CARDIO & PULMO NURSES TERMINOLOGY

III. Medical Terminology

Adventitious sounds	abnormal breath sounds
Apnea	involuntary cessation of breathing
Atelectasis	incomplete expansion or collapse of a part of the lungs
Bradypnea	slow rate of breathing
Cheyne-Stokes Respirations	gradual increase and then gradual decrease in depth of respiration followed a period of apnea
Crackles	crackling sounds made as air moves through wet secretions in the lungs
Crepitus	a grating sound or sensation under the skin around the lungs, or in the joints
Cyanosis	bluish coloring of the skin
Dyspnea	difficult or labored breathing
Hemoptysis	sputum containing blood
Hyperventilation	condition in which there is more than the normal amount of air entering and leaving lungs
Hypoventilation	decreased rate or depth of air movement into the lungs
Hypoxia	inadequate amount of oxygen available to the cells
Nasal Flaring	nostrils widen while breathing indicates difficulty in breathing
Orthopnea	shortness of breath when lying flat and relieved by sitting or standing
Pneumothorax	air in the pleural space
Stridor	harsh, high-pitched sound usually heard on inspiration when upper airway become narrowed
Tachypnea	rapid rate of breathing
Tripod Position or Orthopneic Position	a person sits or stands leaning forward and supports the upper body with hands on knees or other surface, often adopted by people experiencing respiratory distress
Wheezes	high-pitched, musical noise that sounds like a squeak