Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
A severe lung condition where fluid fills the lungs' air sacs, making breathing extremely difficult and reducing blood oxygen levels.
Adventitious breath sounds
Abnormal sounds heard during lung auscultation, such as wheezes, crackles, or rhonchi, indicating underlying respiratory issues.
Air trapping
Difficulty exhaling completely, leading to a buildup of air in the lungs, often seen in obstructive lung diseases like COPD.
Airway remodeling
Structural changes in the airways, including thickening and inflammation, commonly observed in asthma and chronic bronchitis.
Alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT)
A protein that protects the lungs; deficiency can lead to emphysema, even in non-smokers.
Anoxia
Complete absence of oxygen supply to tissues, a life-threatening condition.
Aspiration
Inhaling foreign substances, such as food or vomit, into the airways.
Aspiration pneumonia
Lung infection caused by aspiration, leading to inflammation and breathing difficulties.
Asthma
Chronic airway disease characterized by inflammation, bronchoconstriction, and reversible airflow obstruction.
Atelectasis
Collapse of lung tissue, preventing normal gas exchange.
Atopic
Genetic predisposition to develop allergic diseases like asthma and eczema.
Atypical pneumonia
Pneumonia caused by atypical bacteria, often milder than typical pneumonia.
Auscultation
Listening to body sounds, typically with a stethoscope, to assess organ function.
Barrel chest
Abnormal increase in chest diameter, often seen in patients with emphysema due to air trapping.
Bronchiectasis
Permanent dilation and damage to the bronchi, leading to mucus buildup and recurrent infections.
Capillary refill
The time it takes for color to return to the skin after pressure is applied, an indicator of peripheral circulation.
Central cyanosis
Bluish discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes, particularly around the mouth and lips, due to low blood oxygen levels.
Centriacinar emphysema
A type of emphysema that primarily affects the central part of the lung's air sacs (alveoli).
Chemoreceptors
Sensors that detect changes in blood oxygen, carbon dioxide, and pH levels, helping regulate breathing.
Chronic bronchitis
Persistent inflammation and mucus production in the bronchi, leading to a chronic cough and phlegm.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
A group of lung diseases, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema, characterized by airflow obstruction. Â
Clubbing
Enlargement of the fingertips and toes, often associated with chronic lung diseases.
Compliance
The ability of the lungs to expand and recoil during breathing.
Consolidation
Solidification of lung tissue due to fluid accumulation, often seen in pneumonia.
Cor pulmonale
Right-sided heart failure caused by pulmonary hypertension, often a complication of COPD.
Costochondritis
Inflammation of the cartilage connecting the ribs to the sternum, causing chest pain.
Crackles
Abnormal lung sounds, like crackling or bubbling, heard during auscultation, often indicating fluid in the lungs.
Cyanosis
Bluish discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes due to low blood oxygen levels.
Cystic fibrosis (CF)
A genetic disorder affecting the lungs and other organs, characterized by thick mucus buildup and recurrent infections.
Diffusing capacity
The ability of the lungs to transfer gases between the air and blood.
Diffusion
The movement of gases from an area of higher concentration to lower concentration.
Dyspnea
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing.
Emphysema
Destruction of the alveoli, leading to reduced lung function and air trapping.
Empyema
Pus accumulation in the pleural space, often caused by infection.
Exercise-induced asthma (EIA)
Asthma triggered by physical activity.
Expectorate
To cough up and spit out phlegm or mucus from the respiratory tract.
Expiration
The process of breathing out, expelling air from the lungs.
Fibrosis
Scarring and thickening of lung tissue, reducing lung elasticity and function.
Forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1)
The amount of air forcefully exhaled in the first second of a forced expiration, a measure of lung function.
Forced vital capacity (FVC)
The total amount of air forcefully exhaled after a deep breath, a measure of lung function.
Gastroesophageal reflux
Backflow of stomach acid into the esophagus, sometimes leading to aspiration and respiratory problems.
Hemoptysis
Coughing up blood or blood-stained sputum.
Hepatization
Solidification of lung tissue, resembling the liver, often seen in pneumonia.
Hyaline membrane
A layer of protein and dead cells lining the alveoli in ARDS, impairing gas exchange.
Hypercapnia
Elevated carbon dioxide levels in the blood.
Hypoxemia
Low blood oxygen levels.
Hypoxia
Reduced oxygen supply to tissues.
Impaired diffusion
Reduced ability of the lungs to transfer gases between the air and blood.
Insidiously
Developing gradually and subtly, without obvious symptoms initially.
Inspiration
The process of breathing in, drawing air into the lungs.
Mechanical ventilation
Use of a machine to assist or replace breathing.
Mucus plugs
Thick mucus secretions that can obstruct airways, particularly in CF and chronic bronchitis.
Nosocomial
Hospital-acquired infection.
Orthopnea
Shortness of breath when lying flat, often relieved by sitting upright.
Oxygen saturation (SaO2)
The percentage of hemoglobin in the blood that is carrying oxygen.
Oxyhemoglobin (HbO2)
Hemoglobin bound to oxygen, responsible for oxygen transport in the blood.
PaO2
Partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood.
PaCO2
Partial pressure of carbon dioxide in arterial blood.
Panacinar emphysema
A type of emphysema that affects the entire alveolus.
Partial pressure
The pressure exerted by a specific gas in a mixture of gases.
Perfusion
Blood flow through the lungs or other tissues.
Peripheral cyanosis
Bluish discoloration of the extremities, such as fingers and toes, due to reduced blood flow or low oxygen levels.
Phlegm
Mucus coughed up from the respiratory tract.
Pleural effusion
Fluid accumulation in the pleural space, the space between the lungs and chest wall.
Pleural friction rub
A grating or creaking sound heard during auscultation, indicating inflammation of the pleura.
Pneumonia
Lung infection causing inflammation and fluid accumulation in the alveoli.
Pneumothorax
Air in the pleural space, causing lung collapse.
Pulmonary edema
Fluid accumulation in the lungs, leading to breathing difficulties.
Pulmonary embolus
Blockage of a pulmonary artery, usually by a blood clot, potentially life-threatening.
Pulsus paradoxus
An abnormally large decrease in systolic blood pressure during inspiration, often seen in severe asthma or cardiac tamponade.
Pursed lip breathing
A breathing technique that helps improve airflow and reduce shortness of breath, often used in COPD.
Residual volume (RV)
The amount of air remaining in the lungs after a complete exhalation.
Resistance
Opposition to airflow in the airways.
Respiration
The process of gas exchange between the body and the environment, including inhalation and exhalation.
Respiratory failure
Inability of the lungs to provide adequate oxygenation or remove carbon dioxide from the blood.
Retractions
Visible sinking of the chest wall during inspiration, a sign of respiratory distress.
Sepsis
A life-threatening condition caused by the body's overwhelming response to an infection.
Sputum
Mucus coughed up from the respiratory tract.
Status asthmaticus
A severe, prolonged asthma attack that does not respond to usual treatment, a medical emergency.
Surfactant
A substance that reduces surface tension in the alveoli, preventing lung collapse.
Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS)
A widespread inflammatory response to infection or injury, potentially leading to organ dysfunction.
Tidal volume (TV)
The amount of air inhaled and exhaled during normal breathing.
Total lung capacity (TLC)
The maximum amount of air the lungs can hold.
Type I alveolar cells
Thin, flat cells that form the structure of the alveoli and allow for gas exchange.
Type II alveolar cells
Cells that produce surfactant, essential for maintaining lung function.
Typical pneumonia
Pneumonia caused by typical bacteria, often more severe than atypical pneumonia.
Ventilation
The process of moving air in and out of the lungs.
Ventilationâperfusion (V/Q) mismatching
An imbalance between ventilation (airflow) and perfusion (blood flow) in the lung