Help
Options
Didn't know it?
click below
click below
Knew it?
click below
click below
Don't Know
Remaining cards (0)
Know
retry
shuffle
restart
0:00
Embed Code - If you would like this activity on your web page, copy the script below and paste it into your web page.
Normal Size Small Size show me how
Normal Size Small Size show me how
Respiratory Vocab
Vocabulary words
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| nasal cavity | filters, warms, and humidifies inhaled air. |
| pharynx (throat) | the passageway through which air, food, and liquids travel |
| larynx (voice box) | located in the neck. The larynx is composed of semirigid, fibrous plates made up of cartilage and connected by muscles and ligaments. |
| trachea | allows air to travel to and from the lungs |
| lungs | main organs of the respiratory system. |
| bronchi | serves as passageways for air inside the lungs where fresh oxygen and harmful carbon dioxide are exchanged. |
| ventilation | The process by which air moves into and out of the lungs |
| Respiration | the process of gas exchange |
| External respiration | involves the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the atmosphere and the cells of the body. |
| internal respiration | involves gas exchange at the cellular and tissue levels. |
| Respiratory rate | the number of breaths that a person takes in a minute. |
| inspiration | (breathing in) |
| expiration | (breathing out) |
| upper respiratory tract | responsible for the inhalation and humidification of air |
| septum | A thin wall that separates two spaces in the body. |
| vestibular region | contains coarse hairs that act as a first line of defense against infection. |
| olfactory region | located on the roof of the nasal cavity. Your senses of smell and taste are connected to this area. |
| respiratory region | in charge of warming and humidifying the air that travels through it. |
| paranasal sinuses | Situated just behind the skull around the nose are the air-filled cavities |
| frontal sinus | found on both the right and the left sides of the nose and play a part in moisturizing |
| ethmoid sinus | found on both the right and the left sides of the nose and play a part in moisturizing |
| maxillary sinus | found on both the right and the left sides of the nose and play a part in moisturizing |
| sphenoid sinus | found on both the right and the left sides of the nose and play a part in moisturizing |
| nasopharynx | first section of the pharynx, is the part through which air passes. |
| pharyngeal tonsils | Also known as adenoids, these are small masses of tissue in the back of the throat that help fight infection. |
| Eustachian tube | A small tube that connects the middle ear to the back of the throat, helping to equalize air pressure. |
| oropharynx | the second section of the pharynx, is located behind the oral cavity. |
| palatine tonsils | Commonly known as "the tonsils," these are two small masses of tissue on either side of the throat that help fight infection. |
| lingual tonsils | Small masses of tissue at the base of the tongue that help fight infection. |
| laryngopharynx | The third section of the pharynx. Air, food, and liquids pass through the laryngo-pharynx. |
| vocal cords (vocal folds) | move and produce sound. |
| glottis | The space between the vocal cords |
| epiglottis | epiglottis closes the opening to the larynx when you swallow food and liquid, and the epiglottis opens up to allow air into the larynx when you breathe. |
| The Lower Respiratory Tract | responsible for transport of air to the lungs and for the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide gases. |
| carina | A ridge of cartilage in the windpipe that divides into the right and left airways. |
| right mainstem bronchus | The airway that leads to the right lung. |
| Left mainstem bronchus | The airway that leads to the left lung. |
| bronchioles | Air flows from the bronchi into very tiny airway branches |
| alveolar sacs | At the ends of the bronchioles are tiny structures that resemble bunches of grapes. |
| alveoli | plural form of alveolus. |
| apex | Each lung is cone-shaped with a peak |
| base | each lung rests on the diaphragm |
| diaphragm | a dome-shaped structure between the thoracic and abdominal cavi-ties. |
| mediastinum | a cavity that contains the trachea, esophagus, heart, the superior and inferior |
| visceral pleura | The lungs are encased and protected by a serous (watery) membrane |
| parietal pleura | lines the thoracic cavity and upper side of the diaphragm. |
| pleural cavity | contains pleural fluid. |
| pleural fluid | The mediastinum, pleural membranes, and pleural fluid work together to reduce the friction created by the lungs as they move inside the thoracic cavity during the act of respiration |
| bony thorax | structures |
| Thoracic cage | Rib cage |
| Sternum | Breastbone |
| The Act of Breathing | The process of taking in oxygen and expelling carbon dioxide through the lungs. |
| medulla oblongata | the center that is responsible for initiating and sustaining the breathing process is an area of the brain |
| apnea | Temporary interruption of breathing. |
| bradypnea | Condition of slower-than-normal breathing. |
| Cheyne-Stokes respiration | Unusual breathing pattern characterized by periods of apnea (between 10 and 60 seconds), followed by gradually increasing respirations. |
| dyspnea | Difficult or painful breathing. |
| eupnea | Condition of normal breathing. |
| hyperpnea | Condition of deeper-than-normal breathing. |
| hyperventilation | Condition in which breathing is faster and deeper than normal. |
| hypoventilation | Condition in which breathing is too slow and shallow. |
| orthopnea | Condition in which breathing becomes easier when the patient is sitting up straight. |
| rales | Abnormal crackling sound heard during auscultation of the lungs while the patient is breathing in; usually indicates the presence of fluid or mucus in the airway. |
| rhonchi | A coarse rattling or high-pitched snoring sound heard during auscultation of the lungs; usually indicates narrowing of the air passages, such as during asthma or a respiratory infection. |
| stridor | Harsh, high-pitched sound during respiration that indicates an airway obstruction. |
| tachypnea | Condition of faster-than-normal breathing. |
| aspiration | Drawing in of a foreign body, food, or fluid through the nose, throat, or lungs during inspiration. |
| asthma | Condition characterized by sudden, periodic attacks of dyspnea accompanied by wheezing; caused by a spasm of the bronchial tubes or by swelling of the mucous membranes of the bronchi. |
| atelectasis | Collapsed or airless lung caused by any condition that prevents the alveoli from expanding normally to allow breathing and coughing. |
| bronchitis | Inflammation of the mucous membranes of the bronchial tubes. |
| bronchogenic carcinoma (lung cancer) | A malignant tumor that originates in the bronchi. |
| bronchospasm | Sudden, involuntary contractions in the bronchi. |
| chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) | Disease characterized by reduced ability of the lungs to perform their function of ventilation. |
| common cold | Acute (short-term) inflammation of the respiratory mucous membranes; also. called nasopharyngitis or rhinopharyngitis |
| croup | Childhood disease characterized by a "barking" cough and high-pitched breathing. |
| cyanosis | Condition of bluish tint to the skin due to lack of oxygen circulation to the body tissues. |
| cystic fibrosis (CF) | usually begins in infancy, is characterized by chronic respiratory infection, pancreatic insufficiency, and heat intolerance. |
| emphysema | Chronic pulmonary disease characterized by an abnormal increase in the size of the alveoli accompanied by loss of elasticity; results in shortness of breath and impaired heart function. |
| empyema | Pus in the pleural cavity; usually the result of a lung infection. |
| epiglottitis | Inflammation of the epiglottis. |
| hay fever (allergic rhinitis) | Allergic disease of the mucous membranes in the nose and the upper respiratory passages; caused by exposure to pollen from grass, weeds, flowers, and other allergenic substances. |
| hemothorax | Bloody fluid in the pleural cavity caused by the rupture of small blood vessels due to inflammation of the lungs. |
| influenza | Acute, contagious viral infection of the respiratory tract characterized by sudden onset, fever, chills, headache, myalgia (muscle aches), cough, and sore throat. |
| laryngitis | Inflammation of the larynx (voice box). |
| nasal polyp | Tumor with a stem of new growth in the nose or nasal cavity. |
| pharyngitis | Inflammation of the pharynx (throat). |
| pleural effusion | The escape of fluid into the pleural cavity due to excessive fluid buildup in the pleural space. |
| pneumonia | Inflammation of the lungs caused by a bacterium, virus, fungus, or chemical irritant. |
| pneumothorax | Collection of air or gas in the pleural space. |
| pulmonary embolism (PE) | A traveling blood clot that becomes lodged in a lung. |
| sinusitis | Inflammation of the sinuses caused by a viral or bacterial infection. |
| sleep apnea | Periodic cessation (interruption or stoppage) of breathing during sleep. |
| sputum | Mucus coughed up from the respiratory tract. |
| Strep throat | Infection of the throat caused by the Streptococcus bacterium; characterized by a red, painful, and purulent (containing pus) throat. |
| tonsillitis | Inflammation of the tonsils caused by a viral or bacterial infection. |
| tuberculosis (TB) | A serious communicable (contagious) disease caused by bacterial infection of the lungs. |
| arterial blood gases (ABGs) | Test used to assess the levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood |
| auscultation | Process of listening for sounds in the body; especially useful for detecting abnormal sounds in the thoracic cavity. |
| bronchoscopy | Visual examination inside the bronchi using a scope. |
| chest X-ray (CXR) | Radiographic image of the lungs and heart; often done with anterior, posterior, and lateral views |
| oximetry | Use of a noninvasive device, called an oximeter, to measure blood oxygen level. |
| polysomnography | Monitoring of a patient during sleep to aid in diagnosing apnea or other sleep disorders; sleep study. |
| pulmonary angiography | X-ray visualization of arteries and veins using a contrast agent (dye) injected into the patient's bloodstream. |
| pulmonary function test (PFT) | A group of tests performed to measure airflow into and out of the lungs; lung volumes; and gas exchange between the lungs and the bloodstream. |
| spirometry | Measurement of air capacity in the lungs using a device called a spirometer |
| sputum culture and sensitivity | Test in which secretions from the lungs are placed in a growth medium, observed for bacterial reproduction, and then tested for antibiotic effectiveness. |
| sputum cytology | The microscopic examination of lung secretions for the presence of malignant cells |
| sweat test | Test that aids in the diagnosis of cystic fibrosis (CF) by measuring the amount of chloride (sodium) present in sweat. |
| tuberculin (TB) skin test (Mantoux tuberculin test) | Injection of a tuberculin-purified protein derivative (PPD) under the skin to determine whether or not a person has been exposed to tuberculosis (TB). |
| ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) scan | A nuclear medicine diagnostic procedure in which radioactive air is inhaled by the patient and the lungs are observed to determine whether or not they are filling with air. |
| aerosol therapy | Inhaled medication, suspended in a therapy mist and delivered by a nebulizer while the patient breathes |
| cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) | Emergency lifesaving treatment given to someone whose breathing or heartbeat has stopped. |
| continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) | The use of a machine that delivers mild air pressure to keep the airways open |
| endotracheal (ET) intubation | Insertion of a breathing tube through the mouth and glottis and into the trachea to open and maintain a clear airway |
| Heimlich maneuver | Lifesaving technique in which an obstructed airway is cleared by exerting pressure on the diaphragm. |
| postural drainage | Treatment used to drain pulmonary secretions after a patient has been placed in a position that uses gravity to promote the drainage (that is, the head lower than the feet). |
| supplemental oxygen therapy | Additional concentration of oxygen provided by an endotracheal (ET) tube, mask, or nasal cannulae to increase blood oxygen levels. |
| thoracentesis | Surgical puncture into the chest wall to aspirate |
| thoracic surgery | Branch of medicine dealing with operative procedures that are used to diagnose and treat conditions and diseases of the chest. |
| thoracostomy | Surgical creation of an opening in the chest to drain air or fluid; chest tube. |
| tracheostomy | Surgical creation of an opening in the trachea to allow a patient to breathe more easily |
| ventilator | Machine that delivers artificial respiration for a patient who is unable to breathe effectively on his or her own |
| antibiotic | Drug that fights or prevents bacterial infections. |
| antihistamine | Drug that blocks the effects of histamines which are chemicals in the body that produce symptoms of allergic reactions. |
| antitussive | Drug that suppresses a cough. |
| beta-adrenergic agonist | Drug that dilates the bronchi. |
| bronchodilator | Drug that relaxes muscle spasms in the bronchial tubes. |
| decongestant | Drug that reduces congestion (nasal or chest "stuffiness"). |
| expectorant | Drug that produces thinner mucus. |
| glucocorticoid | Drug that suppresses inflammation. |
| mast cell stabilizer | Drug that inhibits release of histamines, which are chemicals in the body that produce symptoms of allergic reactions. |
| mucolytic | Drug that loosens mucus. |
| ABGS | arterial blood gases |
| BP | Blood pressure |
| bpm | Beats per minute |
| CF | cystic fibrosis |
| COPD | chronic obstructive pulmonary disease |
| CPAP | continuous positive airway pressure |
| CPR | cardiopulmonary resuscitation |
| CXR | chest X-ray |
| ER | emergency room |
| ET | endotracheal |
| PE | pulmonary embolism |
| PFT | pulmonary function test |
| Pt, pt. | Patient |
| TB | tuberculin; tuberculosis |
| V/Q | ventilation/ perfusion |
| respiratory therapist | cares for patients who suffer from health conditions and diseases that affect their breathing. |
| perfusionist | a vital part of the surgical team during open-heart surgeries. |
| pulmonologist | a medical doctor (MD) who diagnoses and treats conditions and diseases of the lungs and of the cardiopulmonary system, which comprises the heart, lungs, and blood vessels. |
| thoracic surgeon | a medical doctor who performs surgical procedures on organs in the chest. |
Created by:
441283
Popular Medical sets