 | Term | Definition |
| |
anosmia |
Loss of the sense of smell. |
| |
asphyxia |
Lack of oxygen that can lead to unconsciousness and death if not corrected immediately. |
| |
auscultation |
Process o listening for sounds within the body. |
| |
Cheyne-Stokes respiration |
Abnormal breathing pattern in which there are long periods of apnea followed by deeper, more rapid breathing. Named for John Cheyne and Sir William Stokes. |
| |
endotracheal intubation |
placing a tube through the mouth, through the glottis, and into the trachea to create a patent airway. |
| |
epistaxis |
nose bleed |
| |
hemoptysis |
coughing up blood, or blood-stained sputum |
| |
hyperventilation |
The breath both slow and shallow |
| |
internist |
a physician who specailized in treating deseases and conditions of internal organs such as the respiratory system. |
| |
nasal canula |
Two-pronged plastic device for delivering oxygen into the nose; one prong is inserted into each nares. |
| |
otorhinolaryngology |
Branch of medicine that treats conditions and diseases of the the ear, nose and throat region. |
| |
patent |
Open, or unblocked, such as a patent airway. |
| |
percussion |
Using the fingertips to tap on a surface to determine the conditon beneath the surface. |
| |
phlegm |
thick mucus secreted by the membranes that line the respiratory tract. |
| |
pleural |
Grating sound made when the two layers of the pleura rub together during respiration. It is caused when one of the surfaces becomes thicker as a result of inflammation or other disease conditions. |
| |
pulmonologist |
A physician who specializes in treating diseases and disorders of the respiratory system. |
| |
purulent |
Containing pus or an infection that is producing pus. |
| |
rales |
Abnormal crackling sound during inspiration. Usually indicates the presence of fluid or mucus in the airways. |
| |
rhonchi |
Somewhat musical sound during expiration, often found in asthma or infection. |
| |
Shortness of breath (SOB) |
Term used to indicated that a patient is having some difficulty breathing. |
| |
sputum |
Mucus or phlegm that is coughed up from the lining of the respiratory tract. |
| |
stethoscope |
An instrument used to listen to body sounds such as breath sounds or bowel sounds |
| |
stridor |
Harsh, high-pitched, noisy brathing sound that is madw when there is an obstruction of the bronchus or larynx. |
| |
thoracic surgeon |
a physician who specializes in treating conditions and diseases of the respiratory system by surgical means. |
