Respiratory Therapy - Final Exam Study Guide

Ventricular Standstill (Asystole)

• Ventricular standstill, also known as asystole, indicates the absence of ventricular contraction.

ECG and QRS Complex

• The QRS complex observed on an ECG represents ventricular depolarization.

Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT)

• Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) is also referred to as paroxysmal atrial tachycardia (PAT).

Fetal Development

• Lung development commences around day 26 following fertilization.

APGAR Scoring

• APGAR is an acronym for Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity, and Respiration; it is assessed at 1 and 5 minutes after birth.

Pulmonary Rehabilitation

• Pulmonary rehabilitation aims to enhance lung function, stamina, and quality of life through exercise and education.

Oral Cavity Structures

• The oral cavity includes the tongue, teeth, hard and soft palates, and the uvula.
• The tongue is connected to the floor of the mouth via the lingual frenulum.

Dysphagia

• Dysphagia refers to difficulty swallowing, potentially resulting from obstructions or muscular disorders.

Stenosis

• Stenosis describes the narrowing of an airway, whether congenital or acquired.

Cilia

• Cilia line the conducting airways, facilitating the movement of mucus and debris out of the lungs.

Lower Airway Diseases

• Lower airway diseases encompass bronchitis, asthma, and COPD.

Alveolar-Capillary Unit

• The alveolar-capillary unit (terminal respiratory unit) is the site of gas exchange.

Pleural Effusion

• Pleural effusion refers to fluid accumulation in the pleural space, restricting lung expansion.

Lung Lobes

• The right lung consists of three lobes.

Lymph Vessels

• Superficial lymph vessels aid in draining fluid and immune defense within the lungs.

Pulmonary Embolism

• A pulmonary embolism is a blood clot obstructing blood flow in the lungs.

Sickle Cell Anemia

• Sickle cell anemia causes red blood cells to become stiff and C-shaped.

Plasma

• Plasma is the liquid component of blood that transports blood cells.

Complete Blood Count (CBC)

• A complete blood count (CBC) is used to assess red cells, white cells, and platelets.

Basophils

• Basophils release histamine and heparin, involved in inflammation and clot prevention.

Pectus Excavatum

• Pectus excavatum is a congenital chest deformity characterized by a sunken sternum.

Abdominal Muscles

• Abdominal muscles are active during forced exhalation and increased work of breathing.

Ribs

• The first seven ribs, known as true ribs, attach directly to the sternum.

Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)

• The autonomic nervous system (ANS) controls involuntary functions, including heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure.

Rhonchi

• Rhonchi are deep, rumbling breath sounds, often auscultated during exhalation.

Systemic Circulation

• Systemic circulation returns deoxygenated blood to the right atrium.

Starling's Law

• Starling's Law (or Starling's principle) explains fluid exchange between capillaries and tissues based on pressure gradients.

Diffusion

• Diffusion is the movement of particles from high to low concentration.

Density

• Density is calculated as mass divided by volume: \text{Density} = \frac{\text{Mass}}{\text{Volume}}

pH

• Low pH indicates that a solution is acidic.

Cheyne-Stokes Breathing

• Cheyne-Stokes breathing is a pattern of gradual increases and decreases in respiration, followed by apnea.

Pressure Gradient

• A pressure gradient is the change in pressure per unit of distance.

Lung Compliance

• Lung compliance reflects the lungs' flexibility and ability to expand.

Velocity

• Velocity is the rate of movement from one point to another.

Hypoxemia

• Hypoxemia is a low oxygen level in the blood (PaO2).

Cyanosis

• Cyanosis is the bluish-gray skin tint resulting from low oxygen levels.

Air Trapping

• Air trapping occurs when air remains in the lungs after exhalation due to airway narrowing.

Acid-Base Balance

• The acid levels in blood and tissue are known as pH and are crucial for physiological processes.

Aortic Stenosis

• Aortic stenosis is the narrowing of the aortic valve, impeding blood flow.

Tachycardia

• Tachycardia is a resting heart rate exceeding 100 bpm.

Gestation

• Normal gestation is approximately 40 weeks.

Pericardium

• The pericardium is the double-layered sac enclosing the heart.

Right Atrium

• The right atrium receives deoxygenated blood from the body.

Right Coronary Artery (RCA)

• The right coronary artery (RCA) supplies the right heart structures and conduction system.

Cardiac Index

• The cardiac index is the cardiac output adjusted for body surface area (BSA).

Interventricular Septum

• The interventricular septum separates the right and left ventricles.

Pulmonary Valve

• The pulmonary valve is adjacent to the right ventricle and pulmonary artery.

Junctional Rhythms

• Beats originating near the AV node are called junctional rhythms.