Lungs & Thorax Vocabulary Flashcards
accessory muscles
Muscles other than the diaphragm and intercostal muscles that may be used for labored breathing; may include the sternocleidomastoid, spinal, and neck muscles.
adventitious
Sounds not normally heard coming from the chest or abdomen.
anteroposterior diameter
Equals transverse diameter, resulting in barrel chest.
asthma
A condition involving narrowing of the bronchial airways, which changes in severity over short periods of time.
auscultate
To listen, usually with a stethoscope, to sounds produced by movement of gas or liquid within the body.
asymmetry
An abnormal chest expansion where one side expands less and lags behind the normal side.
barrel chest
A condition in which the chest appears to be partially inflated all the time, with the rib cage broadened as if in the middle of a deep breath.
bradypnea
An abnormally slow breathing rate; a respiration rate below 12 breaths per minute.
breathing effort
The amount of respiratory effort: mild, moderate, severe, inspiratory: expiratory ratio, shortness of breath.
bronchial
The airway division beginning below the trachea; divides into right and left mainstem tubes.
bronchitis
An inflammation of the mucous membranes of the bronchi.
bronchovesicular
Normal sounds in the mid-chest area or in the posterior chest between the scapula; reflect a mixture of the pitch of the bronchial breath sounds heard near the trachea and the alveoli with the vesicular sound.
chest expansion
Measured by encircling chest around the level of nipple; measurements taken at the end of deep inspiration and expiration normally show 2-5” of chest expansion.
cough
A healthy reflex that helps keep the airways in the throat and chest free from mucus, dust, and dirt; may be associated with colds, bacteria, or other viral illnesses.
crackles
Short, high pitched, discontinuous, intermittent, popping sounds created by air being forced through an airway or alveoli narrowed by fluid, pus, or mucous.
crepitus
A crackling or popping sound that occurs as a result of tissues rubbing together abnormally; resulting from an abnormal interaction between air, fluid or bone.
cyanosis
A bluish discoloration of the skin, mucous membranes, tongue, lips, or nail beds due to an increased concentration of reduced hemoglobin (Hb) in the circulation.
expiration
The act of expelling air out of the lungs.
inspiration
The act of drawing air into the lungs.
intensity
A good index of ventilation of the underlying lung; when intensity increases there is more ventilation and vice versa; should be symmetrical.
kussmauls
A deep, labored breathing pattern that indicates that the body or organs have become too acidic.
occupational hazards
Potential exposure to infectious diseases, toxic substances, back injuries, and radiation; may also include stress, shift work, and violence in the workplace.
orthopnea
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing when lying down.
pectus carinatum
Commonly known as “pigeon chest,” occurs when abnormal cartilage growth causes the sternum to protrude from the chest; more prevalent boys.
pectus excavatum
An anterior chest deformity that is characterized by a depressed sternum.
pitch
How high or low a breath sound is when auscultated; bronchial sounds are high pitched and usually heard over the trachea; vesicular sounds are low pitched.
pleural friction rub
An adventitious breath sound heard on auscultation of the lung; results from movement of inflamed and roughened pleural surfaces against one another.
pneumothorax
Commonly called a collapsed lung; the collection of air in the spaces around the lungs that puts pressure on the lung(s), so it cannot expand normally.
pursed lip breathing
A technique that allows control of oxygenation and ventilation; requires a person to inspire through the nose and exhale through the mouth at a slow controlled flow.
respiratory/ventilation cycle
The process of inhalation and expiration.
retraction
Intercostal retractions are due to reduced air pressure inside your chest occurring if the upper airway (trachea) or small airways of the lungs (bronchioles) become partially blocked.
rhonchi
Low-pitched wheezes often caused by secretions in larger airways or obstructions.
tachypnea
Rapid and shallow breathing (not be confused with hyperventilation, which is when a patient’s breathing is rapid but deep).
tripod position
May be assumed during respiratory distress to facilitate the use of respiratory accessory muscles; the patient sits leaning forward, with hands placed on the bed or a table with arms braced.
shortness of breath
Also called dyspnea; a common symptom in patients with advanced disease.
vesicular
Breath sounds that are soft and low pitched with a rustling quality during inspiration and even softer during expiration; the most commonly auscultated breath sounds, normally heard over most of the lung surface; an inspiration/expiratory ratio of 3 to 1.
wheezes
A whistling noise made during breathing; occurs when the small airways, or bronchial tubes, leading to the lungs swell or contract (spasm) and become narrow (called bronchoconstriction).
