Chapter 15 Terms

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.  

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.

Ventilation–perfusion (V/Q) mismatching

• An imbalance between ventilation (airflow) and perfusion (blood flow) in the lung