Skip to ContentGo to accessibility pageKeyboard shortcuts menu
OpenStax Logo

acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
potentially fatal lung injury that can be triggered by a variety of events; fluid builds up in the lungs, oxygen levels drop, and scarring can occur
adventitious lung sounds
breath sounds other than a clear sound of air
alveolar sac
group of alveoli
alveolus
individual, grapelike sac in the lungs where gas exchange occurs
angioedema
soft tissue swelling in the deep layers of the skin, most commonly in the mouth, eyelids, and genitals
aspiration
food, fluid, upper airway secretions, or emesis enter the trachea and respiratory tract
asthma attack
(also: asthma exacerbation) inflammation narrows the airway, making it harder for the lungs to expand
atelectasis
condition that causes a partial or complete collapse of the lung
BiPAP
bilevel positive airway pressure, a form of noninvasive ventilation that uses a tight-fitting mask over the nose and/or mouth to increase oxygen levels and lower carbon dioxide levels; bilevel means there are two pressure settings: inhalation positive airway pressure (IPAP) and exhalation positive airway pressure (EPAP)
black lung disease
pulmonary disease that leads to lung scarring due to inhaled coal dusts, also known as pneumoconiosis
bradypnea
less than twelve breaths per minute
bronchial breath sounds
heard over the trachea and larynx and are high-pitched and loud
bronchiectasis
condition in which the elastic, supportive structures of the bronchial wall become damaged, and the bronchi abnormally dilate
bronchoconstriction
smooth muscles in the airways contract, causing the airway to narrow
bronchodilator
medication that opens narrowed airways
bronchoscope
thin tube inserted into the mouth or nose with a camera for visual examination of lung tissue, can obtain biopsy samples and treat blockages
bronchovesicular breath sounds
medium-pitched and heard over the major bronchi
cachexia
disorder that causes loss of muscle and adipose tissue
capnography
(also: end-tidal carbon dioxide [EtCO2] monitoring) noninvasive way to measure exhaled carbon dioxide and provide information about ventilation
carina
point where the trachea splits into the right and left primary bronchi
chest physical therapy
airway clearance technique that can improve drainage and mobilization of mucus
chest tube
(also: thoracostomy tube) tube inserted through the skin, into the pleural space, to drain air, fluid, or blood
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
widely prevalent obstructive respiratory disease
clubbing
bulbous enlargement of the tips of the fingers due to chronic hypoxia
conducting zone
all parts of the respiratory system that do not participate in gas exchange, the passageways for air to flow into and out of the lungs
crepitus
feels like a popping or crackling sensation when the skin is palpated; is a sign of air trapped under the subcutaneous tissues
diffusion
movement of substances from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration
droplet nuclei
tiny particles expelled from an infected person during talking, coughing, or singing; they remain airborne for several hours
emphysema
occurs when alveolar walls become damaged and lose elasticity, resulting in problems with exhalation
fine crackles
(also: rales) popping or crackling sounds heard on inspiration as collapsed airways reopen
forced expiratory volume (FEV1)
maximum exhaled volume of air in one second
forced vital capacity (FVC)
overall maximum volume of air that can be exhaled
granuloma
walled-off capsule that develops as the body attempts to contain tubercle bacilli
hemoptysis
coughing up blood
hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP)
pneumonia that develops in a hospital setting
hypercapnia
high blood levels of carbon dioxide
hypoxemia
low blood levels of oxygen
iatrogenic pneumothorax
air enters the pleural space due to a complication from surgery or invasive procedure (e.g., placement of a central venous catheter)
idiopathic
having an unknown cause
immune globulin
product that may be administered intravenously or subcutaneously to provide necessary antibodies to strengthen the immune system
laryngopharynx
most inferior portion of the pharynx, allows passage of both air and food
larynx
cartilaginous structure that joins the pharynx to the trachea and regulates how much air goes in and out of the lungs, allows vibrations in the vocal cords to produce sound
meconium
newborn’s first stool
medulla oblongata
respiratory center of the brain, controls breathing by responding to shifts in carbon dioxide, oxygen, and blood pH
nasopharynx
region of the pharynx allows air to pass from the nasal cavity toward the trachea
needle decompression
treatment for tension pneumothorax where a large needle is inserted through the skin, between the ribs, into the pleural space; the large volume of air in the pleural space escapes through the needle and the lung can reexpand
oropharynx
region of the pharynx, allows passage of both air and food
oxygenation
process that occurs when oxygen from the air makes its way into the bloodstream
oxyhemoglobin
bright red molecule formed when oxygen binds to hemoglobin
pancreatic enzymes
supplementary medication required by patients with CF due to pancreatic insufficiency
partial pressure
how much of a gas is dissolved in the blood
peak flow meter
device that measures lung function and allows patients to track and observe trends
perfusion
blood flow
pharynx
muscular tube with an inner mucous membrane lining, it connects the nasal passages and oral cavity to the trachea and esophagus
pleurae
protective membranes that encase the lungs
pleural effusion
accumulation of fluid in the pleural space
pleuritic
severe, sudden type of chest pain that occurs with inhalation and exhalation; described as burning, stabbing, or sharp
pleurodesis
technique used to heal the break in the pleural space by creating an inflammatory reaction in the pleural space
pneumoconiosis
pulmonary disease that leads to lung scarring due to inhaled coal dusts, also known as black lung disease
positive expiratory pressure device
airway clearance device that lets the patient breathe in easily but creates resistance as they exhale, slowing down the breath and causing the patient to increase the force of exhalation; air is more able to move behind the mucus and helps to dislodge it
primary spontaneous pneumothorax
air enters the pleural space spontaneously; there is no underlying lung disease
pulse oximeter
noninvasive device that provides information about blood oxygen saturation
rales
(also: fine crackles) popping or crackling sounds heard on inspiration as collapsed airways reopen
respiratory zone
parts of the respiratory system that perform gas exchange
ronchi
coarse, loud sounds that occur due to constriction in the larger airways due to mucus or fluid
rub
grating sound
secondary spontaneous pneumothorax
air enters the pleural space spontaneously as a complication of underlying lung disease
spirometry
pulmonary function test that measures the maximum volume of air that can be inhaled and how much someone can forcefully exhale in one second
stridor
harsh, high-pitched sound heard only on inspiration that is often loud enough to hear without a stethoscope
subcutaneous emphysema
occurs when high-pressure air is forced through the tissues, creates a “popping” sensation with palpation and can cause visible swelling
sweat test
conclusive diagnostic test for CF; a chemical and a small amount of electrical stimulation are applied to the skin to encourage sweat production. Sweat is collected and analyzed; elevated levels of sodium and chloride confirm a diagnosis of CF
tachypnea
more than twenty breaths per minute
tension pneumothorax
when a large volume of air enters the pleural space, in addition to causing a major amount of lung collapse, the high pressure also forces the heart and trachea to shift
thoracostomy tube
(also: chest tube) tube inserted through the skin, into the pleural space, to drain air, fluid, or blood
trachea
anterior to the esophagus, this tube extends downward from the larynx to the lungs
tracheal deviation
trachea in a non-midline position
traumatic pneumothorax
air enters the pleural space due to traumatic injury
tripod position
upright position with hands braced on knees or a table. This position maximizes the space available for the lungs to expand and is often seen in respiratory distress
vaping
using an e-cigarette that heats a solution so it vaporizes and can be inhaled, the solution can contain nicotine, THC, butane hash oils, cannabidiol, and other additives
ventilation
movement of air into and out of the lungs
ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP)
pneumonia that occurs after a ventilator is initiated
vesicular breath sounds
heard over the lung surfaces, are lower-pitched, and often described as soft, rustling sounds
wheezes
whistling-type noises produced during expiration (and sometimes inspiration)
Citation/Attribution

This book may not be used in the training of large language models or otherwise be ingested into large language models or generative AI offerings without OpenStax's permission.

Want to cite, share, or modify this book? This book uses the Creative Commons Attribution License and you must attribute OpenStax.

Attribution information
  • If you are redistributing all or part of this book in a print format, then you must include on every physical page the following attribution:
    Access for free at https://openstax.org/books/medical-surgical-nursing/pages/1-introduction
  • If you are redistributing all or part of this book in a digital format, then you must include on every digital page view the following attribution:
    Access for free at https://openstax.org/books/medical-surgical-nursing/pages/1-introduction
Citation information

© Sep 20, 2024 OpenStax. Textbook content produced by OpenStax is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License . The OpenStax name, OpenStax logo, OpenStax book covers, OpenStax CNX name, and OpenStax CNX logo are not subject to the Creative Commons license and may not be reproduced without the prior and express written consent of Rice University.