Patient Assessment & Diagnostic Vocabulary

32 vocabulary flashcards summarizing key respiratory assessment terms and concepts drawn from the Patient Assessment & Diagnostic homework quiz.

Dyspnea

Subjective feeling of difficult or uncomfortable breathing; its drive is commonly increased by hypoxemia, acidosis, or high fever.

Orthopnea

Shortness of breath that occurs when a patient lies flat and is relieved by sitting or standing.

Platypnea

Shortness of breath that worsens in the upright position and improves when lying down.

Apnea

Complete absence of breathing for a period of time.

Effective Cough Requirements

Adequate lung volume, low airways resistance, and good lung recoil; pulmonary vascular resistance has minimal effect.

Dry, Non-productive Cough

Commonly associated with pulmonary fibrosis rather than COPD or chronic bronchitis.

Phlegm

Secretions from the tracheobronchial tree that have not been contaminated by the mouth.

Purulent Sputum

Sputum containing pus; often thick and colored.

Hemoptysis

Coughing up blood-streaked sputum from the lower respiratory tract.

Angina

Chest pain caused by blockage (ischemia) of the coronary arteries.

Fever-Induced Tachypnea

Significant fever typically increases respiratory rate, leading to a rapid breathing pattern.

Pedal Edema

Swelling of the feet and ankles most commonly caused by heart failure.

Diaphoresis

Profuse sweating associated with fever, severe stress, or acute anxiety.

Hypothermia

Abnormally low body temperature most often due to exposure to a cold environment.

Rectal Temperature Site

Measurement site closest to true core body temperature.

Tachycardia

Heart rate >100 beats/min; least likely to be produced by hypothermia compared with hypotension, pain, or fever.

Pulsus Paradoxus

Exaggerated fall in systolic blood pressure during inspiration, commonly seen during an acute asthma attack.

Tachypnea

Abnormally rapid breathing; common causes include hypoxemia, exercise, and metabolic acidosis (not narcotic overdose).

Hypotension

Low blood pressure frequently produced by heart failure or hypovolemia; peripheral vasoconstriction is a compensatory response, not a cause.

Central Cyanosis

Bluish discoloration of central tissues (lips, tongue) indicating severe arterial oxygen desaturation or respiratory failure.

Pursed-Lip Breathing

Exhalation through almost closed lips; COPD patients use it to promote more complete emptying of the lungs and reduce air trapping.

Tracheal Deviation

Shift of the trachea toward atelectasis or away from tension pneumothorax or large pleural effusion; e.g., right shift with right upper-lobe atelectasis.

Jugular Venous Distention (JVD)

Visible bulging of the neck veins, most commonly due to right-sided heart failure.

Barrel Chest

Increased anterior-posterior diameter of the thorax characteristically seen in emphysema.

Biot’s Breathing

Very irregular breathing with frequent apneas, often caused by central nervous system disorders or increased intracranial pressure.

Cheyne-Stokes Breathing

Cyclic pattern in which depth and rate of breathing gradually increase then decrease, followed by apnea; associated with congestive heart failure or brain injury.

Retractions

Inward movement of intercostal spaces during inspiration, indicating increased work of breathing and reduced lung compliance.

Rapid and Shallow Breathing

Pattern classically associated with severe atelectasis.

Prolonged Exhalation

Typical breathing alteration in patients with asthma due to increased airway resistance.

Kussmaul Breathing

Deep, rapid breathing pattern associated with severe metabolic acidosis, especially diabetic ketoacidosis.

Hoover’s Sign

Inward movement of the lower costal margins during inspiration in COPD patients indicating flat diaphragms and hyperinflation.