction) |
Palatine tonsils | Collection of lymphatic tissue within the oropharynx |
Parietal pleura | The outermost layer, lining the thoracic cavity |
Percussion | The process of gently tapping with the fingers to determine position, size, or consistency of an underlying structure |
Pharyngoscope | Instrument used to view the throat |
Pleura | Serous membrane which envelops the lungs and folds over to line the walls of the thoracic cavity |
Pleural effusion | Excess of fluid in the pleural cavity |
Pleurisy / Pleuritis | Inflammation of the pleural membrane characterized by a stabbing pain which is intensified by coughing or deep breathing |
Pneumothorax | Collection of air in the pleural cavity |
Postural drainage | Positioning a patient so that gravity aids in the draingae of secretions from the bronchi and lobes of the lung |
Pulmonary | Pertaining to the lungs |
Pulmonary edema | Excessive fluid in the lungs which induces cough and dyspnea |
Pulmonary function | A series of tests designed to evaluate the volume and air flow rate of the lungs |
Rale | Crackle. An abnormal respiratory sound heard on auscultation |
Repiratory Distress Syndrome | Condition frequently seen in premature infants caused by a lack of a lung substance, called surfactant |
Respiratory System | Consists of organs that are responsible for the breathing process. It exchanges oxygen and carbon dioxide at a cellular level |
Rhinoplasty | Surgical repair of the nose |
Sinusitis | Inflammation of a sinus |
SOB | Shortness of breath |
Sputum | An abnormal viscous fluid formed in the lower respiratory tract that often contains blood, pus, and bacteria |
Stenosis | Narrowing or constriction |
Stethoscope | An instrument used in auscultation |
T & A | Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy |
Tachypnea | Rapid breathing |
Thoracic | Pertaining to the chest area |
Tonsillotome | An instrument used to cut the tonsils |
TPR | Temperature, pulse, respiration |
Trachea | Windpipe. Cartilaginous tube which extends from the larynx to the bronchial tubes |
Tracheostomy | Creation of an opening in the trachea to relieve a breathing obstruction |
Tuberculosis | An infectious desease caused byinhaling viaable tubercle bacilli |
Visceral pleura | The innermost layer lying next to the lung |
Croup | Acondition resulting from an acute obstruction of the larynx caused by allergen of infection and resulting in a barding cough |
Phrenic Nerve | The nerve by way messages from the brain are carried to the diaphragm |
Sweat Test | The test primarily used to confirm a diagnosis of Cystic Fibrosis |
Decompression Sickness | The diver's disease, "the bends", or caisson disease is the name given to a variety of symptons suffered by a person exposed to a decrease (nearly always after a big increase) in the pressure around the body. The body must adapt to the pressure following |
Pertusssis | Severe coughing spells that end in a whooping sound when the person breathes in. Also called Whooping Cough |
Epiglottis | Covers the trachea when swallowing preventing food and liquids from entering the lungs |
Medulla | Medulla oblongata is the lower protion of the brain stem controlling autonomic functions such as breathing (respiratory) and blood pressure |
Pyothorax | Pus in the pleural cavity |
Hyperventilation | Increase in rate and depth of breathing |
Tachypnea | Increase in the rate of breathing |
Pharyngeal tonsils | Collection of lymphatic tissue within the nasopharynx |
Hemoglobin | Molecule that transports oxygen |
Cilia | Little hairs that act like tiny brooms to push foreign material (dirty mucus) out the lungs and into the throat (larynx) |
Hyaline Membrane Disease | Acute respiratory disease syndrome found in newborns caused by surfactant deficiency or missing surfactant |
Nasal Septum | Bone and cartilage that divides the nose into right and left halves |
Surfactant | Wetting agents/lubricating fluid that reduce surface tenson in pulmonary alveoli by increasing pulmonary compliance and preventing lungs from collapsing on exhalation |
Tidal Volume | The amount of air that is moved in and out during normal quiet breathing |
Carboaminohemoglobin | Molecule of hemoglobin that has carbon dioxide attached to it. When HB is not transporting oxygen it is transporting carbon dioxide and therefore is referred to as a carboaminohemoglobin |
Ferritin | Iron Storage Protein |
Antihistamine | Medication which opposes the effects of histamine |
Pneumoconiosis | Abnormal condition of dust in the lungs |