Medial Terminology Chapter 4 Pulmonology and the Respiratory System

Upper

respiratory

infection

(URI)

A bacterial or viral infection of

the upper respiratory tract; a

head cold.

• Antibiotics are effective

against bacterial colds, but

not against viral colds.

• A cold is spread by contact

with a patient or by inhalation

of particles

Abnormal

breath

sounds

(BS)

Lung sounds that are different from normal and may indicate a

lung disease or condition.

• Normal = soft wind through a tunnel

• Pleural friction rub = creaking or grating, due to inflammation of

pleura

• Crackles/rales = irregular crackling or bubbling, due to fluid or

infection in the alveoli

• Rhonchi = humming, whistling, or snoring, due to mucus or

foreign body obstruction

• Stridor = high-pitched crowing, due to edema or obstruction

• Wheezes = high-pitched whistling or squeaking, due to asthma

attack or reaction

Cough

Protective mechanism to forcefully expel things

from the lungs.

• Expectoration is coughing up sputum.

• ex- = away from

• pector/o- = chest

• -ation = process

Hemoptysis

is coughing up sputum that

contains blood.

• hem/o- = blood

• -ptysis = condition of coughing up

Legionnaires’

disease

Severe, sometimes fatal bacterial infection;

starts with flu-like symptoms and progresses

to severe pneumonia and liver and kidney

degradation

Influenza

Respiratory infection caused by a virus.

• Mild forms cause fever, muscle ache, and

cough for several days.

• Severe forms can be life threatening

Tuberculosis (TB)

Communicable disease that is caused by

Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

• Causes nodules (= tubercules) in the

lungs.

• Waxy coating makes bacterium resistant.

• Treated with a 9-month course of drugs

Severe acute

respiratory

syndrome (SARS)

Severe, communicable viral illness that can

be fatal; associated with close contact and

enclosed spaces

Pneumonia

Infection of lobes of the lungs; fluid, white blood cells,

and microorganisms fill passages.

• pneum/o- = lung; air

• -ia = condition, state

• Bacterial

• Viral

• Double (both lungs)

• Aspiration (inhaled material)

• aspir/o- = to breath in

Empyema

Localized pus in the lung due to a bacterial

infection.

• em- = in

• py/o- = pus

• -ema = condition

Note: this is NOT emphysema

Pulmonary edema

Build up of fluid in the alveoli caused by left-

sided heart failure, chest wall trauma, or

pneumonia

Pulmonary

embolism

Traveling clot or fat globule that lodges in the

lung, blocking blood flow and causing SOB;

often occurs in patients on bedrest.

• embol/o- = occluding plug

• -ism = from a specific cause

embolus

blood clot or fat

globule) originates from veins

anywhere in the body and travels

to the heart.

It then moves into smaller and

smaller pulmonary arteries

getting wedged.

Oxygen exchange doesn’t take

place (no blood flow).

The alveoli collapse in that area

of the lung.

Reactive airway

disease

Blanket term for conditions with reversible

airway narrowing and wheezing.

Asthma

Hyperreactivity of the bronchi or bronchioles

to an allergen or inhaled substances.

• Causes inflammation, excess mucus

production, and bronchospasm.

• From Latin to breathe hard

Bronchiectasis

Permanent enlargement and loss of

elasticity in the bronchioles; allows

secretions to accumulate.

• bronchi/o- = bronchus

• -iectasis = condition of dilation

Bronchitis

Acute or chronic infection or

inflammation of the bronchi.

• Acute bronchitis is due to infection.

• Chronic infection is due to smoking

or pollution

Chronic obstructive

pulmonary disease

(COPD)

Any type of chronic obstructive lung disease,

including chronic bronchitis and

emphysema.

• Due to chronic air pollution or smoking.

• Characterized by chronic inflammation,

severe coughing, SOB (shortness of

breath), and sputum production.

• Alveolar hyperinflation leads to barrel chest

Cystic

fibrosis

(CF)

Inherited condition caused by a recessive gene; causes

problems with respiratory, digestive, and sweat

secretions.

• Cyst refers to fluid-filled sacks

• Mucus secreted is too thick and blocks alveoli.

• Constant coughing and bronchiectasis occur.

• Lung infections are frequent and lack of oxygen is

chronic.

• cyst/o- = bladder

• fibr/o- = fiber

• -osis = abnormal condition

Occupational lung

diseases

Group of disease caused by constant

workplace exposure to inhaled particles.

• Asbestosis (breathing in asbestos

particles)

• Black lung disease (breathing in

dust from coal mines)

Lung cancer

Most common among smokers when tar

deposits in the lungs become cancerous and

spread.

Tar Deposits in the Lung

This section of lung tissue shows hundreds of large and small deposits

of black tar from years of smoking. Cigarette tar also contains

carcinogens that can cause cancer

Effects of Vaping

Asthma. Vaping can make you more likely to get asthma and other

lung conditions

• Lung scarring. Diacetyl, a chemical used in some flavorings, can

cause bronchiolitis obliterans (“popcorn lung”). Bronchiolitis obliterans

causes permanent scarring in your lungs.

• Organ damage. In addition to your lungs, nicotine and other

substances in e-liquid can hurt your heart and brain.

• EVALI (e-cigarette, or vaping, product use associated lung

injury). EVALI is a serious lung condition that vaping causes. It

causes widespread damage to your lungs and gives you symptoms

like coughing, shortness of breath and chest pain. EVALI can be fatal.

• Cancer. Some ingredients in e-liquids are known to cause cancer

Effects of Vaping CONT

Addiction. Nicotine is highly addictive. It causes changes in your

brain so you want more and more nicotine. Even e-liquids that say

they’re nicotine free have small amounts of nicotine.

• Cigarette smoking. Many people start out vaping and end up

smoking cigarettes, which contain higher amounts of harmful

chemicals.

• Second-hand exposure. Vaping doesn’t make smoke, but people

around you are exposed to nicotine and other chemicals when you

vape.

• Explosions. There have been incidents of batteries in vaping

devices exploding and causing serious injuries and burns

Pneumothorax

Air in the pleural space that causes the lung

to collapse; usually the result of penetrating

trauma.

• pneum/o- = air, lung

• -thorax = chest

Hemothorax

Blood in the thoracic cavity, usually due to trauma.

• hem/o- = blood

• -thorax = chest, thorax

Pleural effusion

Accumulation of excess fluid in the pleural

space due to inflammation or infection.

• effus/o- = flowing out

Pleurisy (also

known as pleuritis

Inflammation or infection of the pleura that

causes the two pleural layers to rub against

one another and create a pleural friction rub.

• pleur/o- = lung membrane

• -isy = condition of infection /inflammation

Apnea

Absence of spontaneous respiration due to

respiratory failure or arrest.

• In infants, it may be due to an immature CNS.

• In middle-aged adults, it may cause

obstructive sleep apnea.

• a- = without

• pne/o- = breathing

Dyspnea

Abnormal, difficult, labored, or painful breathing.

• Dyspnea on exertion occurs during activity in

patients with lung disease.

• dys- = abnormal

• -pnea = breathing

Bradypnea

Abnormally slow rate of breathing due to brain

damage or chemical imbalance in the blood.

• brady- = slow

Tachypnea

Abnormally fast rate of breathing due to lung

disease.

• tachy- = fast

Orthopnea

Difficulty breathing when lying supine; patient sleeps

sitting up or semi-upright.

• orth/o- = straight

Cyanosis

Bluish-gray skin due to a low level of oxygen and a

high level of carbon dioxide in the blood.

• cyan/o- = blue

• -osis = abnormal condition

Hypercapnia

Very high level of carbon dioxide in arterial

blood.

• hyper- = above

• capn/o- = carbon dioxide

Hypoxemia

Very low level of oxygen in arterial blood.

• hypo- = below

• ox/o- = oxygen

Arterial blood gases

(ABGs)

Blood test to measure the oxygen and

carbon dioxide in a sample of arterial blood

Carboxyhemoglobin

Blood test to measure the amount of carbon

monoxide (CO) in blood; usually done for

patients exposed to fire or fumes

Oximetry

Noninvasive test to measure oxygen

saturation of the blood; oximeter emits light

waves that reflect off of hemoglobin

Pulmonary

function test (PFT)

Breathing test to measure the volume of air

that can be forcefully inhaled or exhaled

Sleep study

Procedure to determine whether a patient

has obstructive sleep apnea; uses sensors

to measure movement, breathing, and

oxygen level.

CPAP machine used to treat sleep apnea

Sputum culture and

sensitivity (C&S)

Lab test to identify which bacterium is

causing lung infection and the antibiotic

sensitivity

Tuberculosis test

Tests that show whether a person has

been exposed to tuberculosis

Chest radiography

(CXR)

X-ray of the chest

CT & MRI scans

Tomography scans that take many images in

small slices to provide detailed picture of

lung structure.

• CT = uses x-rays

• MRI = uses magnetic field

Lung scan

Procedure in which radioactive air is inhaled

and radioactive drug is injected to identify

areas of poor gas uptake and poor perfusion

in the lungs.

Cardiopulmonary

resuscitation (CPR)

Procedure to help someone who has

stopped breathing and whose heart is not

beating.

• Mouth-to-mouth resuscitation =

providing air to the lungs

• Chest compressions = forcing blood

through the heart

Auscultation and

percussion (A&P)

Assessment of lung health in which breath

sounds are listened to with a stethoscope

as the back is tapped with fingertips

Chest percussion

therapy

Helps loosen mucus; often used with

cystic fibrosis

Incentive spirometry

Procedure to encourage deep

breathing in patients post surgery

using a measuring device.

• spir/o- = breathe; coil

Nebulizer treatment

Procedure in which medication is

aerosolized for deep inhalation

Endotracheal

intubation

Insertion of an endotracheal tube into the mouth,

through the vocal cords, and into the trachea to

establish an airway or provide oxygen

Oxygen therapy

Provision of additional oxygen to patients with

lung disease; may use a nasal cannula, oxygen

mask, or oxygen hood

Antibiotics

Treat bacterial infections of the respiratory

tract

Antituberculars

Antibiotic drugs used only to treat

tuberculosis; more than one must be

administered for 9 months

Antitussives

Suppress cough centers in the brain for

patients with nonproductive cough.

• anti- = against

• tuss/o- = cough

• -ive = pertaining to

Antivirals

Treat influenza in at-risk patients; also used

to treat pneumonia.

Bronchodilators

Relax smooth muscle around bronchi to dilate

bronchi

Corticosteroids

Block immune response that causes

inflammation in the lungs

Expectorants

Reduce the thickness of sputum so it can

be coughed up and out of the chest.

• ex- = away from, out

• pector/o- = chest

• -ant = pertaining to

Smoking cessation

drugs

Bind to nicotine receptors and provide a

gradually decreasing dose of nicotine until

a patient no longer needs nicotine

Bronchoscopy

Insertion of a lighted bronchoscope through

the mouth and larynx to examine the trachea

and bronchi; attachments may be added to

the scope

Chest tube

insertion

Placement of a plastic tube in the thoracic

cavity to remove air, fluid, or blood that has

accumulated due to trauma or infection

Lung resection

Surgery to remove all or part of the lung; may

be done for cancer biopsy or to treat

emphysema

Thoracentesis

Needle inserted into the thoracic cavity to

remove fluid from the pleural space; done to

treat pleural effusion or obtain fluid samples.

• thorac/o- = chest, thorax

• -centesis = procedure to puncture

Thoracotomy

Incision into the thoracic cavity; the first

step in any thorax or lung procedure.

• -tomy = process of cutting/incision

Tracheostomy

Opening into the trachea and insertion

of a plastic tube to provide temporary or

permanent access to the lungs for

patients needing respiratory support;

often called a “trach.”

• -stomy = surgically created opening

A&P

auscultation and percussion

ABG

arterial blood gases

AFB

acid-fast bacillus

AP

anteroposterior

AQI

Air Quality Index

ARDS

adult respiratory distress syndrome

BS

breath sounds

C&S

culture and sensitivity

CAT, CT

computerized axial tomography

CF

cystic fibrosis

CO

carbon monoxide

CO2

carbon dioxide

COPD

chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

CPAP

continuous positive airway pressure

(pronounced “SEE-pap”)

CPR

cardiopulmonary resuscitation

CXR

chest x-ray

DOE

dyspnea on exertion

ETT

endotracheal tube

FBO

foreign body object

FEV1

forced expiratory volume (in 1 second)

FiO2

fraction (percentage) of inhaled oxygen

FVC

forced vital capacity

IRDS

infant respiratory distress syndrome

LLL

left lower lobe (of the lung)

LTBI

latent tuberculosis infection

LUL

left upper lobe (of the lung)

MDI

metered-dose inhaler

MDR-TB

multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis

MRI

magnetic resonance imaging

O2

Oxygen

PFT

pulmonary function test

PCO2, pCO2

partial pressure of carbon dioxide

PPD

packs per day (of cigarettes);

purified protein derivative (TB test