- advanced cardiac life support (ACLS)
- enhanced training and skills beyond basic life support (BLS), primarily involving the addition of resuscitation and cardiac support medications
- afterload
- the force the ventricles must generate to pump blood against the resistance in the vessels
- arteriosclerosis
- stiffening of the arterial walls
- artery
- a blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart
- atelectasis
- the collapse of alveoli in the lungs, resulting in limited air movement and decreased gas exchange
- atherosclerosis
- buildup of plaque deposits within the artery walls
- automated external defibrillator (AED)
- an easy-to-use portable device available in many settings that can analyze a cardiac rhythm and defibrillate, if appropriate, in order to reestablish an effective cardiac rhythm
- automaticity
- the ability of cells to initiate spontaneous action potential
- bronchiectasis
- a chronic condition where airways are dilated and the lung walls are thickened due to inflammation and infection
- capnography
- CO2 monitor
- cardiomyocytes
- heart muscle cells
- cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
- combination of rescue breathing and chest compressions
- cardiopulmonary system
- combination of cardiovascular and pulmonary systems
- cardioversion
- use of low-dose electricity to convert the cardiac electrical system from a dysrhythmia (e.g., A-fib) to normal sinus rhythm
- carina
- the ridge of cartilage at the base of the trachea that separates the openings of the left and right primary bronchi
- comorbidity
- multiple medical diagnoses
- compliance
- the ability of the lungs to accommodate deep and shallow breaths and maintain elastic recoil
- contractility
- pumping action of the heart
- crepitus
- a popping or crackling sensation when the skin is palpated; it is a sign of air trapped under the subcutaneous tissues
- cyanosis
- a bluish or dusky discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes caused by hypoxia
- dysrhythmia
- a rhythm abnormality
- ejection fraction (EF)
- the percentage of blood within the ventricle that is expelled during a single systolic contraction
- electrocardiogram
- the visual interpretation of the electrical impulses involved in the cardiac cycle
- epiglottis
- a flexible piece of cartilage that covers the opening of the trachea during swallowing to prevent ingested material from entering the trachea
- esophagus
- part of the gastrointestinal tract: tubular structure adjacent to trachea which transports food and fluid boluses from the mouth to stomach
- expiration
- the act of exhalation or breathing out
- false vocal cords
- mucosal tissue located within the glottis; also known as vestibular folds
- fibrosis
- abnormal scar tissue
- gas exchange
- the transfer of oxygen and carbon dioxide; takes place at the alveolar-capillary bed
- glottis
- the opening between vocal folds; includes true vocal cords and the opening between them
- hypercapnia
- an elevated blood CO2
- hyperventilation
- rapid, deep breathing
- hypoxemia
- decreased partial pressure of oxygen in the blood (PaO2)
- hypoxia
- a reduced level of tissue oxygenation
- inspiration
- the movement of air into the lungs
- intravascular volume
- the amount of fluid within the blood vessels
- ischemia
- a condition in which oxygen-rich blood flow is restricted or reduced in a part of the body
- isoelectric line
- the flat horizontal line on ECG paper, reflecting no electrical voltage (positive or negative)
- laryngopharynx
- lower portion of the throat, located behind the larynx
- larynx
- tubular airway structure at the superior part of the trachea that connects the pharynx to the trachea and helps regulate the volume of air that enters and leaves the lungs; contains the vocal cords
- mediastinum
- the space within the thoracic cavity, medially between the lungs
- metabolic syndrome
- a group of disorders including high triglycerides, low high-density lipoprotein (HDL), insulin resistance, hyperglycemia, hypertension, and central obesity
- nasal turbinates
- folded mucosal tissues offering protection, warmth, and humidity to the nasal cavity; also known as conchae
- nasopharynx
- superior part of pharynx, connecting nose and trachea
- oropharynx
- middle portion of pharynx, including tonsils and base of tongue, connecting to trachea
- perfusion
- vascular circulation powered by the pumping action of the heart that delivers oxygen and other nutrients to body tissues
- pharynx
- muscular tube that connects the nasal cavity and mouth to the voice box (larynx) and the esophagus (food pipe); also known as the throat
- postural drainage
- use of gravity/positioning to enhance drainage of respiratory secretions
- preload
- the stretch on the ventricles prior to contraction
- respiration
- the action of breathing, including inhalation and exhalation
- respiratory ventilation
- the act of breathing; associated with oxygenation
- rhythm strip
- a tracing of the electrical cycles as seen from a selected lead, usually representing six seconds
- sinuses
- cavities located bilaterally in various areas of the skull; identified by the nearby bones
- spirometry
- pulmonary function test measuring the amount and speed of air movement on inhalation and exhalation
- stroke volume
- the volume of blood pumped out of the left ventricle of the heart during each systolic cardiac contraction
- subcutaneous emphysema
- air trapped in the subcutaneous tissue
- surfactant
- a phospholipid compound that reduces surface tension of alveoli, thereby preventing alveolar collapse (atelectasis)
- tachycardia
- heart rate faster than 100 beats per minute
- tachypnea
- a respiratory rate that exceeds 20 breaths per minute
- tidal volume
- length and depth of breaths
- trachea
- the lowest structure of the upper airway, adjacent to the esophagus, that connects the lung bronchi and the larynx and provides a route for air to enter and exit the lungs; also known as the windpipe
- true vocal cords
- structures within the glottis with muscular attachments to the thyroid and laryngeal cartilage; movement at the inner aspects produces sound production mechanism
- valve
- promotes the unidirectional flow of blood toward the heart and prevents backflow in a vein
- vein
- a blood vessel that returns blood to the heart
- venous reserve
- percentage of venous blood located in venous networks within the liver, bone marrow, and integument
- ventilation
- the movement of air in and out of the lungs