Respiratory Terms

Question 1

Apnea

Answer 1

Total absence of breathing, may be periodic

Question 2

Hyperpnea

Answer 2

Increased depth of respiration

Question 3

Dyspnea

Answer 3

Labored or difficult respirations

Question 4

Orthopnea

Answer 4

Person must sit up in erect position to breathe

Question 5

Tachypnea

Answer 5

An increased respiratory rate. Seen for example in fever as the body tries to rid itself of excess heat. Respirations increase about four breaths per minute for every 1 degree Fahrenheit rise in temperature above normal. Respirations also increase with pneumonia, compensatory respiratory alkalosis, respiratory insufficiency and lesions in the pons of the brain stem.

Question 6

Bradypnea

Answer 6

A decreased but regular respiratory rate, such as depression of the respiratory center in the medulla by opiates or brain tumor.

Question 7

Hypoventilation

Answer 7

Prolonged depression of the respiratory center, altering both the pattern, which becomes irregular or slow, and the depth, which becomes shallow. This is caused by drugs, carbon dioxide narcosis and anesthetics.

Question 8

Hyperventilation

Answer 8

An increase in both rate and depth of respiration. This follows extreme exertion, fear and anxiety, fever, hepatic coma, midbrain lesions of the brain stem and acid-base imbalances such as diabetic ketoacidosis (Kussmaul’s respiration) or salicylate overdose (in both of these compensation for the metabolic acidosis is attempted through respiratory alkalosis), as well as an alteration in blood gas concentration (either increased CO2 or decreased O2). The breathing pattern is normally regular and consists of inspiration, pause, longer expiration, and another pause. But this may be altered by some defects and diseases.

Question 9

Hypoxia

Answer 9

Inadequate oxygen supply to the cells and tissues.

Question 10

Cheyne Stokes

Answer 10

A cycle where respirations gradually increase in rate and depth over a cycle of 30-45 seconds. Periods of apnea (20 seconds) alternate the cycles. Caused by increased intracranial pressure, severe congestive heart failure, renal failure, meningitis and drug overdose.

Question 11

Biot’s

Answer 11

Interrupted breathing like Cheyne-Stokes, except that each breath is of the same depth. May be seen with spinal meningitis or other CNS conditions.

Question 12

Kussmaul’s Respirations

Answer 12

Increased rate (more than 20 per minute) and increased depth, a panting, labored kind of respiration seen in metabolic acidosis and renal failure.

Question 13

Apneustic

Answer 13

Prolonged, gasping inspiration followed by extremely short, inefficient expiration

Question 14

Stertorous

Answer 14

Snoring sound produced by secretions in the trachea and large bronchi. Watch for this in patients who have lost their cough reflex and the ability to handle their secretions, such as neurologic or comatose patients

Question 15

Stridor

Answer 15

The inspiratory crowing sound that occurs with upper airway obstruction in laryngitis, the lodging of a foreign body, or croup in children.

Question 16

Wheeze

Answer 16

The high pitched musical sound that occurs with partial obstruction in the small bronchi and bronchioles, as in emphysema or asthma.

Question 17

Sigh

Answer 17

A very deep inspiration followed by a prolonged expiration, occasionally punctuating the regular breathing pattern. Occasional sighs are normal and purposeful, to expand alveoli. Frequent signs may indicate emotional tension. These sounds are heard with the ear alone.

Question 18

Rales and Rhonchi

Answer 18

Rattling sounds that occur with secretions in the lung passageways. When coarse, they may be heard with the ear, but to categorize these and other breath sounds accurately, a stethoscope and tutored practice are necessary.