M3 Part A Flashcards
Respiratory System
nostrils
AKA nose; filters, warms, and humidifies air; organ for smell; contains the turbinates
turbinates
musous lined folds in the nose
pharynx
the throat, food and air pass through here; connects to the larynx by the epiglottis
larynx
between pharynx and trachea; short tube containing vocal chords
trachea
connects larynx and bronchi; primary airway into the lungs
bronchi
series of tubes extending from the trachea, branching and becoming smaller until they end at the alveoli
lungs
spongy organs in the thoracic cavity, contains the bronchi and alveoli
alveolus
a single air sac in the lung where O2/CO2 exchange take place
alveoli
plural of alveolus, the air sacs in the lungs where O2/CO2 exchange occurs
pulmonologist
a physician that specializes in the treatment and diagnosis of diseases of the respiratory track
ARDS
acute respiratory distress syndrome; fluid buildup in the alveoli, can progress quickly
asthma
inflammatory condition of the airways, narrowing due to bronchial spasms; causes wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath; different causes
atelectasis
collapse of a lobe of the lung, complete or partial
bronchitis
inflammation of the bronchi; can be chronic
bronchospasm
spasmodic contraction of the bronchial muscles, constricting the air passages
COPD
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; refers to a group of lung diseases such as emphysema that obstruct the airways
croup
viral childhood upper airway disease; loud barking cough, difficulty breathing; spasm of larynx
CF
cystic fibrosis; hereditary disease of mucus and sweat glands, present at birth, causes clogging of the lungs
diptheria
bacterial upper respiratory infection; starts in the mouth/throat, results in fever and pain
emphysema
progressive condition; walls of alveoli become damaged and loose causing impaired O2/CO2 exchange; caused by smoking
fibrosis
formation of fibrous scar tissue in the lungs, usually from infection
hemothorax
blood in the thoracic cavity
influenza
AKA flu; viral acute infectious disease, more serious for the young or old
laryngitis
inflammation of the larynx, can result in temporary loss of voice
pertussis
AKA whooping cough; bacterial highly infectious disease; cold like symptoms and distinct cough
pharyngitis
inflammation of the throat
pleural effusion
a buildup of fluid between the lungs and chest wall causing pain and breathing difficulty
pleurisy
inflammation of the pleura membrane that lines the chest wall and covers the lungs
pneumothorax
when gas in the pleural space causes the lung to dislodge from the chest wall and lose its ability to fully function; can be caused by injury or illness
pulmonary embolism
obstruction of a pulmonary artery or one of its branches, usually caused by a blood clot; labored breathing, chest pain, fainting, tachycardia, cyanosis, shock, and sometimes death
rhinitis
AKA runny nose; caused by inflammation of the nasal membrane
SIDS
sudden infant death syndrome; failure of the infant to breathe, possibly nerve related
sinusitis
inflammation of the sinuses, can be bacterial, vital, or allergic
sleep apnea
abnormal pauses in breathing during sleep
tonsillitis
inflammation of the tonsils
TB
AKA tuberculosis; infectious bacterial disease that can cause growths and necrosis in lung tissue
URI
upper respiratory infection; generally the cold, can be a bacterial or viral infection affecting the bronchi upwards
anoxia
extreme low levels of oxygen
apnea
not breathing (usually for short periods of time)
bradypnea
abnormally slow breathing
Cheyne-Stokes
abnormal breathing, often before death; deep, fast breaths with gaps between
consolidation
radiologic sign indicating lung tissue filled and hardened with debris such as in pneumonia
cyanosis
blue appearance due to lack of O2
dyspnea
difficult or labored respiration
epistaxis
nose bleed
hemoptysis
expectoration of blood from some part of the respiratory track.
hypercapnia
an excess of carbon dioxide
hypoxia
insufficient oxygen levels
orthopnea
difficulty breathing while lying down, relieved upon changing to an upright position
rales
condition of abnormal breathing, often before death, sounds like crackles
SOB
shortness of breath
tachypnea
abnormally fast breathing
wheeze
breathing with a raspy or whistling sound; common with asthma
ABGs
arterial blood gases; blood taken from an artery and tested for O2, CO2, and more
rapid strep test
test that returns a positive result with group-A Streptococcus specific antigens on a throat swab
sputum culture
test to identify fungus or bacteria in sputum; usually used in cases of pneumonia
Mantoux test
TB skin test
PPD
purified protein derivative, AKA Tuberculin; injected under the skin to test for tuberculosis
PFTs
pulmonary function tests; a complete evaluation to determine the level of respiratory impairment
pulse oximetry
the process of using a device that clips to a patient’s finger to measure their oxygen level
oximeter
a device that clips to a patient’s finger to measure their oxygen level
spirometer
instrument for measuring air capacity of patients
bronchoscope
an instrument to insert into and examine the bronchi
bronchoscopy
the process of examining and inspecting the bronchi with an instrument
bronchodilator
a substance that dilates the respiratory passages
CPAP
continuous positive airway; a device that uses pressure to prevent upper airway collapse, used to treat obstructive sleep apnea
ET
endotracheal tube; inserted through the mouth to establish an airway for exchange of O2/CO2
expectorant
a drug that thins mucus to help clear it from the airways
lobectomy
surgical excision of a lobe (of the lung)
nebulizer
a device that aerosolizes drugs to be inhaled into the bronchi for treatment
rhinoplasty
surgical repair of the nose; can add septum (septorhinoplasty)
thoracentesis
procedure to remove excess fluid from the pleural space with a needle; improves the ability to breathe easily
tracheostomy
the result when a stoma with a tube is created in the trachea for breathing
tracheotomy
the procedure of making a hole in the trachea for inserting a tube
antitussive
a drug that reduces coughing
