Pulmonology

Alveolus/ Alveolar (al-VEE-oh-lus / al-VEE-oh-lar)

Terminal element of the respiratory tract where gas exchange occurs

Apnea (AP-nee-ah)

temporary absence of a spontaneous respiration

Aspiration (AS-pih-RAY-shun)

Removal by suction of fluid or gas from a body cavity

Atelectasis (at-eh-LEK-tah-sis)

Collapse of a part of a lung

Auscultation (aws-kul-TAY-shun)

Diagnostic method of listening to the body with a stethoscope

Bradypnea (brad-ip-NEE-ah)

Slow breathing

Bronchiectasis (brong-kee-EK-tah-sis)

Chronic dilation of the bronchi following inflammatory disease and obstruction

Bronchodilator (brong-koh-DIE-lay-tor)

Agent that increases the diameter of the bronchus

Bronchoscopy (brong-KOS-koh-pee)

Examination of the interior of the tracheobronchial tree with an endoscope

Bronchus (BRONG-kus)

One of two subdivisions of the trachea

Cautery (KAW-ter-ee)

A device to scar, burn or cut a tissue

Cilia (SIL-ee-ah)

Hair like motile projection from the surface of a cell

Croup (KROOP)

Infection of the upper airway in children characterized by a barking cough

Cyanosis (sigh-ah-NO-sis)

Blue discoloration of the skin, lips and nail beds due to low O2 levels in the blood

Cystic fibrosis (SIS-tik figh-BROH-sis)

Genetic disease in which excessive viscid mucus obstructs passages including the bronchi

Dyspnea (DISP-nee-ah)

Difficult breathing

Emphysema (em-fih-ZEE-mah)

Dilation of respiratory bronchioles and alveoli

Empyema (em-pie-EE-mah)

Pus in a body cavity, particularly in the pleural cavity

Epiglottitis (eh-pih-glah-TIE-tis)

Inflammation of the epiglottis

Epistaxis (eh-pih-STAK-sis)

A nosebleed

Expiration (ek-spih-RAY-shun)

To breath out

Hemoptysis (hee-MOP-tih-sis)

Coughing up blood

Hemothorax (hee-moh-THOR-aks)

Blood in the pleural cavity

Hypoxemia (high-pok-SEE-mee-ah)

Low O2 levels in the blood

Hypoxic (high-POK-sik)

Deficient in O2

Inspiration (in-spih-RAY-shun)

To breath in

Intubation (in-too-BAY-shun)

insertion of a tube into the trachea

Laryngopharynx (lah-ring-go-FAIR-inks)

Region of the pharynx below the epiglottis that includes the larynx

Laryngoscope (lah-RING-go-skohp)

Hollow tube with a light and camera used to visualize or operate on the larynx

Mucolytic (myoo-koh-LIT-ik)

An agent capable of dissolving mucus

Nares (NAIR-eez)

Nostrils

Olfactory (ohl-FAK-tor-ee)

Relating to the sense of smell

Oropharynx (or-oh-FAIR-inks)

Region at the back of the mouth between the soft palate and the tip of the epiglottis

Paranasal (pair-ah-NAY-zal)

Adjacent to the nose

Pharyngeal (fah-RIN-jee-al)

tube from nose to larynx, or that region.

Phlegm (FLEM)

Abnormal amounts of mucus expectorated from the respiratory tract

Pleura (PLOOR-ah)

Membrane covering the lungs and lining the ribs in the thoracic cavity

Pneumonectomy (noo-moh-NEK-toh-mee)

Surgical removal of the lung

Polysomnography (pah-lee-som-NOG-rah-fee)

Test to monitor brain waves, muscle tension, eye movement, and oxygen levels in the blood as the patient sleeps

Pulmonologist (pull-moh-NOL-oh-jist)

A specialist in treating disorder of the lungs

Pulmonology (pull-moh-NOL-oh-jee)

The study of the lungs

Rales (RAHLZ)

crackles heard through a stethoscope when air bubbles through liquid in the lungs

Respiration (res-pih-RAY-shun)

The process of breathing

Rhinitis (rye-NIE-tis)

Inflammation of the nasal mucosa

Rhonchi (RONG-kie)

Wheezing sound heard on auscultation of the lungs; made by air passing through a constricted space

Sinusitis (sigh-nyoo-SIE-tis)

The inflammation of a cavity or hollow space in bone or other tissue

Spirometry (spy-ROM-eh-tree)

Instrument used to measure respiratory volumes

Sputum (SPYOO-tum)

Matter coughed up and spat out

Stridor (STRIGH-dor)

High pitched noise made when there is a respiratory obstruction in the larynx or trachea

Tachypnea (tak-ip-NEE-ah)

Rapid breathing

Thoracentesis (thor-ah-sen-TEE-sis)

Insertion of a needle into the pleural cavity to withdraw fluid or air

Ventilator (VEN-tih-lay-tor)

Device that breaths for the patient

Abbreviations

CPAP (SEE-pap)

Continuous positive airway pressure

SIDS (SIDS)

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

RT (AR-TEE)

Respiratory Therapist

FVC (EFF-VEE-SEE)

Forced vital capacity

PFT (PEE-EFF-TEE)

Pulmonary function test

COPD (SEE-OH-PEE-DEE)

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

URI (YOU-AR-EYE)

Upper respiratory infection

ABG (AY-BEE-JEE)

Arterial blood gas

cc (SEE-SEE)

cubic centimeter

D.A.W (DEE-AY-DOUBLE-YOU)

Dispense as written

sig (SIG)

Write on label

STAT (STAT)

immediately

PRN (PEE-AR-ENN)

as needed

Q (KYOO)

every