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