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10.8: X Glossary

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    44601
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    Accessory muscles: Muscles other than the diaphragm and intercostal muscles that may be used for labored breathing.

    Apnea: Absence of respirations.

    Atelectasis: Alveoli or an entire lung is collapsed, allowing no air movement.

    Barrel-chested: An equal AP-to-transverse diameter that often occurs in patients with COPD due to hyperinflation of the lungs.

    Bradypnea: Decreased respiratory rate or slow breath less than normal range according to the patient’s age.

    Bronchial breath sounds: High-pitched hollow sounds heard over trachea and the larynx.

    Bronchovesicular sounds: Mixture of low- and high-pitched sounds heard over major bronchi.

    Clubbing: A change in the configuration where the tips of the nails curve around the fingertips, usually caused by chronic low levels of oxygen in the blood.

    Crackles: Also referred to as “rales”; sound like popping or crackling noises during inspiration. Associated with inflammation and fluid accumulation in the alveoli.

    Crepitus: Air trapped under a subcutaneous layer of the skin; creates a popping or crackling sensation as the area is palpated.

    Cyanosis: Bluish discoloration of the skin, lips, and nail beds. It is an indication of decreased perfusion and oxygenation.

    Dyspnea: A subjective feeling of breathlessness.

    Hemoptysis: Blood-tinged mucus secretions from the lungs.

    Hypercapnia: Increased carbon dioxide levels in the blood.

    Hypoxemia: Decreased levels of oxygen in the blood.

    Kyphosis: Outward curvature of the back; often described as “hunchback.”

    Orthopnea: Breathlessness or a feeling of shortness of breath when lying in a reclined position.

    Pallor: A reduced amount of oxyhemoglobin in the skin or mucous membranes and causes skin and mucous membranes to present with a pale skin color.

    Rales: Another term used for crackles.

    Respiration: Includes ventilation and gas exchange at the alveolar level where blood is oxygenated and carbon dioxide is removed.

    Retractions: The “pulling in” of muscles between the ribs or in the neck when breathing, indicating difficulty breathing or respiratory distress.

    Stridor: High-pitched crowing sounds heard over the upper airway and larynx indicating obstruction.

    Tachypnea: Rapid and often shallow breathing greater than normal range according to the patient’s age.

    Ventilation: The mechanical movement of air into and out of the lungs.

    Vesicular sounds: Low-pitched soft sounds like “rustling leaves” heard over alveoli and small bronchial airways.

    Wheeze: High-pitched sounds heard on expiration or inspiration associated with bronchoconstriction or bronchospasm.


    This page titled 10.8: X Glossary is shared under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Ernstmeyer & Christman (Eds.) (OpenRN) via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform.

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