Pulmonology

med term

Alveolus/Alveolar

Terminal element of the respiratory tract where gas exchange occurs

Apnea

Temporary absence of a spontaneous respiration

Aspiration

Removal by suction of fluid or gas from a body cavity

Atelectasis 

Collapse of part of a lung

Auscultation

Diagnostic method of listening to the body with a stethoscope

Bradypnea

Slow breathing

Bronchiectasis

Chronic dilation of the bronchi following inflammatory disease and obstruction

Bronchodilator

Agent that increases the diameter of the bronchus

Bronchoscopy

Examination of the interior of the tracheobronchial tree with an endoscope

Bronchus

One two subdivisions of the trachea

Cautery 

A device to scar burn or cut a tissue

Cilia

Hair like motile projection from the surface of a cell

Croup

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

Cyanosis

Blue discoloration of the skin, lips,  and nail beds due to low o2 levels in the blood

Cystic fibrosis

Genetic disease in which excessive viscid mucus obstructs passages including bronchi

Dyspnea

Difficult breathing

Emphysema

Dilation of respiratory bronchioles and alveoli

Empyema 

Pus in a body cavity, particularly in the pleural cavity

Epiglottitis

Inflammation of the epiglottis

Epistaxis

A nosebleed

Expiration 

To breath out 

Hemoptysis

Coughing up blood

Hemothorax

Low o2 levels

Hypoxic 

Deficient in o2 

Inspiration

To breath in

Intubation

Insertion of tube into the trachea

Laryngopharynx 

Region of the pharynx below the epiglottis that includes the larynx 

Laryngoscope

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

Mucolytic

An agent capable of dissolving mucus

Nares 

Nostrils 

Olfactory

Relating to the sense of smell

Oropharynx

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

Paranasal

Adjacent to the nose

Pharyngeal

Tube from nose to larynx, or that region

Phlegm

Abnormal amounts of mucus expectorated from the respiratory tract

Pleura 

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

Pneumonectomy

Surgical removal of the lung

Polysomnography

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

Pulmonologist 

A specialist in treating disorder of the lungs

Pulmonology

The study of the lungs

Rales

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

Respiration 

The process of breathing

Rhinitis

Inflammation of the nasal mucosa

Rhonchi

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

Sinusitis 

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

Spirometry

Instrument used to measure respiratory volumes

Sputum

Matter coughed up and spat out

Stridor 

High pitched noise ade when there is a repiratory obstruction in the larynx or trachea 

Tachypnea

Rapid breathing

Thoracentesis

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

Ventilator 

Device that breaths for the patient 

CPAP

Continuous postive airway pressure

SIDS

Sudden infant death Syndrome

RT

Respiratory Therapist 

FVC

Forced vital capacity

PFT

Pulmonary function test

CHF 

Congestive Heart failure 

COPD

Chronic obstructive pulmonary diseaseS

SARS

Servere acute respiratory syndrome

URI

Upper respiratory infection

ABG

Arterial blood gasd

cc

Cubic centimeter

D.A.W

Dispense as written

sig

Write on label

STAT

Immediately

PRN

As needed 

Q

Every