Respiratory - Basic Terms

Question 1

Respiratory - Basic Terms

What is orthopnea? What is it caused by? How is it relieved?

Answer 1

It is pulmonary congestion when a person is lying down.

It is caused by horizontal position, which redistributes body water, causing abdominal contents to exert pressure o the efficiency of the respiratory muscles.

It is relieved by sitting up in a forward leaning posture or supporting the upper body with several pillows.

Question 2

Respiratory - Basic Terms

What are adventitious breath sounds?

Answer 2

They are abnormal breath sounds described as:
Crackles
Wheezes
Pleural friction rub
Rhonchi

Question 3

Respiratory - Basic Terms

What is hemoptysis? What some of the causes? What diagnostic test is used to confirm hempotysis?

Answer 3

It is couphing up blood or bloody secretions.

It indicates a localized abnormality, usually infection or inflammation that damages the bronchi and the lung tissue. It could also indicate cancer and pulmonary infarction.

Bronchoscopy is used to confirm the site of bleeding.

Question 4

Respiratory - Basic Terms

What does nasal flaring indicate?

Answer 4

Air hunger

Question 5

Respiratory - Basic Terms

What is a barrel chest? Is this a normal or abnormal finding?

Answer 5

It an increased anterior-posterior (AP) chest diameter.

Question 6

Respiratory - Basic Terms

Describe crackles.

Answer 6

Short, discrete, crackling or bubbling sounds.

Question 7

Respiratory - Basic Terms

Describe wheezes.

Answer 7

Muscial sounds caused by narrowed airways due to inflammation, constriction, or excessive mucus.

Question 8

Respiratory - Basic Terms

Describe frictional rub.

Answer 8

A loud, dry, creaking sound caused by inflammation of the pleura.