respiratory system

airway

the passage way by which air enters and leaves the body

alveolar ventilation

amount of air that reaches the alveoli

artificial ventilation

forcing air or oxygen into the lungs when a patient has stopped breathing. also called positive pressure ventilation

bronchoconstriction

contraction of smooth muscle that lines the bronchial passages

cellular respiration

exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between cells and circulating blood

diffusion

process which molecules move from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration

flail chest

fracture of 2 or more adjacent ribs in 2 or more places that allows for free movement of the fractured segment

flowmeter

a valve that indicates the flow of oxygen in liters per minute

hypoxia

deficiency of oxygen reaching the tissues of the body

intercostal

situated or extending between ribs

paradoxical motion

movement of ribs in flail segment that is opposite to the direction of movement of the rest of the chest cavity

pressure regulator

device connected to an oxygen cylinder to reduce pressure

pulmonary respiration

exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the alveoli and circulating blood in the pulmonary capillaries

respiratory arrest

breathing stops

respiratory distress

increased work of breathing

respiratory failure

oxygen intake not enough to support life

retractions

pulling in the skin and soft tissues between the ribs when breathing. (clavicles, lower ribs, and underneath the ribs)

oropharynx

where the oral cavity joins the nasopharynx

nasopharynx

where the nasal passages empty into the nasopharynx

laryngopharynx

structures surrounding entrance to the trachea. point of division between the upper airway and lower airway

stridor

high pitch sound. upper airway obstruction

humidifiers

non-breakable jar that can be connected to the flowmeter to provide moisture to the dry oxygen coming from the supply cylinder

bronchitis

inflammation of the bronchi (infection)

pneumonia

infective agent (bacterial, fungal, or viral)

tension pneumothorax

air leaks continually into the pleural space. air that leaks into the lung has no escape and builds up in the chest cavity putting pressure on the heart.

hemothorax

accumulation of blood in the intrapleural space after blunt/penetrating trauma.

pneumothorax

presence of free air in the intrapleural space. due to atraumatic rupture of alveolus