8.10: Glossary

Key Terms and Definitions  

• Adenoid: Lymphatic tissue located between the back of the nasal cavity and the pharynx.
• Allergies: A condition in which the immune system reacts abnormally to a foreign substance.
• Alveolar: Pertaining to the alveoli, the small air sacs in the lungs responsible for gas exchange.
• Alveoli: Tiny air sacs in the lungs where the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide takes place.
• Apnea: Absence of breathing.
• Asphyxia: A condition caused by oxygen deprivation, leading to unconsciousness or death; suffocation.
• Asthma: A condition in which the airways become inflamed, narrow, and produce extra mucus, making breathing difficult.
• Asthma Attacks: Episodes of severe asthma symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath.
• Atelectasis: Collapse of part or all of a lung, often due to airway blockage or external pressure.
• Bradypnea: Abnormally slow breathing.
• Bronchi: The main passageways into the lungs.
• Bronchiolitis: Inflammation of the bronchioles, usually caused by a viral infection; common in infants and young children.
• Bronchioles: Small branches of the bronchi that lead to the alveoli.
• Bronchitis: Inflammation of the bronchial tubes, often due to infection or environmental factors like smoking.
• Bronchodilator: A drug that relaxes bronchial muscles, expanding the air passages; used in conditions like asthma.
• Bronchoscope: A medical instrument with a light and camera used to examine the trachea, bronchi, and lungs.
• Bronchoscopy: A procedure using a bronchoscope to view the airways.
• Bronchospasm: Sudden constriction of the muscles in the bronchial walls.
• Chest X-rays: Imaging test using radiation to produce pictures of the chest’s organs, bones, and tissues.
• Chronic Bronchitis: A form of bronchitis with chronic cough and mucus production for at least three months in two consecutive years.
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): A group of lung diseases that block airflow and make breathing difficult.
• Cyanosis: Bluish discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes due to poor oxygenation.
• Cyanotic: Pertaining to cyanosis; bluish or purplish skin discoloration from low oxygen levels.
• Cystic Fibrosis: A genetic disorder causing thick, sticky mucus that clogs airways and affects the lungs and digestive system.
• Dysphonia: Difficulty speaking due to voice problems.
• Dyspnea: Difficulty or discomfort in breathing; shortness of breath.
• Emphysema: A chronic lung disease involving overinflation of alveoli, reducing lung function and causing breathlessness.
• Epiglottis: A flap of tissue that covers the trachea during swallowing to prevent aspiration.
• Exhalation: The process of breathing out air.
• Gas Exchange: The process in the lungs where oxygen enters the blood and carbon dioxide is removed.
• Hemoglobin: A protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen and returns carbon dioxide to the lungs.
• Hypercapnia: Excess carbon dioxide in the bloodstream, usually due to inadequate respiration.
• Hyperpnea: Excessively deep or rapid breathing; forced breathing.
• Hyperventilation: Breathing that is deeper and more rapid than normal.
• Hypopnea: Shallow or slow breathing.
• Hypoventilation: Reduced air movement into the lungs, causing increased carbon dioxide levels.
• Hypoxemia: Low oxygen levels in the blood.
• Hypoxia: Inadequate oxygen supply to the body or a specific region.
• Influenza: A contagious viral infection of the respiratory tract, commonly called the flu.
• Inhalation: The process of breathing in air.
• Labored Breathing: Breathing that requires more effort than normal; often a sign of distress.
• Laryngitis: Inflammation of the larynx, often causing hoarseness or voice loss.
• Larynx: The organ forming an air passage to the lungs and holding the vocal cords; also known as the voice box.
• Lobectomy: Surgical removal of a lobe of an organ, such as a lobe of the lung.
• Lobes: Divisions of the lungs; the right lung has three lobes, and the left lung has two.
• Lung Cancer: A type of cancer that begins in the lungs and may spread to lymph nodes or other organs.
• Lungs: The main organs of the respiratory system, responsible for the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide.
• Mechanical Ventilator: A machine that provides respiratory support for patients who cannot breathe effectively on their own.
• Mucus: A slippery secretion produced by mucous membranes for lubrication and protection.
• Nasal Cannula: A device used to deliver supplemental oxygen or increased airflow to a patient in need of respiratory support.
• Nebulizer: A device that converts medication into mist for inhalation, often used to treat asthma and other respiratory conditions.
• Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA): A sleep disorder characterized by pauses in breathing or shallow breathing during sleep.
• Perfusion: The passage of fluid through the circulatory or lymphatic system to an organ or tissue.
• Pharyngitis: Inflammation of the pharynx, often resulting in a sore throat.
• Pharynx: Commonly known as the throat; located behind the mouth and nasal cavity, and above the esophagus and larynx.
• Pleural Effusion: Accumulation of fluid in the pleural space between the lungs and chest cavity.
• Pneumonia: An infection that inflames the air sacs in one or both lungs, which may fill with fluid or pus.
• Pulmonary Arteries: Arteries that carry blood from the right ventricle of the heart to the lungs for oxygenation.
• Pulmonary Circulation: The part of the circulatory system that carries blood between the heart and lungs.
• Pulmonary Edema: Fluid buildup in the alveoli of the lungs, often caused by heart or kidney failure.
• Pulmonary Embolism (PE): A blockage in a pulmonary artery, usually caused by a blood clot that travels from another part of the body.
• Pulmonary Function Tests (PFTs): Tests that measure how well the lungs take in and release air and move gases like oxygen.
• Pulmonologist: A physician specializing in diseases and disorders of the respiratory system.
• Pulse Oximeter: A small device that clips to a body part (usually a finger) to measure oxygen saturation in the blood.
• Respiration: The process of inhaling oxygen and exhaling carbon dioxide; essential for gas exchange in the lungs and tissues.
• Respiratory Rate: The number of breaths taken per minute.
• Respiratory Therapists: Health professionals who care for patients with breathing or cardiopulmonary disorders.
• Rhinitis: Inflammation of the nasal mucosa.
• Septum: The structure separating the left and right airways in the nose, dividing the nostrils.
• Sinusitis: Inflammation of the sinus cavities.
• Spirometry: A test that measures lung function by assessing how much and how quickly air is inhaled and exhaled.
• Sputum: Mucous secretions from the respiratory tract expelled through the mouth.
• Sputum Culture: A test to detect bacteria or fungi infecting the lungs or airways.
• Stethoscope: A medical instrument used to listen to internal sounds, especially heart and lung sounds.
• Surfactant: A substance that reduces surface tension in the lungs, helping stabilize the alveoli.
• Tachypnea: Rapid breathing.
• Thoracic Cavity: The body area between the neck and diaphragm that houses the lungs and heart.
• Thoracic Surgeon: A surgeon specializing in procedures involving the chest, including the lungs, heart, and esophagus.
• Trachea: The windpipe; a tube connecting the larynx to the bronchi, allowing air to enter the lungs.
• Tracheostomy: A surgical procedure creating an opening in the neck into the trachea for direct airway access.
• Tuberculosis (TB): A serious infectious disease, mainly affecting the lungs, caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
• Upper Respiratory Infection: A viral infection affecting the nose, nasal cavities, sinuses, and pharynx.
• Ventilation: The movement of air in and out of the lungs.
• Wheezing: A high-pitched whistling sound during breathing, often heard during exhalation and associated with asthma or lung disease.