Alterations of Pulmonary Function

Comprehensive practice flashcards covering terms, symptoms, and diseases related to pulmonary function and dysfunction as presented in the lecture notes.

Dyspnea

A subjective sensation of breathlessness, shortness of breath, or respiratory distress often caused by diffuse pulmonary disease.

Orthopnea

Dyspnea caused by the horizontal position which redistributes body water and increases pressure on the diaphragm from abdominal contents.

Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea (PND)

Waking up at night gasping for air due to fluid in the lungs caused by redistribution of body water when the individual is recumbent; often seen in left ventricular failure.

Tachypnea

An increased ventilatory rate that may or may not be accompanied by the sensation of breathlessness.

Eupnea

Normal, rhythmic, and effortless breathing, typically $8-16$ breaths per minute with a tidal volume of $400-800$ ml.

Kussmaul respiration (hyperpnea)

A breathing pattern characterized by a slightly increased ventilatory rate, very large tidal volume, and no expiratory pause, often induced by strenuous exercise or metabolic acidosis.

Cheyne-Stokes respirations

An abnormal pattern of breathing involving progressively deeper and faster breathing, followed by a gradual decrease and a temporary stop in breathing called an apnea.

Hypoventilation

Inadequate alveolar ventilation in relation to metabolic demands, leading to hypercapnia where $PaCO_2$ is greater than $44\,mmHg$.

Hyperventilation

Alveolar ventilation that exceeds metabolic demands, resulting in hypocapnia where $PaCO_2$ is less than $36\,mmHg$.

Hemoptysis

The coughing up of blood or bloody secretions, indicating a localized abnormality such as infection or inflammation.

Hematemesis

The vomiting of blood, distinct from coughing up blood.

Cyanosis

Bluish discoloration of the skin caused by increased amounts of unsaturated or reduced Hb (RHB), typically seen when oxygen saturation drops to between $$80-87\%$.

Clubbing

Selective bulbous enlargement of the end of a digit that is usually painless and results from diseases interfering with oxygenation.

Hypercapnia

Increased $CO_2$ in arterial blood resulting from decreased drive to breathe or an inadequate ability to respond to ventilatory stimulation.

Hypoxemia

Reduced oxygenation of arterial blood caused by respiratory alterations.

Hypoxia

Reduced oxygenation of cells in tissues, which may be caused by alterations in systems other than the respiratory system, such as low cardiac output.

Acute Respiratory Failure

Inadequate gas exchange or hypoxemia where $PaO_2$ is less than $50\,mmHg$ or $PaCO_2$ is greater than $50\,mmHg$ with a pH lower than $7.25$.

Pulmonary Edema

Excess fluid in the lung; the most common cause is heart failure.

Aspiration

The passage of fluid and/or solid particles into the lung, often occurring in individuals with impaired swallowing or cough reflexes.

Atelectasis

The complete or partial collapse of the entire lung or an area (lobe) of the lung.

Bronchiectasis

A persistent, abnormal, chronic dilation of the bronchi, frequently associated with long-term inflammation.

Bronchiolitis

Inflammatory obstruction of the small airways and bronchioles, most common in children.

Pneumothorax

The presence of air or gas in the pleural space caused by a rupture in the visceral pleura or parietal pleura and chest wall.

Pleural Effusion

The presence of fluid in the pleural space, which may be watery (transudate) or protein-rich (exudate).

Empyema

Infected pleural effusion characterized by the presence of pus in the pleural space.

Pleurisy (pleuritis)

Inflammation of the pleura, which often causes a frictional rub.

Cavitation

The process of a lung abscess emptying and forming a cavity.

Pulmonary fibrosis

An excessive amount of fibrous or connective tissue in the lung, causing a loss of lung compliance.

Flail chest

Instability and paradoxical movement of the chest wall during breathing resulting from multiple consecutive rib fractures.

Pneumoconiosis

A condition caused by the inhalation of dust particles, with common examples being silica, asbestos, and coal.

Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS)

A condition characterized by diffuse alveolocapillary injury, resulting in high mortality and hypoxemia unresponsive to oxygen therapy.

Status asthmaticus

Severe bronchospasm that is not reversed by usual measures.

Chronic Bronchitis

Hypersecretion of mucus and productive cough for at least $3$ months of the year for $2$ consecutive years.

Emphysema

Abnormal permanent enlargement of gas exchange airways accompanied by the destruction of alveolar walls.

Alpha-antitrypsin deficiency

An inherited autosomal recessive deficiency linked to primary emphysema that allows proteolytic enzymes to damage the lungs.

Community acquired pneumonia

A lung infection most commonly caused by streptococcus and mycoplasma, with a mortality rate of less than $$5\%$.

Tuberculosis

An infection caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, characterized by the formation of granulomatous lesions called tubercles.

Cor pulmonale

Right ventricular enlargement (hypertrophy, dilation, or both) secondary to pulmonary hypertension caused by disorders of the lungs or chest wall.

Small Cell Carcinoma (oat cell carcinoma)

A rapidly growing lung cancer with the strongest connection to smoking; cells show almost no cytoplasm and are compressed into an ovid mass.

Mesotheliomas

Benign or malignant sarcomas arising from the epithelium of serous membranes (pleura/peritoneum), frequently linked to asbestos exposure.

TNM classification

A staging system for lung cancer where T represents the primary tumor extent, N represents nodal involvement, and M represents the extent of metastasis.