Chapter 25: Assessment of the Respiratory System

Question 1

Adventitious Breath Sounds

Answer 1

Includes crackles (fine and coarse), wheezes, stridor, and pleural friction rub.

Question 2

Chemoreceptor

Answer 2

A receptor that responds to a change in the chemical composition of the fluid around it

Question 3

Compliance

Answer 3

Measure of the ease of expansion of the lungs (distensibility)

Question 4

Crackles

Answer 4

Consists of fine and coarse crackles
Fine: short, discontinuous, high pitched heard just before the end of inspiration. Similar to sound made by rolling hair between fingers.

Coarse: louder, discontinuous, low-pitched sounds caused by air passing through airway intermittently occluded by mucus. May be heard on inspiration, expiration, or both. Similar to blowing through straw under water.

Question 5

Dyspnea

Answer 5

Shortness of breath

Question 6

Elastic Recoil

Answer 6

The tendency for the lungs to return to their original size after being stretched or expanded

Question 7

Fremitus

Answer 7

The vibration of the chest wall made by vocalization

Question 8

Mechanical Receptors

Answer 8

Founds in the conducting upper airways, chest wall, diaphragm, and capillaries of the alveoli.

Question 9

Oxygenation

Answer 9

The process of obtaining O2 from the air and making it available to the organs and tissues of the body

Question 10

Resistance

Answer 10

Any obstacle to airflow during inspiration and/or expiration

Question 11

Surfactant

Answer 11

Lipoprotein that lowers the surface tension in the alveoli

Question 12

Tidal Volume

Answer 12

Volume of air exchanged with each breath (Ex. 500 ml in a 150 lb. man)

Question 13

Ventilation

Answer 13

Involves inspiration and expiration.

Question 14

Wheezes

Answer 14

Continuous, high pitched squeaking or musical sound. First evident on expiration but possibly on inspiration as obstruction increases. May be audible without stethoscope.