Module 5 Respiratory Terms Flashcards
Absence of breathing
apnea
When the anterior-posterior diameter of the chest is equal to the transverse diameter of the chest; often seen in persons with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
barrel chest
A slow respiratory rate (less than 12 breaths per minute in an adult)
bradypnea
Breath sounds of a harsh or blowing quality normally heard only over the trachea or immediately adjacent to the upper sternum in adults
bronchial breath sounds
An abnormal transmission of sounds from the lungs; increase in the intensity and clarity of vocal sounds auscultated through the stethoscope; results from an increase in lung tissue density such as seen in pneumonia or the presence of a tumor
bronchophony
Breath sounds normally heard in the posterior chest between the scapulae and in the center part of the anterior chest in the adult; softer than bronchial sounds; about equal during inspiration and expiration
bronchovesicular breath sounds
Fine high-pitched or coarse low-pitched popping sounds that are short and discontinuous; abnormal (adventitious) sounds that may be heard in pneumonia, heart failure, atelectasis, emphysema
crackles
A sound or feel that resembles the crackling noise heard when rubbing hair between the fingers; associated with gas gangrene, rubbing of bone fragments, air in superficial tissues; a clicking sound often heard in the movement of joints, for example, in temporomandibular joint resulting from joint irregularities; AKA: crepitation
crepitus
A bluish discoloration of the skin, lips, mucus membranes and and/or nails
cyanosis
Difficult breathing; AKA shortness of breath (SOB)
dyspnea
A modification of the vocal sounds heard on auscultation the chest; when the patient is asked to make “ee” sounds, they are heard over the peripheral chest wall as “a”; heard with pleural effusion or pneumonia
egophony
Coughing up blood or blood-stained sputum
hemoptysis
An exaggerated deep, rapid, or labored respiration
hyperpnea
Booming sound; expected percussion tone over the lungs of a person with emphysema
hyperresonance
Difficulty in breathing when lying flat
orthopnea
Pigeon chest; a deformity of the anterior chest characterized by a protrusion of the sternum and ribs
pectus carinatum
Funnel chest, a depression of the anterior wall of the chest produced by a sinking in of the sternum
pectus excavatum
A grating sound heard on auscultation during inspiration and expiration in patients with pleuritis, due to the rubbing of the visceral and parietal pleurae
pleural friction rub
An instrument used as a noninvasive method for monitoring a person’s oxygen saturation (SO2).
pulse oximeter
Hollow sound heard upon percussion of the chest wall; the percussion tone expected when percussing the lungs
resonance
Continuous rumbling, snoring, or rattling sounds from obstruction of large airways with secretions; clears or changes after coughing or suctioning
rhonchi
An instrument for measuring the air entering and leaving the lungs
spirometer
Matter expectorated from the respiratory system in diseased states that is composed chiefly of mucus
sputum
A high-pitched musical or “crowing” sound heard during respiration in cases of obstruction of the air passage, a medical emergency
stridor
A palpable vibration of the chest wall produced by the spoken word; AKA vocal fremitus
tactile fremitus
The expansion of the chest wall palpated when the person takes a deep breath; should be bilateral and symmetric
thoracic expansion
The drum-like percussion tone heard in the abdomen over air-filled organs
tympany
The gentle rustling sounds of normal breathing heard by auscultation over most of the lung fields; low pitched and soft; expiration is shorter and there is no pause between inspiration and expiration
vesicular breath sounds
Abnormal (adventitious) lung sound with high-pitched or low-pitched musical quality heard during both inspiration and expiration; caused by a high-velocity flow of air through a narrowed airway, bronchospasm, inflammation, or obstruction of the airway
wheezes
Whispered voice sounds are transmitted clearly through consolidated pulmonary structures and are clearly audible through a stethoscope
whispered pectoriloquy
