- 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)