Respitory - Vital Vocabulary

Question 1

The buildup of excess acid in the blood or body tissues that can result from a primary illness.

Answer 1

acidosis

Question 2

Abnormal breath sounds such as wheezing, stridor, rhonchi, and crackles.

Answer 2

adventitious breath sounds

Question 3

The buildup of excess base (lack of acids) in the body fluids.

Answer 3

alkalosis

Question 4

A substance that causes an allergic reaction.

Answer 4

allergen

Question 5

An extreme, life threatening, systemic allergic reaction that may include shock and respiratory failure.

Answer 5

anaphylaxis

Question 6

An acute spasm of the smaller air passages, called bronchioles, associated with excessive mucus production and with swelling of the mucous lining of the respiratory passages.

Answer 6

asthma

Question 7

Collapse of the alveolar air spaces of the lungs.

Answer 7

atelectasis

Question 8

Normal breath sounds made by air moving through the bronchi.

Answer 8

bronchial breath sounds

Question 9

Inflammation of the bronchioles that usually occurs in children younger than 2 years and is often caused by the respiratory syncytial virus.

Answer 9

bronchiolitis

Question 10

An acute or chronic inflammation of the lung that may damage lung tissue; usually associated with cough and production of sputum and, depending on its cause, sometimes fever.

Answer 10

bronchitis

Question 11

A condition characterized by a chronically high blood level of carbon dioxide in which the respiratory center no longer responds to high blood levels of carbon dioxide.

Answer 11

carbon dioxide retention

Question 12

An odorless, colorless, tasteless, and highly poisonous gas that results from incomplete oxidation of carbon in combustion.

Answer 12

carbon monoxide

Question 13

Irritation of the major lunch passageways from long term exposure to infectious disease or irritants such as smoke.

Answer 13

chronic bronchitis

Question 14

A lung disease characterized by chronic obstruction of lung airflow that interferes with normal breathing and is not fully reversible.

Answer 14

chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

Question 15

A method of ventilation used primarily in the treatment of critically ill patients with respiratory distress; can prevent the need for endotracheal intubation.

Answer 15

continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP)

Question 16

A respiratory disease caused by the virus SARS-CoV-2. The virus is a coronavirus, similar to the one that causes the common cold.

Answer 16

COVID-19

Question 17

Crackling, rattling breath sounds that signal fluid in the air spaces of the lungs.

Answer 17

crackles

Question 18

A viral inflammatory disease of the upper respiratory system that may cause a partial airway obstruction and is characterized by a barking cough; usually seen in children.

Answer 18

croup

Question 19

An infectious disease in which a pseudomembrane forms, lining the pharynx; this lining can severely obstruct the passage of air into the larynx.

Answer 19

diptheria

Question 20

Shortness of breath.

Answer 20

dyspnea

Question 21

A blood clot or other substance in the circulatory system that travels to a blood vessel where it causes a blockage of blood flow.

Answer 21

embolus

Question 22

A disease of the lungs in which there is extreme dilation and eventual destruction of the pulmonary alveoli with poor exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide; it is one form of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Answer 22

emphysema

Question 23

A bacterial infection in which the epiglottis becomes inflamed and enlarged and may cause an upper airway obstruction.

Answer 23

epiglottitis

Question 24

An allergic response, usually to outdoor airborne allergens such as pollen or sometimes indoor allergens such as dust mites or pet dander; also called allergic rhinitis.

Answer 24

hay fever

Question 25

Rapid, usually deep, breathing that lowers the blood carbon dioxide level below normal.

Answer 25

hyperventilation

Question 26

This syndrome occurs in the absence of physical problems. The respirations of a person who is experiencing hyperventilation syndrome may be as high as 40 shallow breaths/min or as low as only 20 very deep breaths/min. This syndrome is often associated with panic attacks.

Answer 26

hyperventilation syndrome

Question 27

A dangerous condition in which the body tissues and cells do not have enough oxygen.

Answer 27

hypoxia

Question 28

A condition in which chronically low levels of oxygen in the blood stimulate the respiratory drive; seen in patients with chronic lung diseases.

Answer 28

hypoxic drive

Question 29

Virus that has crossed the animal/human barrier and has infected humans, recently reaching a pandemic level with the H1N1 strain.

Answer 29

influenza type A

Question 30

A miniature spray canister used to direct medications through the mouth and into the lungs.

Answer 30

metered-dose inhaler (MDI)

Question 31

Severe dyspnea experienced when lying down and relieved by sitting up.

Answer 31

orthopnea

Question 32

The process of delivering oxygen to the blood by diffusion from the alveoli following in halation in to the lungs.

Answer 32

oxygenation

Question 33

An outbreak that occurs on a global scale.

Answer 33

pandemic

Question 34

Severe shortness of breath, especially at night after several hours of reclining; the person is forced to sit up to breathe.

Answer 34

paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea

Question 35

An airborne bacterial infection that affects mostly children younger than 6 years. Patients will be feverish and exhibit a "whoop" sound on inspiration after a coughing attack; highly contagious through droplet infection.

Answer 35

pertussis (whooping cough)

Question 36

A collection of fluid between the lung and chest wall that may compress the lung.

Answer 36

pleural effusion

Question 37

Sharp, stabbing pain in the chest that is worsened by a deep breath or other chest wall movement; often caused by inflammation or irritation of the pleura.

Answer 37

pleuritic chest pain

Question 38

An infectious disease of the lung that damages lung tissue.

Answer 38

pneumonia

Question 39

An accumulation of air or gas in the pleural cavity.

Answer 39

pneumothorax

Question 40

A buildup of fluid in the lungs, often as a result of congestive heart failure.

Answer 40

pulmonary edema

Question 41

A blood clot that breaks off from a large vein and travels to the blood vessels of the lung, causing obstruction of blood flow.

Answer 41

pulmonary embolism

Question 42

The process of exchanging oxygen and carbon dioxide.

Answer 42

respiration

Question 43

A virus that causes an infection of the lungs and breathing passages; can lead to other serious illnesses that affect the lungs or heart, such as bronchiolitis and pneumonia.

Answer 43

respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)

Question 44

Coarse, low pitched breath sounds heart in patients with chronic mucus in the upper airways.

Answer 44

rhonchi

Question 45

A respiratory device that holds liquid medicine that is turned into a fine mist. The patient inhales the medication into the airways and lungs as a treatment for conditions such as asthma.

Answer 45

small-volume nebulizer

Question 46

A harsh, high pitched respiratory sound, generally heart during inspiration, that is caused by partial blockage or narrowing of the upper airway; may be audible without a stethoscope.

Answer 46

stridor

Question 47

A contagious disease that attacks the lungs and that can remain dormant in a person's lungs for decades, then reactivate; many strains are resistant to antibiotics. TB is spread by cough.

Answer 47

tuberculosis (TB)

Question 48

Exchange of air between the lungs and the environment, spontaneously by the patient or with assistance from another person, such as an EMT.

Answer 48

ventilation

Question 49

Normal breath sounds made by air moving in and out of the alveoli.

Answer 49

vesicular breath sounds

Question 50

A high pitched, whistling breath sound that is most prominent on expiration, and which suggests an obstruction or narrowing of the lower airways; occurs in asthma and bronchiolitis.

Answer 50

wheezing