Vocabulary

Question 1

Dyspnea

Answer 1

Difficult or labored breathing

Question 2

Orthopnea

Answer 2

A form of dyspnea in which the person can breath comfortably only when standing or sitting erect;

often associated with asthma and emphysema.

Question 3

Paroxysmal Nocturnal Dyspnea

Answer 3

Respiratory distress and shortness of breath due to pulmonary edema, appearing suddenly and often awakening the sleeping individual.

Question 4

Palpitations

Answer 4

A noticeably rapid, strong, or irregular heartbeat due to agitation, exertion, or illness.

Question 5

Syncope

Answer 5

Temporary loss of consciousness caused by a fall in blood pressure

Question 6

Hemoptysis

Answer 6

The coughing up of blood.

Question 7

Pericarditis

Answer 7

Inflammation of the pericardium

Question 8

Endocarditis

Answer 8

Inflammation of the endocardium

Question 9

Aortic Stenosis

Answer 9

An abnormal narrowing of the aortic valve.

Question 10

Cor Pulmonale

Answer 10

An enlargement of the right ventricle of the heart due to disease of the lungs or of the pulmonary blood vessels

Question 11

Pleurisy

Answer 11

Inflammation of the pleurae, which causes pain when breathing.

Question 12

Fibromyalgia

Answer 12

A chronic disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, and tenderness in localized areas

Question 13

Costochondritis

Answer 13

Inflammation at the junction of a rib and its cartilage

Question 14

Inotropes

Answer 14

An inotrope is an agent that alters the force or energy of muscular contractions

Question 15

PMI

Answer 15

Point of Maximal Impulse

(Normally in the 4th-6th intercostal space on the mid-clavicular line)

Question 16

Polycythemia

Answer 16

> 20 mg/dL

Increased blood viscosity leading to capillary blockage and tissue ischemia

Question 17

Anemia

Answer 17

< 10 mg/dL

Therapy may be contraindicated…

Question 18

Hemolyzed Sample

Answer 18

Condition of a specimen of plasma or serum that has broken blood cells dissolved in it.

Question 19

Tetany

Answer 19

A condition marked by intermittent muscular spasms, caused by malfunction of the parathyroid glands and a consequent deficiency of calcium

Question 20

Pneumothorax

Answer 20

Abnormal presence of air in the pleural cavity resulting in the collapse of the lung

Question 21

Iatrogenic

Answer 21

Of, or relating, to illness caused by medical examination or treatment

Question 22

Hemothorax

Answer 22

An accumulation of blood in the pleural cavity

Question 23

Chylothorax

Answer 23

A chylothorax is a type of pleural effusion. It results from lymphatic fluid (chyle) accumulating in the pleural cavity.

Question 24

Pleural Effusion

Answer 24

Excess fluid that accumulates in the pleural cavity

Question 25

Hypercapnia

Answer 25

The physical condition of having the presence of an abnormally high level of carbon dioxide in the circulating blood.

Question 26

Emphysema

Answer 26

Permanent, destructive abnormal enlargement of the air spaces distal to the terminal bronchiole with destruction of the alveolar walls without obvious fibrosis

Question 27

Hypothesis

Answer 27

Alveolar wall destruction secondary to the protease-antiprotease mechanism (elastase)

Question 28

Stridor

Answer 28

A harsh vibrating noise when breathing, caused by obstruction of the windpipe or larynx

Question 29

Cheyne-Stokes Breathing

Answer 29

Crescendo-decrescendo pattern in the depth of respirations with period of apnea

Question 30

Biot’s Breathing

Answer 30

Quick, shallow breathing with periods of apnea

Associated with CNS injury

Question 31

Kussmaul’s Breathing

Answer 31

A consistent, very deep breathing pattern at a normal or increased rate

Assoicated with severe metabolic acidosis (hyperventilation)

Question 32

Tactile Fremitus

Answer 32

Palpable vibration produced during breathing caused by partial airway obstruction

Obstruction can be sue to mucus, other secretions, bronchial hyper-reactivity, constriction, or tumors

Question 33

Rhonchi

Answer 33

A low pitched wheeze (snoring-like sound)

Question 34

Diaphoresis

Answer 34

Sweating, especially to an unusual degree as a symptom of disease or a side effect of a drug

Question 35

Hypokalemia

Answer 35

Deficiency of potassium in the bloodstream.

Symptoms of hypokalemia include:

Abnormal heart rhythms (dysrhythmias), especially in people with heart disease
Constipation
Fatigue
Muscle damage (rhabdomyolysis)
Muscle weakness or spasms
Paralysis (which can include the lungs)

Question 36

Hypernatremia

Answer 36

Excessive amounts of sodium in the blood; possibly indicating diabetes insipidus