Respiratory Therapist Vocabulary Exam questions and answers

air hunger a form of respiratory distress characterized by gasping, labored breathing, or dyspnea accessory muscles any of the muscles of the neck, back, and abdomen that may assist the diaphragm and the internal and external intercostal muscles in respiration, especially in some breathing disorders or during exercise agonal respiration shallow breathing pattern that is often related to cardiac arrest and death apnea temporary absence or cessation of breathing airway the passage by which air enters and leaves the lungs asthma a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways. causes the airways to spasm and swell periodically so that the airways narrow. the individual then must wheeze or gasp for air. atelectasis a collapse of lung tissue affecting part or all of one lung. this condition prevents normal oxygen absorption to healthy issues. auscultate to examine by auscultation (listening for sounds made by internal organs, as the heart and the lungs, to aid in the diagnosis of certain disorders) barrier device type of personal protective equipment designed to protect rescuers from exposure to infection when in close contact with the person needing CPR bulb syringe a device with a flexible bulb that replaces the plunger for instillation or aspiration; can be used to irrigate an external orifice bradypnea abnormal slowness of breathing bronchiectasis bronchial walls dilating irreversibly resulting in their destruction; congenital or caused by a tumor or foreign body that has been accidentally aspirated bronchiolitis acute viral infection of the small air passages of the lungs call the bronchioles (caused by respiratory syncytial virus) carbon dioxide an odorless gas, CO2, resulting from oxidation of carbon, and formed in the tissues and eliminated by the lungs contraindication any reason that a drug should not be taken, including harmful interactions with other drugs and the individual's personal sensitivity and condition croup acute partial obstruction of the upper airway, usually in young children and caused by a viral or bacterial infection, allergy, or foreign body, or new growth (barking cough, hoarseness) croup tent a covering or shelter over the head and shoulders withing which a stream of medical vapor is maintained for the relief of some respiratory conditions cystic fibrosis an inherited disease that affects the lungs, digestive system, sweat glands, and male fertility; affects the body's ability to move salt and water in and out of cells cyanosis physical sign causing bluish discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes; caused by a lack of oxygen in the blood diaphragm the musculomembranous partition separating the abdominal and thoracic cavities and serving as a major muscle aiding inhalation dyspnea respiratory distress that awakens patients from sleep epiglottis the thin elastic cartilagnous structure located at the root of the tongue that folds over the glottis to prevent food and liquid from entering the trachea during the act of swallowing emphysema chronic respiratory disease where there is over-inflation of the air sacs in the lungs, causing a decrease in lung function, and often, breathlessness esophagus the portion of the digestive canal between the pharynx and stomach gag reflex normal reflex consisting of elevation of the palate, retraction of the tongue, and contraction of the throat muscles heimlich American surgeon who in 1974 developed the Heimlich maneuver, a technique of ejecting an obstruction from the trachea of a choking victim humidification the process of increasing the relative humidity of the atmosphere around a patient through the use of aerosol generators or steam inhalers that exert an antitussive effect humidifier machine designed to adjust the amount of moisture in the atmosphere of a room or