Respiratory Tract & Thorax
Also known as the common cold or head cold.
upper respiratory infection (URI)
(page 189)
Fluid collects in the alveoli. It is most commonly caused by failure of the left of the heart to pump blood; this creates a back up of blood in the pulmonary circulation.
pulmonary edema
eh - DEE - mah
(page 197)
Blockage of a pulmonary artery or one of its branches.
pulmonary embolism
EM - boh - lizm
(page 198)
Absence of spontaneous respiration due to respiratory failure or respiratory arrest.
Apnea
AP - nee - ah
(page 199)
A discoloration of the skin and nail beds because of low level of oxygen and high level of carbon dioxide in the blood and tissues.
Cyanosis
SY - ah - NOH - sihs
(page 201)
Infection or inflammation of the bronchi.
bronchitis
brong - KY - tihs
(page 190)
Caused by chronic exposure to air pollution or smoking. Diseases include chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
(page 192)
Infection of some or all of the lobes of the lungs.
pneumonia
noo - MOHN - yah
(page 196)
Abnormally rapid rate of breathing.
tachypnea
TAK - ip - NEE - ah
(page 200)
Complete lack of oxygen in the arterial blood and body tissues.
anoxia
an - AWK - see - ah
(page 200)
This is caused by a penetrating injury to the chest. Also known as a collapsed lung.
pneumothorax
NOO - moh - THOR - aks
(page 199)
Severe sometimes fatal bacterial infection. There are flu-like symptoms, body aches, and fever, followed by severe pneumonia with liver and kidney degeneration.
legionnaires' disease
LEE - jen - AIRS
(page 194)
High-pitched whistling or squeaking sounds. It is caused by narrowing of the lumen due to bronchospasm from asthma, infection, or allergic reaction.
Wheezes
WHEE - zehs
(page 190 - under abnormal breath sounds)
Difficult, labored, or painful respiration. Also known as shortness of breath.
dyspnea
DISP - nee - ah
(page 200)
Very high level of carbon dioxide in the arterial blood.
hypercapnia
HY - per - KAP - nee - ah
(page 202)
What type disease is asthma?
Asthma is a type of reactive airway disease (page 189 also on page 190 under reactive airway disease)
Irregular crackling or bubbling sounds.
Rales
RAWLZ
(page 190 - under abnormal breath sounds)
Infection caused by a bacterium and is spread by airborne droplets and coughing. The bacteria produces tubercles (soft nodules of necrosis) in the lungs as well as symptoms of fever, cough, and weight loss.
Tuberculosis (TB)
too - BER - kyoo - LOH - sihs
(page 198)
Difficulty breathing when lying supine.
Orthopnea
or - THAWP - nee - ah
(page 200)
An abnormally high level of carbon dioxide with an abnormally low level of oxygen in the blood.
asphyxia
as - FIK - see - ah
(page 201)
What is the treatment for presence of blood in the thoracic cavity, usually from trauma.
Thoracentesis and insertion of a chest tube to remove blood and fluid. (page 199)
Under hemothorax
HEE - moh - THOR - aks
Acute viral infection of the upper and lower respiratory system.
Influenza
IN - floo - EN - zah
(page 194)
Caused by foreign matter (chemicals, vomit, etc) that is inhaled into the lungs.
aspiration pneumonia
AS - pih - RAY - shun
(page 197)
Abnormally slow rate of breathing.
Bradypnea
BRAD - ip - NEE - ah
(page 199)
Very low level of oxygen in the cells.
Hypoxia
hy - PAWK - see - ah
(page 202)