Respiratory Care Procedures Exam 2
Review 115 complete solutions.
Respiratory Care Procedures Exam 2
Review 115 complete solutions.
What is radiolucent? - ANSWER Radiolucent describes the dark or black appearance of tissue on a
radiographic film, indicating that the tissue allows x-rays to pass through, which makes it appear less
dense on the image. For example, a pneumothorax also appears black on the film.
What is radiopaque? - ANSWER Radiopaque refers to the white appearance of dense matter on a
radiographic film, indicating that the tissue or substance is not easily penetrated by x-rays, making it
appear denser and brighter on the image. For example, dense bone tissue in the ribs appears white on
the film, and fat, being denser than air or other tissues, also appears whiter. Additionally, fluid in the
pleural space and alveoli filled with pus or blood also appear white, and these white areas on chest film
are referred to as pulmonary opacities.
What are infiltrates? - ANSWER The term used to describe patchy increased densities.
What are air bronchograms? - ANSWER A term used to describe seeing parts of the tracheobronchial
tree, which happens when the tissue surrounding the "tube" fills with fluid while the tube itself still
contains air, and it's also called "air-space disease" when infiltrates fill the alveoli.
What is plate atelectasis? - ANSWER A specific type of sub segmental atelectasis that has a classic
radiographic appearance.
What is a nodule? - ANSWER A nodule is a small, solid, and round growth or lump that can form in
various tissues or organs of the body, often seen on medical imaging such as X-rays or CT scans.
What is a deep sulcus sign? - ANSWER -The accumulation of air anteriorly that outlines the heart border
below the dome of the diaphragm that can be found in a supine patient.
What is the honeycomb appearance? - ANSWER A radiological finding indicating irreversible scarring
often linked to end-stage lung disease, observed in conditions like interstitial lung disease and the
formation of well-defined cystic spaces in the lung periphery.
,Respiratory Care Procedures Exam 2
Review 115 complete solutions.
What is a pneumothorax? - ANSWER Air in the pleural space.
What are the causes of a pneumothorax? - ANSWER -Trauma (e.g., gunshot wounds, motor vehicle
accidents),
-Ruptured bleb (common in emphysema),
-Iatrogenic (resulting from medical procedures or treatments, such as the insertion of lines like PAP
catheters, CVP catheters, biopsies, or positive pressure breathing methods like IPPB, mechanical
ventilation, and high levels of PEEP),
Idiopathic (no specific known cause).
What is a pleural effusion? - ANSWER Fluid in the pleural space.
Where can a pleural effusion be found? - ANSWER In blunt costophrenic angles.
What are the causes of a pleural effusion? - ANSWER -Congestive Heart Failure (CHF),
-Hepatic Cirrhosis,
-Pulmonary Emboli,
-Malignant Conditions (most common cause of exudative effusions),
-Pneumonia,
, Respiratory Care Procedures Exam 2
Review 115 complete solutions.
-Tuberculosis (TB).
What are the different types of pleural effusions? - ANSWER -Empyema: Pus in the pleural space that
requires thoracentesis.
-Chylothorax: A milky fluid with lymphatic fat that accumulates in the pleural space due to
gastrointestinal issues.
-Hemothorax: Blood in the pleural cavity caused by trauma.
What are air fluid levels? - ANSWER A straight boundary between air and fluid that can serve as an
indicator of a hydropneumothorax in the pleural space.
What is a Westermark sign? - ANSWER A radiological finding visible on a chest X-ray, characterized by
decreased blood vessel visibility (oligemia) in the lung region beyond a blocked large vessel, indicating
the presence of a pulmonary embolus.
What is a Hampton hump? - ANSWER A wedge-shaped lung opacity located in the lung's outer edge next
to the pleural surface that aids in identifying chest abnormalities.
What are Kerley A lines? - ANSWER Thin, short, horizontal lines seen on chest X-rays, indicating the
thickening of the interlobular septa (connective tissue) in the lungs' periphery that are typically
associated with conditions causing interstitial fluid accumulation, such as congestive heart failure or
interstitial lung diseases.
What are Kerley B lines? - ANSWER Thick and long horizontal lines seen on chest X-rays, extending from
the lung periphery toward the central part of the lungs, indicating interstitial edema in the bronchioles
or interlobular septa; these lines are commonly associated with congestive heart failure and are often
seen as markings in the septa.
What is the silhouette sign? - ANSWER A useful technique for defining chest abnormalities by causing
the margin of adjacent structures with the same density to become obscured.
Review 115 complete solutions.
Respiratory Care Procedures Exam 2
Review 115 complete solutions.
What is radiolucent? - ANSWER Radiolucent describes the dark or black appearance of tissue on a
radiographic film, indicating that the tissue allows x-rays to pass through, which makes it appear less
dense on the image. For example, a pneumothorax also appears black on the film.
What is radiopaque? - ANSWER Radiopaque refers to the white appearance of dense matter on a
radiographic film, indicating that the tissue or substance is not easily penetrated by x-rays, making it
appear denser and brighter on the image. For example, dense bone tissue in the ribs appears white on
the film, and fat, being denser than air or other tissues, also appears whiter. Additionally, fluid in the
pleural space and alveoli filled with pus or blood also appear white, and these white areas on chest film
are referred to as pulmonary opacities.
What are infiltrates? - ANSWER The term used to describe patchy increased densities.
What are air bronchograms? - ANSWER A term used to describe seeing parts of the tracheobronchial
tree, which happens when the tissue surrounding the "tube" fills with fluid while the tube itself still
contains air, and it's also called "air-space disease" when infiltrates fill the alveoli.
What is plate atelectasis? - ANSWER A specific type of sub segmental atelectasis that has a classic
radiographic appearance.
What is a nodule? - ANSWER A nodule is a small, solid, and round growth or lump that can form in
various tissues or organs of the body, often seen on medical imaging such as X-rays or CT scans.
What is a deep sulcus sign? - ANSWER -The accumulation of air anteriorly that outlines the heart border
below the dome of the diaphragm that can be found in a supine patient.
What is the honeycomb appearance? - ANSWER A radiological finding indicating irreversible scarring
often linked to end-stage lung disease, observed in conditions like interstitial lung disease and the
formation of well-defined cystic spaces in the lung periphery.
,Respiratory Care Procedures Exam 2
Review 115 complete solutions.
What is a pneumothorax? - ANSWER Air in the pleural space.
What are the causes of a pneumothorax? - ANSWER -Trauma (e.g., gunshot wounds, motor vehicle
accidents),
-Ruptured bleb (common in emphysema),
-Iatrogenic (resulting from medical procedures or treatments, such as the insertion of lines like PAP
catheters, CVP catheters, biopsies, or positive pressure breathing methods like IPPB, mechanical
ventilation, and high levels of PEEP),
Idiopathic (no specific known cause).
What is a pleural effusion? - ANSWER Fluid in the pleural space.
Where can a pleural effusion be found? - ANSWER In blunt costophrenic angles.
What are the causes of a pleural effusion? - ANSWER -Congestive Heart Failure (CHF),
-Hepatic Cirrhosis,
-Pulmonary Emboli,
-Malignant Conditions (most common cause of exudative effusions),
-Pneumonia,
, Respiratory Care Procedures Exam 2
Review 115 complete solutions.
-Tuberculosis (TB).
What are the different types of pleural effusions? - ANSWER -Empyema: Pus in the pleural space that
requires thoracentesis.
-Chylothorax: A milky fluid with lymphatic fat that accumulates in the pleural space due to
gastrointestinal issues.
-Hemothorax: Blood in the pleural cavity caused by trauma.
What are air fluid levels? - ANSWER A straight boundary between air and fluid that can serve as an
indicator of a hydropneumothorax in the pleural space.
What is a Westermark sign? - ANSWER A radiological finding visible on a chest X-ray, characterized by
decreased blood vessel visibility (oligemia) in the lung region beyond a blocked large vessel, indicating
the presence of a pulmonary embolus.
What is a Hampton hump? - ANSWER A wedge-shaped lung opacity located in the lung's outer edge next
to the pleural surface that aids in identifying chest abnormalities.
What are Kerley A lines? - ANSWER Thin, short, horizontal lines seen on chest X-rays, indicating the
thickening of the interlobular septa (connective tissue) in the lungs' periphery that are typically
associated with conditions causing interstitial fluid accumulation, such as congestive heart failure or
interstitial lung diseases.
What are Kerley B lines? - ANSWER Thick and long horizontal lines seen on chest X-rays, extending from
the lung periphery toward the central part of the lungs, indicating interstitial edema in the bronchioles
or interlobular septa; these lines are commonly associated with congestive heart failure and are often
seen as markings in the septa.
What is the silhouette sign? - ANSWER A useful technique for defining chest abnormalities by causing
the margin of adjacent structures with the same density to become obscured.
