Respiratory Abbreviations

Question 1

Define C

Answer 1

Compliance:

measure of the lung’s ability to stretch and expand

Question 2

Define D

Answer 2

Diffusion Capacity:

How well a gas in the inspired air can cross into the blood

Question 3

Define F

Answer 3

Fractional concentration of gas:

Fraction of that gas within a given volume

Question 4

Define P

Answer 4

Pressure

Question 5

Define Q

Answer 5

Volume (blood)

Question 6

Define S

Answer 6

Saturation (blood)

Question 7

Define t

Answer 7

Time

Question 8

Define T

Answer 8

Temperature

Question 9

Define V

Answer 9

Volume (gas)

Question 10

Define PA

Answer 10

Alveolar Pressure:

pressure of air inside the lung alveoli

Question 11

Define Pa

Answer 11

Arterial Pressure:

Blood pressure on arteries during heart contraction

Question 12

Define FiO2

Answer 12

Fraction of inspired O2:

is the fraction of oxygen in the volume being measured

Question 13

Define Ppl

Answer 13

Pleural Pressure:
Pressure within the pleural cavity
Often slightly less than atmospheric pressure and so is described as a negative pressure

Question 14

Define PO2

Answer 14

Partial pressure of O2

Question 15

Define VA

Answer 15

Alveolar gas volume: 350ml

Volume of gas in the alveoli of the lungs

Question 16

Define Q.

Answer 16

Blood flow (perfusion)

Question 17

Define V.

Answer 17

Air flow

Question 18

Define FRC

Answer 18

Functional Residual Capacity: 2.7 - 3L

the volume of air present in the lungs at the end of passive expiration.

Question 19

Define RV

Answer 19

Residual Volume: 1.2L

amount of air that remains in a person’s lungs after fully exhaling

Question 20

Define TLC

Answer 20

Total Lung Capacity: 6L

total amount of air in the lungs after taking the deepest breath possible

Question 21

Define VC

Answer 21

Vital Capacity: 4.8L

the greatest volume of air that can be expelled from the lungs after taking the deepest possible breath.

Question 22

Define VT

Answer 22

Tidal Volume: 0.5L

The lung volume expired in each breath when extra effort is not applied (quiet breathing)

Question 23

Define fR

Answer 23

Respiratory Frequency: 12breaths/min

The number of breaths per minute

Question 24

Define V.E

Answer 24

Total Ventilaltion: L/min

total exchange of air between the lungs and the ambient air

Question 25

Define V.A

Answer 25

Alveolar ventilation: 4200ml/min

The amount of gas that reaches the alveoli during a breath (must be matched to metabolism)

Question 26

Define V.D

Answer 26

Dead space ventilation: 1800ml/min

the volume of a breath that does not participate in gas exchange

Question 27

Define V.O2

Answer 27

O2 consumption: 250ml/min

the amount of oxygen consumed by the tissues of the body, usually measured as the oxygen uptake in the lung

Question 28

Define V.CO2

Answer 28

CO2 Production: 200ml/min

Amount of CO2 produced by tissues and removed from by the lungs.

Question 29

Define PAO2/CO2

Answer 29

Alveolar PO2 / PCO2

Question 30

Define PaO2/CO2

Answer 30

Arterial PO2 / PCO2

Question 31

Define PvO2/CO2

Answer 31

Venous PO2 / PCO2

Question 32

Define CaO2

Answer 32

Arterial O2 Content

Question 33

Define SaO2

Answer 33

Arterial O2 saturation

Question 34

Define IC

Answer 34

Inspiratory Capacity:

The volume of air that can be inspired following a normal, quiet expiration

Question 35

Define IRV

Answer 35

Inspiratory Reserve Volume:

The additional amount of air that can be inhaled after a normal inspiration

Question 36

Define ERV

Answer 36

Expiratory Reserve Volume:

The additional amount of air that can be expired from the lungs by determined effort after normal expiration

Question 37

Define VE

Answer 37

Minute Ventilation: 6L/min

Volume of air expired each minute

Question 38

Define VD

Answer 38

Deadspace Volume: 150ml

Volume of air in the respiratory system where no gas exchange is taing place and therefore this is wasted air.

Question 39

Raw

Answer 39

Total airway resistance: 1.5L/s

Question 40

Define PIF

Answer 40

Peak Inspiratory Flow:

The fastest flow rate noted during the inspiratory cycle

Question 41

Define PEF

Answer 41

Peak Expiratory Flow:

person’s maximum speed of expiration, as measured with a peak flow meter

Question 42

Define FER

Answer 42

Forced Expiratory Ratio: FEV1:FVC
The ratio between the volume of forced air exhaled in the first second of expiration compared to the total capacity of the individual. Used to measure airway resistance

Question 43

Define FEV1

Answer 43

Forced Expiratory volume in 1 second:

The volume of air exhaled in the first second of forced expriation

Question 44

Define FVC

Answer 44

Forced Vital Capacity:

Volume of air exhaled during forced expiration