Ch 13 Key Terms Flashcards
accessory muscles of respiration
various muscles of the neck, chest, and abdomen that may become active when depth of respiration must be significantly increased.
airway patency
a condition in which an airway is open and unobstructed.
alveoli
tiny air sacs within the lungs; the sites at which oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged between inhaled air and the bloodstream.
anoxia
a condition characterized by the lack of an oxygen supply.
bradypnea
a decreased respiration rate; in adults, less than 10 rpm.
breath sounds
the noises produced by the pulmonary structures during respiration.
bronchospasm
the involuntary contraction of the bronchioles.
chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease (COPD)
a condition in which the airways and alveoli become damaged, typically by long-term smoke exposure; its two most important forms are chronic bronchitis and chronic emphysema.
crepitus
a “crackling” feel of the skin of the chest that is detected by palpation; is caused by the presence of air trapped beneath the skin.
dyspnea
difficult or labored breathing accompanied by feeling short of breath.
pleura
the thin transparent membrane covering the outside of the lungs and the inside of the chest wall.
pleural space
the potential space that lies within the pleura covering the outside of the lungs and the inside of the chest wall.
pneumothorax
abnormal collection of air within the pleural space.
pulmonary embolism
a condition in which a clot or other obstruction (an embolus) partially or completely blocks a pulmonary artery.
ventilation
the process by which air moves into and out of the lungs, so that oxygen can be exchanged for carbon dioxide in the alveoli.
