Med terms (lung/upper respiratory)

Question 1

auscultation

Answer 1

listening to sounds arising from within organs (as in the lungs or heart) as an aid to diagnosis and treatment

Question 2

dyspnea

Answer 2

difficult or labored breathing; shortness of breath

Question 3

rales

Answer 3

a type of abnormal respiratory or breath sound heard on auscultation, typically from fluid buildup in congestive heart failure; also known as “crackles”

Question 4

rhinorrhea

Answer 4

runny nose

Question 5

rhonchi

Answer 5

low-pitched, snore-like sounds heard on auscultation of the chest when air channels are partially obstructed, typically by mucus; worrisome for pneumonia

Question 6

hemoptysis

Answer 6

the coughing up of bloody sputum

Question 7

Homan’s sign

Answer 7

pain in the calf of the leg upon dorsiflexion of the foot on physical exam, typically concerning for blood clot int he leg (DVT)

Question 8

effusion

Answer 8

the escape of a fluid from the blood vessels or lymphatics into the tissues or a body cavity; most commonly in the context of pleural effusion seen on chest x-ray

Question 9

basilar

Answer 9

relating to or situated at the base, typically referring to the skull or the lungs (ex: bibasilar infiltrate found on a CXR)

Question 10

orthopnea

Answer 10

difficulty breathing that occurs when lying flat due to fluid in the lungs (typically indicative of CHF)

Question 11

stridor

Answer 11

an abnormal, high-pitched breathing sound during inspiration caused by a blockage in the throat or voice box (larynx)

Question 12

splinting

Answer 12

a respiratory physical exam finding where a patient refrains from taking full deep breaths due to pain on inspiration; also refers to the act of placing a form of immobilization on an injured extremity

Question 13

retractions

Answer 13

visible sinking of the skin between/around the bones of the chest typically viewed as a sign of respiratory distress