Week 11: Respiratory Assessment Flashcards
Definition: Adventitious breath sounds
Abnormal sounds heard in the lungs, distinct from normal breath sounds, and can indicate various underlying conditions (wheezes, crackles, rhonchi, stridor, and pleural rubs)
Definition: Apnea
A sleep disorder characterized by repetitive pauses in breathing or shallow breathing during sleep
Definition: Bradypnea
An abnormally slow respiratory rate, typically defined as fewer than 12 breaths per minute in adults
Definition: Bronchial
Having to do with the bronchi
Definition: Bronchovesicular
A normal type of lung sound, having a medium pitch and intensity, that are heard over the major bronchi, between the scapulae, and below the clavicles
Definition: Crackles
Discontinuous, abnormal lung sounds, also known as rales, that sound like rattling, bubbling, or clicking, typically heard during inhalation, and can be fine or coarse
Definition: Cyanosis
The change of body tissue color to a bluish-purple hue
Definition: Dyspnea
Shortness of breath
Definition: Expiration
Exhalation of a breath
Definition: Friction rub
An audible, grating or creaking sound heard during auscultation, often associated with inflamed tissues rubbing together, such as in the lungs (pleural friction rub) or heart (pericardial friction rub)
Definition: Hyperventilation
Rapid or deep breathing, usually caused by anxiety or panic
Definition: Hypoventilation
Breathing is too slow or shallow, leading to a buildup of carbon dioxide and potentially low oxygen levels in the blood
Definition: Hypoxia
Low levels of oxygen in your body tissues
Definition: Inspiration
Inhalation of a breath
Definition: Normal breath sounds
Soft, low-pitched, and rustling, heard over most of the lung fields, with the inspiratory phase lasting longer than the expiratory phase
Definition: Tachypnea
An abnormally fast respiratory rate, typically defined as more than 20 breaths per minute in adults
Definition: Tracheal
Referring to the trachea
Definition: Vesicular
Something characterized by or consisting of vesicles, which are small, fluid-filled sacs or blisters
Definition: Wheezes
High-pitched, whistling sound during breathing, often indicating narrowed or obstructed airways, and can be a sign of various respiratory conditions like asthma, COPD, or infections
Where does the highest point of lung tissue lie?
What is it called?
Anterior chest - the apex, or highest point, of lung tissue is 3 or 4 cm above the inner third of the clavicles
Where is the lower border (base)? Where does it extend to with deep inspiration?
Posteriorly, the location of C7 marks the apex of lung tissue, and T10 usually corresponds to
the base, then to T12
Why is the right lobe shorter?
The liver is below it
Why is the left lobe narrower?
The heart bulges to the left
How many lobes in the left lung?
2
How many lobes in the right lung?
3
What is the trachea?
The windpipe
Where is the trachea located?
Anterior to the esophagus
What is the role of the bronchi?
To transport gases, filled with air but they do not have gas
exchange properties
What makes up the Acinus?
Bronchioles, alveolar ducts, alveolar sacs, and alveoli
What is the purpose of the Acinus?
Gas Exchange
What is the Alveoli responsible for?
Create large surface area for gas exchange
What are the 4 mechanisms of respiration?
- Control of respiration
- Changing chest size during respiration
- Inspiration
- Expiration
What are some abnormal lung sounds?
Wheezes
Crackles
Stridor
What are Wheezes?
Low pitch “musical snoring” or high pitched with
obstructed airway
What can cause Wheezes?
Bronchitis, bronchiolitis (children), asthma
What is Stridor?
High-pitched inspiratory sound (barking cough) that originates in larynx or trachea, upper airway obstruction, from swollen or inflamed tissues or foreign body
What causes Stridor?
Croup, acute epiglottis, foreign body, altered anatomy
What are the 2 types of crackles?
Course and fine
What are Course crackles?
Loud, low pitched, bubbling or gurgling; May decrease with cough or suctioning; caused by fluid or inflammation
What are Fine crackles?
Heard loudest to bases, secretions in alveoli; found in bed ridden adults
Which of the following factors is usually associated with the adventitious lung sounds
called crackles?
a) airway obstruction
b) Inflammation
c) Pneumothorax
c) Fluid in the alveoli
c) Pneumothorax
What are some examples of Upper Airway Obstructions?
Croup, obstruction
What are some examples of Lower Airway Obstructions?
Asthma, bronchitis
What are some examples of Lung Tissue Disease?
Pneumonia, pulmonary
edema
What are some examples of Disordered control of breathing?
Seizures, drug overdose
What is Emphysema?
Alveoli are damaged, causing the inner walls to weaken and rupture (main cause is COPD)
