Respiratory Medical Terms

Adenoids

Lymphoid tissue located in the nasopharynx; the pharyngeal tonsils.

Compliance

A measure of how easily the lungs expand under pressure. Compliance is reduced in many types of respiratory disorders.

Expectoration

The act of coughing up material from the respiratory tract; also the material thus released; sputum.

Turbinate bones

The bony projections in the nasal cavity that contain receptors for the sense of smell. Also called conchae (KON-ke_ ).

-oxia

measure of oxygen.

-capnia

level of carbon dioxide

Phrenico

phrenic nerve.

Spiro

breathing

Expiratory reserve volume

amount of air that can be exhaled after a normal exhalation.

Vital capacity

amount of air that can be expelled from the lungs by maximum exhalation after maximum inhalation.

Functional residual capacity

amount of air remaining in the lungs after normal exhalation.

Forced expiratory volume

volume of gas exhaled with maximum force within a given interval of time; the time interval is shown as a subscript, such as FEV1 (1 second), FEV3 (3 seconds)

Forced vital capacity

the volume of gas exhaled as rapidly and completely as possible after a complete inhalation.

Adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)

Pulmonary edema that can lead rapidly to fatal respiratory failure; causes include trauma, aspiration into the lungs, viral pneumonia, and drug reactions; shock lung.

Alkalosis

Abnormal alkalinity of body fluids. Respiratory alkalosis is caused by abnormally low levels of carbon dioxide in the body.

Aspiration

The accidental inhalation of food or other foreign material into the lungs. Also used to mean the withdrawal of fluid from a cavity by suction.

Atelectasis

Incomplete expansion of a lung or part of a lung; lung collapse. May be present at birth (as in respiratory distress syndrome) or be caused by bronchial obstruction or compression of lung tissue (prefix atel/o means “imperfect”).

Bronchiectasis

Chronic dilatation of a bronchus or bronchi.

Cystic fibrosis

An inherited disease that affects the pancreas, respiratory system, and sweat glands. Characterized by mucus accumulation in the bronchi causing obstruction and leading to infection.

Empyema

Accumulation of pus in a body cavity, especially the pleural space; pyothorax.

Emphysema

A chronic pulmonary disease characterized by enlargement and destruction of the alveoli.

Hemoptysis

spitting of blood.

Hydrothorax

presence of fluid in the pleural space.

Pleurisy

inflammation of the pleura.

Pneumoconiosis

Disease of the respiratory tract caused by inhalation of dust particles. Named more specifically by the type of dust inhaled, such as silicosis, anthracosis, asbestosis.

Respiratory distress syndrome

A respiratory disorder that affects premature infants born without enough surfactant in the lungs. It is treated with respiratory support and administration of surfactant.

Anoxia

Lack or absence of oxygen in the tissues; often used incorrectly to mean hypoxia.

Asphyxia

Condition caused by inadequate intake of oxygen; suffocation.

Biot respirations

Deep, fast breathing interrupted by sudden pauses; seen in spinal meningitis and other disorders of the central nervous system.

Cor pulmonale

Enlargement of the right ventricle of the heart because of disease of the lungs or their blood vessels.

Coryza

Acute inflammation of the nasal passages with profuse nasal discharge.

Epistaxis

Hemorrhage from the nose; nosebleed (Greek -staxis means “dripping”).

Fremitus

A vibration, especially as felt through the chest wall on palpation.

Plural friction rub

A sound heard on auscultation that is produced by the rubbing together of the two layers of the pleura; a common sign of pleurisy.

Miliary tuberculosis

Acute generalized form of tuberculosis with formation of minute tubercles that resemble millet seeds.

Pertussis

An acute, infectious disease characterized by a cough ending in a whooping inspiration; whooping cough.

Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)

The sudden and unexplained death of an apparently healthy infant; crib death.

Mantoux test

A test for tuberculosis in which PPD (tuberculin) is injected into the skin. The test does not differentiate active from inactive cases.

Mediastinoscopy

Examination of the mediastinum by means of an endoscope inserted through an incision above the sternum.

Plethysmograph

An instrument that measures changes in gas volume and pressure during respiration.

Pneumotachometer

A device for measuring air flow.

Tine test

A test for tuberculosis in which PPD (tuberculin) is introduced into the skin with a multipronged device. The test does not differentiate active from inactive cases.

Aerosol therapy

treatment by inhalation of a drug or water in spray form.