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18.6: Key Terms

  • Page ID
    105397
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    advanced cardiac life support (ACLS)
    enhanced training and skills beyond basic life support (BLS), primarily involving the addition of resuscitation and cardiac support medications
    afterload
    the force the ventricles must generate to pump blood against the resistance in the vessels
    arteriosclerosis
    stiffening of the arterial walls
    artery
    a blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart
    atelectasis
    the collapse of alveoli in the lungs, resulting in limited air movement and decreased gas exchange
    atherosclerosis
    buildup of plaque deposits within the artery walls
    automated external defibrillator (AED)
    an easy-to-use portable device available in many settings that can analyze a cardiac rhythm and defibrillate, if appropriate, in order to reestablish an effective cardiac rhythm
    automaticity
    the ability of cells to initiate spontaneous action potential
    bronchiectasis
    a chronic condition where airways are dilated and the lung walls are thickened due to inflammation and infection
    capnography
    CO2 monitor
    cardiomyocytes
    heart muscle cells
    cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
    combination of rescue breathing and chest compressions
    cardiopulmonary system
    combination of cardiovascular and pulmonary systems
    cardioversion
    use of low-dose electricity to convert the cardiac electrical system from a dysrhythmia (e.g., A-fib) to normal sinus rhythm
    carina
    the ridge of cartilage at the base of the trachea that separates the openings of the left and right primary bronchi
    comorbidity
    multiple medical diagnoses
    compliance
    the ability of the lungs to accommodate deep and shallow breaths and maintain elastic recoil
    contractility
    pumping action of the heart
    crepitus
    a popping or crackling sensation when the skin is palpated; it is a sign of air trapped under the subcutaneous tissues
    cyanosis
    a bluish or dusky discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes caused by hypoxia
    dysrhythmia
    a rhythm abnormality
    ejection fraction (EF)
    the percentage of blood within the ventricle that is expelled during a single systolic contraction
    electrocardiogram
    the visual interpretation of the electrical impulses involved in the cardiac cycle
    epiglottis
    a flexible piece of cartilage that covers the opening of the trachea during swallowing to prevent ingested material from entering the trachea
    esophagus
    part of the gastrointestinal tract: tubular structure adjacent to trachea which transports food and fluid boluses from the mouth to stomach
    expiration
    the movement of air out of the lungs
    false vocal cords
    mucosal tissue located within the glottis; also known as vestibular folds
    fibrosis
    abnormal scar tissue
    gas exchange
    the transfer of oxygen and carbon dioxide; takes place at the alveolar-capillary bed
    glottis
    the opening between vocal folds; includes true vocal cords and the opening between them
    hypercapnia
    an elevated CO2
    hyperventilation
    rapid, deep breathing
    hypoxemia
    decreased partial pressure of oxygen in the blood (PaO2)
    hypoxia
    a reduced level of tissue oxygenation
    inspiration
    the movement of air into the lungs
    intravascular volume
    the amount of fluid within the blood vessels
    ischemia
    a condition in which oxygen-rich blood flow is restricted or reduced in a part of the body
    isoelectric line
    the flat horizontal line on ECG paper, reflecting no electrical voltage (positive or negative)
    laryngopharynx
    lower portion of the throat, located behind the larynx
    larynx
    tubular airway structure at the superior part of the trachea that connects the pharynx to the trachea and helps regulate the volume of air that enters and leaves the lungs; contains the vocal cords
    mediastinum
    the space within the thoracic cavity, medially between the lungs
    metabolic syndrome
    a cluster of diseases (including hypertension, high blood sugar levels, a large waistline or apple shape, high triglycerides, low HDL cholesterol) that occur together, increasing a person’s chances of developing heart disease
    nasal turbinates
    folded mucosal tissues offering protection, warmth, and humidity to the nasal cavity; also known as conchae
    nasopharynx
    superior part of pharynx, connecting nose and trachea
    oropharynx
    middle portion of pharynx, including tonsils and base of tongue, connecting to trachea
    perfusion
    vascular circulation powered by the pumping action of the heart that delivers oxygen and other nutrients to body tissues
    pharynx
    muscular tube that connects the nasal cavity and mouth to the voice box (larynx) and the esophagus (food pipe); also known as the throat
    postural drainage
    use of gravity/positioning to enhance drainage of respiratory secretions
    preload
    the stretch on the ventricles prior to contraction
    pulse oximeter
    instrument that measures the oxygen saturation of the blood
    respiration
    a general term for breathing and ventilation; composed of inhalation and exhalation
    respiratory ventilation
    the act of breathing; associated with oxygenation
    rhythm strip
    a tracing of the electrical cycles as seen from a selected lead, usually representing six seconds
    sinuses
    cavities located bilaterally in various areas of the skull; identified by the nearby bones
    spirometry
    pulmonary function test measuring the amount and speed of air movement on inhalation and exhalation
    stroke volume
    the volume of blood pumped out of the left ventricle of the heart during each systolic cardiac contraction
    subcutaneous emphysema
    air trapped in the subcutaneous tissue
    surfactant
    a phospholipid compound that reduces surface tension of alveoli, thereby preventing alveolar collapse (atelectasis)
    tachycardia
    heart rate faster than 100 beats per minute
    tachypnea
    a respiratory rate that exceeds 20 breaths per minute
    tidal volume
    length and depth of breaths
    trachea
    the lowest structure of the upper airway, adjacent to the esophagus, that connects the lung bronchi and the larynx and provides a route for air to enter and exit the lungs; also known as the windpipe
    true vocal cords
    structures within the glottis with muscular attachments to the thyroid and laryngeal cartilage; movement at the inner aspects produces sound production mechanism
    valve
    promotes the unidirectional flow of blood toward the heart and prevents backflow in a vein
    vein
    a blood vessel that returns blood to the heart
    venous reserve
    percentage of venous blood located in venous networks within the liver, bone marrow, and integument
    ventilation
    the movement of air in and out of the lungs

    This page titled 18.6: Key Terms is shared under a CC BY 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by OpenStax via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform.

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