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These 50 vocabulary flashcards review key terms related to pleural space disruptions, chest tubes, mechanical ventilation settings, V/Q physiology, COPD, pulmonary embolism, pediatric airway conditions, and sepsis management.
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Pleural Space
The thin potential space between the visceral and parietal pleura surrounding the lungs.
Negative Intrapleural Pressure
Sub-atmospheric pressure within the pleural space that keeps the lungs expanded during normal breathing.
Open Pneumothorax
Air enters the pleural space through a chest-wall opening, collapsing the lung; often called a ‘sucking chest wound.’
Closed Pneumothorax
Air leaks from damaged lung tissue into the pleural space while the chest wall remains intact.
Tension Pneumothorax
Progressive air trapping in the pleural space that raises intrathoracic pressure and compresses the heart and great vessels—an emergency.
Mediastinal Shift
Displacement of the heart and great vessels toward the unaffected side due to high intrathoracic pressure.
Hemothorax
Accumulation of blood in the pleural space, causing lung collapse.
Pleural Effusion
Collection of non-purulent fluid in the pleural space outside the lung.
Empyema
Pus accumulation within the pleural space, usually from infection.
Thoracentesis
One-time needle procedure used to remove air or fluid from the pleural space for relief or diagnosis.
Chest Tube
A catheter inserted into the pleural space for continuous evacuation of air, blood, fluid or pus to restore negative pressure.
Water Seal Chamber
Part of a chest-drainage system that acts as a one-way valve to prevent air re-entry into the pleural space.
Tidaling
Normal rise and fall of water-seal fluid with inhalation and exhalation, indicating chest tube patency.
Air Leak (Chest Tube)
Continuous bubbling in the water-seal chamber signaling unintended air entry into the drainage system or pleural space.
Needle Decompression
Emergency insertion of a large-bore needle into the second intercostal space mid-clavicular line to release trapped air in tension pneumothorax.
Ventilation
The mechanical movement of air in and out of the lungs.
Oxygenation
The process of adding oxygen to arterial blood across the alveolar-capillary membrane.
Positive Pressure Ventilation
Mechanical method that pushes air into the lungs above atmospheric pressure (e.g., ventilator).
Negative Pressure Ventilation
Normal physiologic breathing in which diaphragm contraction creates sub-atmospheric pressure to draw air in.
Tidal Volume (VT)
The amount of air, in milliliters, delivered with each ventilator or spontaneous breath.
Respiratory Rate (RR)
Number of breaths delivered or taken per minute.
Positive End-Expiratory Pressure (PEEP)
Ventilator setting that maintains pressure in the lungs at end exhalation to keep alveoli open and improve oxygenation.
Fraction of Inspired Oxygen (FiO2)
Percentage of oxygen delivered to the patient by a ventilator or device; ranges from 21% (room air) to 100%.
V/Q Ratio
Relationship between ventilation (V) and perfusion (Q); ideal value is 1:1 for optimal gas exchange.
High V/Q (Alveolar Dead Space)
Condition where ventilation exceeds perfusion, often from pulmonary embolism or low blood flow.
Low V/Q (Shunt)
Condition where perfusion exceeds ventilation due to airway obstruction, atelectasis, or pneumonia.
Elastin
Stretchy connective-tissue protein in alveolar walls that allows recoil during exhalation.
Alpha-1 Antitrypsin (AAT)
Protease inhibitor that protects lung elastin from breakdown; deficiency leads to early-onset emphysema.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Progressive, largely irreversible obstructive lung disease encompassing chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
Chronic Bronchitis
COPD subtype characterized by chronic productive cough and airway inflammation for at least 3 months in 2 successive years.
Emphysema
COPD subtype with destruction of alveolar walls, loss of elastin, air trapping and enlarged air spaces.
Air Trapping
Retention of air in the lungs due to collapse or obstruction of small airways during exhalation.
Barrel Chest
Increased anterior-posterior diameter of the thorax seen in advanced emphysema from chronic hyperinflation.
Pulmonary Embolism (PE)
Obstruction of a pulmonary artery by a clot, fat, or air, impairing perfusion and causing high V/Q.
Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
Formation of a thrombus in a deep leg or pelvic vein; most common source of emboli causing PE.
Physiologic Dead Space
Ventilated lung regions that receive little or no perfusion, contributing to wasted ventilation.
Shunt Physiology
Perfused but non-ventilated lung regions leading to hypoxemia unresponsive to oxygen therapy.
Grunting (Pediatric)
Expiratory sound produced to maintain airway pressure and improve oxygenation during respiratory distress.
Nasal Flaring
Widening of the nostrils during inspiration to decrease airway resistance in respiratory distress.
Stridor
High-pitched inspiratory sound indicating upper airway obstruction.
Acute Laryngotracheobronchitis (Croup)
Viral inflammation causing subglottic airway narrowing, barking cough and possible stridor.
Acute Epiglottitis
Bacterial infection causing supraglottic swelling, drooling and severe airway obstruction—true emergency.
Sepsis
Life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection.
qSOFA
Bedside sepsis screening tool using altered mentation, systolic BP ≤100 mmHg, and respiratory rate ≥22/min.
Lactate (in Sepsis)
Serum marker of tissue hypoperfusion; levels >2 mmol/L suggest anaerobic metabolism.
Sepsis Bundle
Evidence-based set of actions: draw lactate, obtain cultures, give broad-spectrum antibiotics, rapid fluids, and vasopressors as needed.
Vasopressor
Medication (e.g., norepinephrine) that constricts blood vessels to raise mean arterial pressure in septic shock.
Hyperdynamic Circulation (Sepsis)
Early sepsis state marked by high cardiac output, low SVR, warm skin and bounding pulses.
Phrenic Nerve
C3–C5 spinal nerve that innervates the diaphragm and controls spontaneous breathing.
Erythropoietin
Hormone released by the kidneys during hypoxia to stimulate red blood cell production in bone marrow.