Question | Answer |
A pathologic condition that results from the accumulation of acids in the body. | acidosis |
Abnormal breath sounds such as wheezes, rhonchi, and rales. | adventitious breath sounds |
The buildup of excess base (lack of acids) in the body fluids. | alkalosis |
A substance that causes an allergic reaction. | allergen |
An extreme, life-threatening systemic allergic reaction that may include shock and respiratory failure. | anaphylaxis (anaphylactic shock) |
An acute spasm of the smaller air passages, called bronchioles, associated with excessive mucus production and with swelling of the mucous lining of the respiratory passages. | asthma |
Collapse of the alveolar air spaces of the lungs. | atelectasis |
Normal breath sounds made by air moving through the bronchi. | bronchial breath sounds |
Inflammation of the bronchioles that usually occurs in children younger than 2 years and is often caused by the respiratory syncytial virus. | bronchiolitis |
An acute or chronic inflammation of the lung that may damage lung tissue; usually associated with cough and production of sputum and, depending on its cause, sometimes fever. | bronchitis |
A condition characterized by a chronically high blood level of carbon dioxide in which the respiratory center no longer responds to high blood levels of carbon dioxide. | carbon dioxide retention |
An odorless, highly poisonous gas that results from incomplete oxidation of carbon in combustion. | carbon monoxide |
Irritation of the major lung passageways from infectious disease or irritants such as smoke. | chronic bronchitis |
A slow process of dilation and disruption of the airways and alveoli caused by chronic bronchial obstruction. | chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) |
A viral infection usually associated with swollen nasal mucous membranes and the production of fluid from the sinuses and nose. | common cold |
An inflammatory disease of the upper respiratory system that may cause a partial airway obstruction and is characterized by a barking cough; usually seen in children. | croup |
An infectious disease in which a membrane forms, lining the pharynx; this lining can severely obstruct the passage of air into the larynx. | diphtheria |
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing. | dyspnea |
A blood clot or other substance in the circulatory system that travels to a blood vessel where it causes a blockage. | embolus |
A disease of the lungs in which there is extreme dilation and eventual destruction of the pulmonary alveoli with poor exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide; it is one form of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. | emphysema |
Occurs when new cases of a disease occur in a human population and substantially exceed what is "expected," based on recent experience. | epidemic |
A disease in which the epiglottis becomes inflamed and enlarged and may cause an upper airway obstruction. | epiglottitis |
An allergic response usually to outdoor airborne allergens such as pollen or sometimes indoor allergens such as dust mites or pet dander; also called allergic rhinitis. | hay fever |
Rapid or deep breathing that lowers the blood carbon dioxide level below normal. | hyperventilation |
This syndrome occurs in the absence of other physical problems. The respirations of a person who is experiencing hyperventilation syndrome may be as high as 40 shallow breaths/min or as low as only 20 very deep breaths/min. | hyperventilation syndrome (panic attack) |
A dangerous condition in which the body tissues and cells do not have enough oxygen. | hypoxia |
A "backup system" to control respiration; senses drops in the oxygen level in the blood. | hypoxic drive |
A Virus that has crossed the animal/human barrier and has infected humans, recently reaching a pandemic level with the H1N1 strain. | influenza type |
An inflammation of the meningeal coverings of the brain and spinal cord; can be highly contagious. | meningococcal meningitis |
A miniature spray canister used to direct medications through the mouth and into the lungs. | metered-dose inhaler (MDI) |
A bacterium that causes infections in different parts of the body and is often resistant to commonly used antibiotics; can be found on the skin, in surgical wounds, in the bloodstream, lungs, and urinary tract. | methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) |
The process of delivering oxygen to the blood by diffusion from the alveoli following inhalation into the lungs. | oxygenation |
An outbreak that occurs on a global scale. | pandemic |
An airborne bacterial infection that affects mostly children younger than 6 years. Patients will be feverish and exhibit a "whoop" sound on inspiration after a coughing attack; highly contagious through droplet infection. | pertussis (whooping cough) |
A collection of fluid between the lung and chest wall that may compress the lung. | pleural effusion |
Sharp, stabbing pain in the chest that is worsened by a deep breath or other chest wall movement; often caused by inflammation or irritation of the pleura. | pleuritic chest pain |
An inflammation/infection of the lung from a bacterial, viral, or fungal cause. | pneumonia |
Inflammation of the lung. | pneumonitis |
A partial or complete accumulation of air in the pleural space. | pneumothorax |
A buildup of fluid in the lungs, usually as a result of congestive heart failure. | pulmonary edema |
A blood clot that breaks off from a large vein and travels to the blood vessels of the lung, causing obstruction of blood flow. | pulmonary embolism |
A crackling, rattling breath sound that signals fluid in the air spaces of the lungs; also called crackles. | rales |
The process of exchanging oxygen and carbon dioxide. | respiration |
A virus that causes an infection of the lungs and breathing passages; can lead to other serious illnesses that affect the lungs or heart, such as bronchiolitis and pneumonia. RSV is highly contagious and spread through droplets. | respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) |
Coarse, low-pitched breath sounds heard in patients with chronic mucus in the upper airways. | rhonchi |
Potentially life-threatening viral infection that usually starts with flulike symptoms. | severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) |
A respiratory device that holds liquid medicine that is turned into a fine mist. The patient inhales the medication into the airways and lungs as a treatment for conditions like asthma. | small-volume nebulizer |
A high-pitched noise heard primarily on inspiration. | stridor |
A chronic bacterial disease, caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, that usually affects the lungs but can also affect other organs such as the brain and kidneys. | tuberculosis (TB) |
Normal breath sounds made by air moving in and out of the alveoli. | vesicular breath sounds |
The production of whistling sounds during expiration such as occurs in asthma and bronchiolitis. | wheezing |