Respiratory system

pulmonology

diagnosis and treatment of diseases involving structures of lower respiratory tract including lungs, airways, blood vessels, chest wall

upper respiratory tract

nose, pharynx, larynx, trachea

lower respiratory tract

left and right bronchi, bronchioles, alveoli, lungs

functions of respiratory system

perform pulmonary ventilation of the body, warm air as it passes into the body, assists in speech function by providing air for the larynx and vocal cords

acid/o

acid

adenoid/o

adenoids

aer/o

air

arteri/o

artery

atel/o

incomplete, imperfect

fibr/o

fiber, fibrous tissue

hem/o

blood

or/o

mouth

sinus/o

sinus

spir/o

to breathe

laryng/o

larynx, voice box

nas/o, rhin/o

nose

pharyng/o

pharynx, throat

tonsill/o

tonsils

trache/o

trachea, windpipe

alveol/o

alveolus

bronchi/o, bronch/o

bronchus

bronchiol/o

bronchiole

pleur/o

pleura

pneum/o, pneumon/o

air, lung

pulmon/o

lung

thorac/o

chest

-algia, -dynia

pain

-ectasis

dilation, expansion

-osis

abnormal condition, increase

-osmia

smell

-oxia

oxygen

-phagia

swallowing, eating

-plasm

formation, growth

-pnea

breathing

-spasm

involuntary contraction, twitching

-stenosis

narrowing, stricture

-thorax

chest

ABGs

arterial blood gases

AIDS

acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

ARDS

acute respiratory distress syndrome

CA

cancer, chronological age, cardiac arrest

CF

cystic fibrosis

CO2

carbon dioxide

COPD

chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

CPAP

continuous positive airway pressure

CT

computed tomography

DPT

diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus

Dx

diagnosis

EEG

electroencephalography, electroencephalogram

FVC

forced vital capacity

HF

heart failure

MRI

magnetic resonance imaging

NMT

nebulized mist treatment

O2

oxygen

OSA

obstructive sleep apnea

PCP

pneumocystis pneumonia; primary care physician

PE

pulmonary embolism

PFT

pulmonary function test

PSG

polysomnography

SIDS

sudden infant death syndrome

TB

tuberculosis

acidosis

excessive acidity of blood due to accumulation of acids or excessive loss of bicarbonate

acute respiratory distress syndrome

respiratory insufficiency marked by progressive hypoxia

adventitious breath sounds

abnormal breath sounds heard during respiration with use of stethoscope (pleural rub, rales, rhonchi, stridor, wheezes)

pleural rub

grating sound of pleural linings rubbing against each other heard on auscultation

rales

fine crackling or bubbling sounds during inspiration when fluid is in alveoli

rhonchi

snoring rumbling sounds heard upon auscultation of chest

stridor

high pitched musical breathing sound on inspiration caused by obstruction in pharynx or larynx

wheezes

continuous high pitched whistling sounds during expiration caused by narrowing of airway

anoxia

total absence of O2 in body tissues

atelectasis

collapse of lung tissue preventing respiratory exchange

coryza

acute inflammation of nasal passages accompanied by profuse nasal discharge; AKA a cold

croup

acute respiratory syndrome primarily in children and infants, characterized by laryngeal obstruction and spams, barking cough, stridor

cystic fibrosis

genetic disease of exocrine glands characterized by excessive secretions of thick mucus that do not drain normally, causes obstruction of passageways

emphysema

pus in a body cavity, especially in pleural cavity pyothorax

epiglottitis

severe life threatening infection of the epiglottis and surrounding area, most commonly in children 2-12, characterized by sudden onset of fever, dysphagia, inspiratory stridor, severe respiratory distress

epistaxis

hemorrhage from nose; AKA a nosebleed

hypoxemia

deficiency of oxygen in blood, sign of respiratory impairment; AKA low blood oxygen

hypoxia

deficiency of oxygen in body tissues, sign of respiratory impairment

influenza

acute contagious respiratory infection characterized by sudden onset of fever, chills, headache, muscle pain

lung cancer

pulmonary malignancy commonly attributed to cigarette smoking

pertussis

acute infectious disease characterized by a cough with sound like a whoop; AKA whooping cough

pleural effusion

abnormal pressure of fluid in pleural cavity

pneumothorax

collection of air in the pleural cavity, causes complete or partial collapse of lung

sudden infant death syndrome

unexpected and unexplained death of an apparently well infant; AKA crib death

arterial blood gas

measurement of the O2 and CO2 content of arterial blood

bronchoscopy

visual examination of the interior bronchi using bronchoscope (flexible fiberoptic instrument with light, inserted through nose or mouth)

computed tomography

radiographic study using a narrow beam of x-rays rotating in a full arc to acquire multiple views of the body

magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

radiographic procedure using electromagnetic energy to produce multiplanar cross-sectional images of the body

polysomnography

test that diagnoses sleep disorders by recording various aspects of sleep such as eye and muscle movements and EEG patterns

pulmonary function test

group of tests that measure the capacity of the lungs and the volume of air during inhalation and exhalation (ex. spirometry)

spirometry

common lung function test that measures and records the volume and rate of respirations to assess pulmonary function

endotrachial intubation

insertion of an endotracheal pipe through the mouth or nose into the trachea above the bronchi to provide air to patients unable to breathe on their own or to administer oxygen, anesthesia, or medications

postural drainage

use of body positioning to assist in the removal of secretions from lobes of the lung, bronchi, or lung cavities

bronchodilators

increase airflow by dilating constricted airways through the relaxation of smooth muscles surrounding bronchioles and bronchi

corticosteroids

decrease inflammation in airways, reduce swelling and mucus production

nebulized mist treatments

produce a fine spray to deliver medication directly into the lungs