alveol/o
alveolus (air sac)
bronch/o
bronchus
bronchi/o
bronchus
bronchiol/o
bronchiole
coni/o
dust
cyan/o
blue
lob/o
lobe
mediastin/o
mediastinum
ox/i
oxygen
pleur/o
pleura
pnuem/o
lung, air
pnuemon/o
lung
pulmon/o
lung
spir/o
breathing
thorac/o
chest
trache/o
trachea (windpipe)
angi/o
vessel
arteri/o
artery
atel/o
incomplete
carcin/o
cancer
cardi/o
heart
cyt/o
cell
embol/o
plug
fibr/o
fibrous
hem/o
blood
orth/o
straight
py/o
pus
adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
acute respiratory failure in adults characterized by tachypnea, dyspnea, cyanosis, tachycardia, and hypoxia
arterial blood gasses (ABGs)
lab test for levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide present in blood
asphyxia, asphyxiation
lack of oxygen that can lead to unconsciousness and death if not corrected immediately
aspirate
inhaling fluid or foreign object into airways
asthma
disease caused by various conditions that results in bronchospasm, excessive mucus production, inflammation, airway constriction, wheezing and coughing
atelectasis
condition in which lung tissue collapses, preventing respiratory exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide
bronchodilator
any medication that causes bronchi to dilate
bronchogenic carcinoma
malignant lung tumor that originates in bronchi; often associated with a history of cigarette smoking
cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
combination of external compressions to sternum and rescue breathing to maintain blood flow and air movement in and out of lungs during cardiac and respiratory distress
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
progressive, chronic, and usually irreversible condition in which airflow to and from lungs is decreased; can have severe dyspnea with exertion and cough
crackles
rattling or crackling sound made during inhalation; caused by mucus or fluid in airways
croup
acute viral infection in children and infants; symptoms include dyspnea and a characteristic barking cough
cystic fibrosis (CF)
genetic condition that causes patient to produce very thick mucus resulting in severe congestion within lungs and digestive system
emphysema
pulmonary condition resulting from destruction of alveolar walls leading to overinflated alveoli; result of long-term heavy smoking or exposure to air pollution; characterized by dyspnea on exertion
endotracheal intubation (ET)
placing tube through mouth and into trachea to maintain open airway and facilitate artificial ventilation
hyperventilation
breathe too quickly (tachypnea) and too deeply (hyperpnea)
hypoventilation
breathe too slowly (bradypnea) and too shallowly (hypopnea)
hypoxia
having insufficient amount of oxygen in body
infant respiratory distress syndrome (IRDS)
condition seen in preemie babies that don't have fully developed lungs; lungs are not able to fully expand causing difficulty in breathing and can result in death; aka Hyaline Membrane Disease
influenza (flu)
acute viral infection of airways; highly contagious; symptoms include chills, body aches, fever, and dry cough
intermittent positive pressure breathing (IPPB)
method of artificial ventilation using mask connected to machine that produces pressure to assist air to fill lungs
phlegm
thick mucus secreted by mucous membranes lining respiratory tract; phlegm that is coughed out through mouth is called sputum
pleural effusion
abnormal presence of fluid or gas in pleural cavity; presence of this fluid can be detected by tapping chest (percussion) or listening with stethoscope (auscultation)
pleurisy
inflammation of pleura
pneumonia
acute inflammatory condition of lung, can be caused by bacterial and viral infections, diseases, and chemicals; severe dyspnea and death can result when alveoli fill with fluid
pneumothorax
collection of air or gas in pleural cavity, which can result in collapse of lung
postural drainage
drainage of secretions from bronchi by placing patient in position that uses gravity to promote drainage; used for treatment of cystic fibrosis and bronchiectasis
pulmonary angiography
injecting dye into blood vessel for purpose of taking x-ray of arteries and veins of lungs; test for pulmonary embolism
pulmonary edema
condition in which lung tissue retains excessive amount of fluid; result in dyspnea
pulmonary embolism (PE)
blood clot or air bubble in pulmonary artery or one of its branches; results in infarct of lung tissue
pulmonary function test (PFT)
diagnostic procedure to assess respiratory function by using spirometer to measure airflow and lung volumes; often performed by respiratory therapists
purulent
containing pus, as in purulent sputum
respiratory rate (RR)
number of breaths per minute; part of vital signs
rhonchi
whistling sound that can be heard during either inhalation or exhalation; caused by narrowing of bronchi as in asthma or infection; aka wheezing
severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)
severe and highly contagious viral lung infection with high fever; threatened worldwide epidemic in 2003
sputum
mucus or phlegm coughed up and spit out
sputum culture and sensitivity (C&S)
testing sputum by placing on culture medium and observing and bacterial growth; used to determine effective antibiotic
sputum cytology
examination of sputum of malignant cells
sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
unexpected death of apparently well infant; sleep apnea, airway spasms, and failure of nerves to stimulate diaphragm have been studied as possible causes
tuberculin skin test (TB test)
diagnostic test for exposure to tuberculosis bacteria by applying chemical agent under surface of skin and evaluating site for reaction
tuberculosis
infectious disease caused by tubercle bacillus; most commonly affects respiratory system and causes inflammation and calcification of lungs
ventilation-perfusion scan
nuclear medicine image particularly useful in diagnosing pulmonary emboli; involves inhaling radioactive tagged air to evaluate movement (ventilation) and injecting of radioactive tagged dye into bloodstream to evaluate blood flow to lungs
ventilator
mechanical device to assist patient to breathe; aka respirator