Chapter 16 Respiratory Emergencies: Vital Vocabulary Flashcards
Refers to abnormal breath sounds or noises that occur in addition to the normal breath sounds; examples are crackles and wheezes.
adventitious
The saclike units at the end of the bronchioles in which gas exchange takes place.
alveoli
The drawing in or out by suction. In the lungs, aspiration of food, liquids, blood, or foreign objects can occur when a patient is unable to protect his or her own airway.
aspiration
Collapse of the alveolar air spaces of the lungs.
atelectasis
A pharmacologic agent that stimulates the beta-2 receptor sites found in smooth muscle; includes common bronchodilators such as albuterol and levalbuterol.
beta-2 agonist
Poisoning characterized by severe muscle paralysis and usually caused by eating food containing botulinum toxin.
botulism
Severe constriction of smooth muscle surrounding the bronchial tree.
bronchospasm
Deep cyanosis of the face and neck that extends across the chest and back; associated with little or no blood flow; a particularly ominous sign.
cape cyanosis
A ridgelike projection of tracheal cartilage located where the tracheal bifurcates into the right and left mainstem bronchi.
carina
Contorted positioning of the hand or foot in which the fingers or toes flex in a clawlike manner; may be caused by hyperventilation.
carpopedal spasm
A chronic inflammatory condition affecting the bronchi that is characterized by excessive mucus production as a result of overgrowth of the mucous glands in the airways.
chronic bronchitis
Heart disease that develops because of chronic lung disease and affects primarily the right side of the heart.
cor pulmonale
The abnormal breath sounds that have a fine, crackling quality; previously called rales.
crackles
A common disease of infancy and childhood caused by upper airway obstruction and characterized by stridor, hoarseness, and a barking cough.
croup
The production of large amounts of urine by the kidney.
diuresis
The infiltration of any tissue by air or gas; a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease characterized by distention of the alveoli and destructive changes in the lung parenchyma.
emphysema
A sitting position with the head elevated to a 90° angle. (sitting straight upright).
Fowler position
A mesh filter placed in the inferior vena cava to catch blood clots in patients who are at high risk of pulmonary embolus.
Greenfield filter
A disease of unknown cause characterized by progressive paralysis moving from the feet to the head (ascending paralysis); if paralysis reaches the diaphragm, the patient may require respiratory support.
Guillain-Barre’ syndrome
An iron-containing protein within red blood cells that has the ability to combine with oxygen.
hemoglobin
Coughing up blood in sputum.
hemoptysis
Engorgement of the jugular veins when the liver is gently pressed; this finding is specific to right-sided heart failure.
hepatojugular reflux
An excess of oxygen
hyperoxia
To move inadequate volumes of air into the lungs.
hypoventilate
A dangerous condition in which the supply of oxygen to the tissues is reduced.
hypoxia
A state in which the stimulus to breathe comes from a decrease in PaO2, rather than from the normal stimulus, an increase in PaCO2.
hypoxic drive
The visible bulging of the jugular veins when a patient is in a semi-Fowler or full Fowler position; indicates inadequate blood movement through the heart and/ or lungs.
jugular venous distention
A respiratory pattern characteristic of diabetic ketoacidosis, with marked hyperpnea and tachypnea; represents the body’s attempt to compensate for the acidosis.
Kussmaul respirations
Inflammation of the larynx, trachea, and bronchi.
laryngotracheobronchitis
Firming of the lungs as a result of fluid accumulation.
lung consolidation
The transfer of a disease from one organ or part of the body to another that is not directly connected to the original site; often used to describe a cancer that has spread to another part of the body.
metastasis
The sound of one note during wheezing, caused by the vibration of a single bronchus.
monophonic
Severe dyspnea experienced when recumbent that is relieved by sitting or standing up.
orthopnea
One of three sets of lymphatic organs that constitute the tonsils; located in the back of the throat, on each side of the posterior opening of the oral cavity; help protect the body from bacteria and other pathogens introduced into the mouth and nose.
palatine tonsils
The functional portions of a gland or solid organ.
parenchyma
Severe shortness of breath occurring suddenly at night after several hours of recumbency, as fluid pools in the lungs.
paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea
Excessive accumulation of fluid in the pleural space.
pleural effusion
Inflammation of the lung caused by an infectious agent.
pneumonia
Lung inflammation from an irritant, such as a chemical, dust, or radiation, or from aspiration, such as aspiration of gastric contents.
pneumonitis
The production of too many red blood cells over time, making the blood thick; a characteristic with chronic lung disease and chronic hypoxia.
polycythemia
The sound of multiple notes during wheezing; caused by the vibrations of multiple bronchi.
polyphonic
A false membrane formed by a dead tissue layer; seen in the posterior pharynx of patients with diphtheria.
pseudomembrane
Weakening or loss of a palpable pulse during inspiration; characteristic of conditions that cause profound pressure changes in the thorax, such as cardiac tamponade and severe asthma.
pulsus paradoxus
Full of pus; having the character of pus.
purulent
A term used to describe any condition that causes hyperreactive bronchioles and bronchospasm in response to certain triggers.
reactive airway disease
Diseases that limit the ability of the lungs to expand appropriately. Skeletal abnormalities such as kyphosis and scoliosis are common examples of conditions that can cause these diseases.
restrictive lung diseases
The drawing in of the intercostal muscles and the muscles above the clavicles that can occur in respiratory distress.
retractions
The nonstriated involuntary muscle found in vessel walls, glands, and the gastrointestinal tract.
smooth muscle
A noise made during inhalation when the upper airway is partially obstructed by the tongue.
snoring
A device that collects medication as it is released from the canister of a metered-dose inhaler, allowing more medication to be delivered to the lungs and less to be lost to the environment.
spacer
A severe, prolonged asthma attack that cannot be stopped with conventional treatment, such as the administration of epinephrine.
status asthmaticus
A harsh, high-pitched inspiratory sound representing air moving past an obstruction within or immediately above the glottic opening; associated with severe upper airway obstruction, such as that caused by laryngeal edema.
stridor
Vibrations in the chest that can be felt with a hand on the chest as the patient breathes.
tactile fremitus
The opening created during a tracheostomy procedure.
tracheostomoy
A chronic bacterial disease caused by Myobacterium tuberculosis that usually affects the lungs but can also affect other organs, such as the brain and kidneys.
tuberculosis
The process of exchanging air between the lungs and the environment; includes inhalation and exhalation.
ventilation
