Chapter 3: The Lungs

Flashcards for key vocabulary terms in Chapter 3: The Lungs.

Lungs

Conical shaped organs located within the chest cavity and are the principal organs of respiration.

Right Lung

Has three lobes and weighs approximately 625 g.

Left Lung

Slightly smaller, has two lobes, weighs approximately 567 g, and has a concave curve known as the cardiac notch.

Pleura

A serous membrane that lines the lungs. The intrapleural space is located between the visceral and parietal pleura.

Lingula

A tongue like projection from the costal surface of the upper lobe of the left lung.

Hilum

A triangular depression found on the medial aspect of each lung and is the passageway through which the arteries, veins, and main bronchi enter the lungs. Also known as the root of the lung.

Mediastinum

The space in the thoracic cavity between the lungs. It contains the heart, blood vessels, esophagus, trachea, phrenic and cardiac nerves, thoracic duct, thymus gland, and various lymph nodes.

Subcutaneous emphysema

Gas or air that has collected under the skin, often seen in the chest, face, and neck, and can be felt as crackly air bubbles.

Pneumomediastinum

The collection of air in the mediastinum.

Pleural membrane

A two-layer membrane that envelops the lungs.

Visceral pleura

The inner layer of the pleural membrane that attaches to the lungs.

Parietal pleura

The outer layer of pleural membrane that attaches the thoracic cavity.

Pleural cavity

The space between the visceral and parietal pleura.

Pleural fluid

Fluid inside the pleural cavity, which lubricates the two membranes and allows them to move smoothly against each other.

Costodiaphragmatic recess

The unoccupied space between the visceral and parietal pleura on the outer side of each lung near the diaphragm.

Costomediastinal recess

The unoccupied space between the lungs in the center of the chest.

Thoracostomy

A chest tube insertion, is a procedure that is frequently performed in an emergency department, intensive care unit, or operating room and is indicated for the treatment of a pleural effusion, pneumothorax, hemothorax, hemopneumothorax, chylothorax, and empyema.

Pleurisy

An inflammation of the pleural membranes.

Pneumothorax

Air trapped inside the pleural space between the parietal and visceral pleura.

Tension pneumothorax

Air entering the pleural space during inspiration creates an intrathoracic pressure that alters blood flow to the heart and lungs.

Hemothorax

Blood caused by trauma, an injury to the chest, a tumor, or other bleeding disorder fills the pleural space.

Pleural effusion

An excessive amount of fluid in the pleural space.

Empyema

Pleural fluid itself is infected

Chylothorax

A rare type of pleural effusion in which lymphatic fluid leaks into the pleural space by secondary disruption or obstruction of the thoracic duct.

Thoracentesis

The excess pleural fluid may be removed via a procedure which utilizes a large needle connected to a syringe inserted into the chest wall, or a thoracostomy.

Diffuse pleural thickening (DPT)

Scarring within the pleural space that may occur in cases of a longstanding pleural effusion, chronic pneumonia, or tuberculosis, or a sign of asbestos exposure.

Tactile fremitus

A vibration that may occur in the chest when an individual vocalizes. It is caused by air trying to move through a consolidated or fluid-filled area in the lungs.

Osmotic pressure

The tendency/ability of a fluid to move from an area of higher concentration to one of lower concentration. This process is called osmosis.

Oncotic pressure

A type of osmotic pressure that occurs in relation to large molecules such as proteins in the blood plasma or interstitial fluid. It is also referred to as the colloid osmotic pressure (COP).

Hydrostatic pressure

Pushes water out of the capillaries into the adjacent tissue or area.

Lymphatic system

A network of vessels, nodes, and organs that play a key role in the immune system, fluid balance, and absorption of fats and fat-soluble nutrients within the body.

Lymph

A clear, yellowish, slightly alkaline, plasma-like fluid composed of water, plasma proteins, fats, and ions.

Lymph nodes

Small bean-shaped structures spaced intermittently along the lymph vessels throughout the body.

Initial lymphatics

Small areas or collection points within and beneath the visceral pleura. The first initial lymphatic area, the platelike lymphatics, connects to the more pouchlike reservoir lymphatics.

Lymphangitis

Inflammation of the lymph vessels.

Lymphadenitis

An infection of the lymph nodes.

Lymphedema

Swelling caused by pooling of fluid in the lymph system.

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM)

A rare progressive lung disease that primarily affects women of childbearing years.

Sarcoidosis

A chronic inflammatory disease of unknown etiology that is characterized by the development of granulomas, or clusters of inflammatory cells, in the organs and lymph tissues.