GOMEZ 9/16/25 INTERN Respiratory

Flashcards covering key vocabulary terms and definitions from the lecture notes on respiratory function, diagnostic tests, acid-base balance, and cardiac-pulmonary interactions.

Phlegm

Secretions from the respiratory tract prior to hitting the mouth or a cavity.

Sputum

Secretions from the respiratory tract once they hit the mouth or a cavity.

Sputum Sample

A collected sample of respiratory secretions used for sensitivity testing to identify bacteria and guide antibiotic selection.

Sample Custody

Proper labeling of a medical sample (name, initials, source, date, time) to ensure its validity for lab processing.

Sensitivity Testing (Sputum)

Laboratory analysis to determine which antibiotics are effective against specific bacteria found in a sputum sample.

Computed Tomography Pulmonary Angiography (CTPA)

A specialized CT scan that uses a contrast dye to visualize pulmonary arteries in the lungs, primarily used to rule out a pulmonary embolism (PE).

Pulmonary Embolism (PE)

A blood clot in the pulmonary arteries of the lungs, often diagnosed or ruled out by a CTPA.

Chest X-ray

A basic imaging test providing a quick view of chest structures, used as a first-line test for pneumonia, collapsed lung, fluid in the lungs, and chronic lung diseases.

Pleural Space

The area between the lung and the chest wall; pain in this area is often associated with breathing, distinguishing it from true heart pain.

Pneumothorax

A collapsed lung, detectable via a chest X-ray.

Pulmonary Edema

Fluid in the lungs, identifiable on a chest X-ray.

Diffusing Capacity of the Lung for Carbon Monoxide (DLCO)

A pulmonary function test that measures how well gases pass from the lungs into the blood, aiding in the diagnosis of interstitial lung disease, emphysema, pulmonary hypertension, and assessing lung injury (e.g., from COVID).

Creatinine

A blood test used to assess kidney function, important to check before administering contrast dyes for imaging studies.

Forced Vital Capacity (FVC)

The total amount of air a person can forcibly exhale after taking the deepest possible breath, used to screen for obstructive versus restrictive lung diseases.

Bicarbonate (Bicarb)

A buffer produced by the kidneys that helps maintain the body's acid-base balance (pH).

pH (Blood)

A measure of the acidity or alkalinity of the blood; the normal range is 7.35-7.45 (absolute normal 7.40).

Acid-Base Balance

The physiological processes that maintain the appropriate pH levels in the body, crucial for normal organ function and medication effectiveness.

Cardiac Contractility

The heart's ability to pump blood, which can be negatively affected by acidosis (low blood pH).

Homeostasis

The body's ability to maintain a stable internal environment, including acid-base balance.

Base Excess

A rapidly changing indicator of the body's acid-base balance, reflecting the effectiveness of kidney-mediated compensation.

Metabolic Problem (Acid-Base)

An acid-base imbalance primarily related to the kidneys' role in regulating bicarbonate.

Pulmonary Problem (Acid-Base)

An acid-base imbalance primarily related to the lungs' ability to remove carbon dioxide (CO2).

ICU (Intensive Care Unit)

A hospital unit providing constant, specialized monitoring and critical care for patients with severe medical conditions, such as respiratory failure, ARDS, or severe pneumonia.

ARDS (Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome)

A severe lung condition characterized by widespread inflammation and fluid in the lungs, managed in the ICU.

BiPAP (Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure)

A non-invasive ventilator that assists with breathing; typically used in a monitored setting like the ICU for unstable patients or on the general floor for routine/palliative care.

Dyspnea on Exertion (DOE)

Shortness of breath experienced during physical activity, assessed through tests like the 6-minute walk test.

6-Minute Walk Test

A diagnostic test where a patient walks for a specified duration while oxygen saturation is monitored, used to evaluate the need for home oxygen therapy.

Forced Expiratory Volume (FEV) / Peak Flow

A measure of how much air a patient can forcefully blow out, used to assess the degree of airway obstruction.

Tidal Volume (VT)

The amount of air inhaled and exhaled during a normal, relaxed breath; approximately 500ml for an adult at rest.

Minute Volume (MV)

The total volume of air inhaled or exhaled in one minute, calculated as Tidal Volume multiplied by Respiratory Rate (normal is 5-6 liters/min for an adult at rest).

Mechanical Ventilation

A medical treatment that uses a machine to assist or replace spontaneous breathing, requiring careful control of tidal volume to prevent lung injury.

Compensatory Mechanism (Respiratory)

The body's adjustment (e.g., increasing respiratory rate) to maintain adequate minute volume and CO2 removal when tidal volume is compromised.

Diuretics

Medications that promote the excretion of fluid from the body, often used to improve lung compliance in patients with fluid overload.

Lung Compliance

The ease with which the lungs can be expanded; it improves as excess fluid is removed, making breathing easier.

Obtunded

A state of altered consciousness characterized by reduced alertness, slow response to stimuli, and potentially impaired respiratory drive.

Cardiac Output (CO)

The total volume of blood pumped by the heart in one minute, calculated as Stroke Volume multiplied by Heart Rate (normal is 4-8 liters/min for an adult).

Stroke Volume (SV)

The amount of blood pumped by the heart with each beat (approximately 70ml in an adult).

Oxygen Deficit

A state where the body's demand for oxygen by respiratory muscles exceeds the available supply, often occurring during increased work of breathing.

Accessory Muscles (Respiration)

Muscles other than the diaphragm used for breathing during increased respiratory effort, consuming more oxygen.

Hypoxia

A condition of reduced oxygen tension in the tissues.

Hypoxemia

A condition of reduced oxygen tension in the blood.

Respiratory Failure

The inability of the respiratory system to maintain adequate oxygenation and/or remove sufficient carbon dioxide, leading to acidosis.

Acidosis

A condition where the blood pH is abnormally low (acidic), often resulting from CO2 retention or metabolic disturbances.

Intrathoracic Pressure

The pressure within the chest cavity, which increases with rapid or labored breathing.

Venous Return

The flow of blood back to the heart from the systemic circulation via the vena cava.

Venous Return (Impact of Increased Intrathoracic Pressure)

Increased pressure within the chest cavity compresses the vena cava, reducing the amount of blood returning to the heart, which can decrease cardiac output.

Cor Pulmonale

Enlargement and failure of the right ventricle of the heart, most commonly caused by chronic lung disease that leads to pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure in the pulmonary arteries).

Pulmonary Hypertension

High blood pressure in the arteries leading to the lungs, often caused by prolonged hypoxia and pulmonary vasoconstriction, placing strain on the right side of the heart.

Vasoconstriction (Pulmonary)

The narrowing of blood vessels in the lungs, which can be triggered by prolonged hypoxia in the tissues.

Impending Respiratory Failure

A condition where a patient is showing signs of severe respiratory distress and is likely to experience full respiratory failure without intervention.