Pulmonary, Cardiovascular, and Neurological Lecture Notes Flashcards

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering pulmonary gas exchange, lung alterations, vascular diseases, shock, cardiac disorders, pain, and neurological conditions based on lecture notes.

Ventilation (V)

The flow of gases into and out of the alveoli of lungs.

Perfusion (Q)

The flow of blood in the pulmonary circulation involving capillaries and vasculature.

Diffusion

The transfer of gases between the alveoli and the pulmonary capillaries.

Hypoxia-induce vasoconstriction (HPV)

A process where vessels constrict to increase $O_2$ exchange.

Shunt (Low V/Q)

A condition where perfusion exceeds ventilation, meaning blood passes alveoli without gas exchange due to distal airway obstruction.

Dead space (High V/Q)

A condition where ventilation exceeds perfusion because alveoli do not have adequate blood supply for gas exchange.

Silent Unit

The absence or limitation of both ventilation and perfusion, often related to pneumothorax or acute respiratory distress.

Lung Compliance

The ability of the lung to stretch.

Lung Recoil

The ability of the lung to relax to its original shape.

Restrictive Lung Disease

Conditions that prevent lungs from stretching, characterized by high recoil, low compliance, and shallow breaths ($low V_T$).

Obstructive Lung Disease

Conditions where lungs are compliant and can expand, but more effort is required to get air through the airway, characterized by deep breaths ($high V_T$).

Hgb Affinity (Lung)

Oxygen leaves the alveoli and binds to Hgb, resulting in increased $SaO_2$ and high saturation, making the Hgb hold onto oxygen more tightly.

Hgb Affinity (Tissues)

Oxygen leaves Hgb to enter cells, resulting in decreased $SaO_2$ and low saturation, making the Hgb ready to give up oxygen.

Right Shift (Oxyhemoglobin Dissociation Curve)

A state of decreased affinity occurring in high $PCO_2$, high temperature, acidosis ($low pH$), and high altitude, allowing $O_2$ to be released easier to tissues.

Hypoxia

Poor oxygenation at the tissue level, categorized as hypoxic, anemic, circulatory, or histotoxic.

Hypoxemia

Abnormally low arterial oxygen levels, defined as $PaO_2 < 60\,mm\,Hg$.

Hypercapnia

Abnormally high arterial carbon dioxide levels, defined as $PaCO_2 > 50\,mm\,Hg$.

Secondary Polycythemia

An increased production of RBCs by the kidneys in response to chronic hypoxia or hypoxemia to improve oxygen-carrying capacity.

Pulmonary Surfactant

A substance that reduces surface tension in the alveoli to prevent collapse at end-expiration and reduce the work of breathing.

ARDS (Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome)

An inflammatory lung injury characterized by severe dyspnea, hypoxemia that does not respond to supplemental oxygen, and non-cardiac pulmonary edema.

Tension Pneumothorax

A life-threatening condition where air enters the pleural cavity through a wound on inhalation but cannot leave on exhalation, acting as a one-way valve.

Atelectasis

The collapse of lung tissue, which can be caused by compression, obstruction, or decreased surfactant (adhesive).

Intrinsic Asthma

A non-allergic chronic inflammatory disorder of the bronchial mucosa triggered by stress, cold air, exercise, or infections.

Chronic Bronchitis (Blue Bloater)

A type of COPD characterized by hypersecretion of mucus, chronic cough for at least 3 months for 2 consecutive years, cyanosis, and edema.

Emphysema (Pink Puffer)

A type of COPD involving the destruction of alveolar walls, enlargement of distal air sacs, air trapping ($CO_2$ retention), and a barrel chest.

Pulmonary Hypertension

A mean pulmonary artery pressure greater than $25\,mm\,Hg$ at rest.

Cor Pulmonale

Right ventricular enlargement caused by chronic high blood pressure in the lungs.

Virchow Triad

The three factors contributing to venous thromboembolism: venous stasis, hypercoagulability, and endothelial cell injury.

Typical Pneumonia

A bacterial infection (commonly $Streptococcus pneumoniae$) located inside the alveoli.

Atypical Pneumonia

A viral or mycoplasma infection of the alveolar septum that impairs diffusion and lacks alveolar exudate.

Latent Tuberculosis

A state where Mycobacterium tuberculosis organisms are viable but surrounded by immune cells, making the disease inactive and non-transmissible.

Foam Cells

Lipid-laden macrophages that contribute to vessel damage during the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis.

Intermittent Claudication

Pain occurring with movement that is a clinical manifestation of gradual obstruction in Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD).

The Seven Ps

The clinical presentation of acute arterial occlusion: pistol shot, pallor, poikilothermia, pulselessness, pain, paresthesia, and paralysis.

Hemosiderin Deposits

Brown pigmentation of the skin caused by the breakdown of RBCs, seen in chronic venous insufficiency.

Hypertensive Emergency

Elevated blood pressure with evidence of end-organ damage, such as mental status changes or renal failure.

Initial Stage of Shock

The phase where decreased perfusion activates the SNS (increasing HR and RR) and the RAAS to increase blood volume and pressure.

Anaphylactic Shock

A distributive shock caused by an IgE-mediated widespread release of histamine, leading to massive vasodilation and bronchospasm.

Stable Angina

Predictable chest pain associated with exertion that is relieved by rest.

Unstable Angina

Unpredictable chest pain occurring during rest or with minimal activity, indicating an incomplete obstruction and high risk for MI.

STEMI

A transmural myocardial infarction causing ST-segment elevation on an ECG, indicating damage to all three layers of the heart wall.

Cardiac Markers

Proteins such as Troponin and Myoglobin released from necrotic heart cells used to diagnose an MI.

Valvular Stenosis

A defect where a heart valve will not open all the way, creating resistance to blood flow.

Valvular Regurgitation

A defect where a heart valve will not close all the way, causing blood to leak backward.

HfrEF (Systolic Dysfunction)

Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction where the heart muscle is weak and cannot squeeze out volume, leading to a larger $ESV$.

HFpEF (Diastolic Dysfunction)

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction where the ventricle walls are enlarged/stiff, leading to a smaller $EDV$.

Myasthenia Gravis

An autoimmune disease (IgG) that attacks and inhibits ACh binding at the neuromuscular junction, causing weakness that worsens with activity.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

A disease involving the degeneration of the myelin sheath in CNS neurons, scarring, and loss of axons.

Spinal Shock

The immediate loss of all motor, sensory, and reflex activity at and below the level of injury following a spinal cord injury.

Autonomic Dysreflexia

A life-threatening, exaggerated sympathetic response following spinal shock recovery in SCI patients, characterized by extreme hypertension and bradycardia.

Parkinson Disease

A movement disorder caused by the loss of dopamine neurons in the substantia nigra, manifesting as resting tremors and cogwheel rigidity.

TIAs (Transient Ischemic Attack)

Mini-strokes with stroke-like symptoms that resolve within 24 hours.

Ischemic Penumbra

The area surrounding an area of ischemia in a stroke where the damage may be reversible.

Cushing Triad

A late sign of increased ICP consisting of irregular/decreased respirations, bradycardia, and systolic hypertension.

Doll's Head Eyes (Positive)

A reflex where the eyes move in the opposite direction of head movement in a comatose patient, indicating an intact brainstem.

Decerebrate Posturing

Abnormal extension posturing (rigid arms, palms away) indicating midbrain and upper brain stem dysfunction.

Decorticate Posturing

Abnormal flexion posturing (arms and wrists flexed towards the body) indicating cerebral cortex dysfunction.

Epidural Hematoma

Rapid arterial bleeding between the skull and dura, often featuring a lucid interval followed by rapid unconsciousness.

Subdural Hematoma

Venous bleeding between the dura and arachnoid layers, usually resulting from the rupture of bridging veins.

Tonic-clonic Seizure

A generalized seizure characterized by a contraction phase (tonic) and a jerking phase (clonic).

Delirium

An acute state of brain dysfunction with an abrupt onset, often involving concentrated difficulty and restlessness.