Pulmonary signs, symptoms, and diseases

abnormal breath sound

fine crackling or bubbling sounds; commonly heard during inspiration when there is fluid in the alveoli

associated with bronchitis, pneumonia, and heart failure.

abnormal breath sound

dry, grating sound heard with a stethoscope during auscultation.

abnormal breath sound

loud, coarse or snoring sounds heard during inspiration or expiration that is caused by obstructed airways.

abnormal breath sound

high-pitched, musical sound made on inspiration that is caused by an obstruction in the trachea or larynx

characteristic of Upper respiratory disorder called croup

abnormal breath sound

continuous high-pitched whistling sounds, usually during expiration, that are caused by narrowing of an airway.

asthma, croup, hay fever, emphysema

excessive acidity of blood due to an accumulation of acids or an excessive loss of bicarbonate

caused by high levels of CO₂ in the body

acute respiratory distress syndrome

respiratory insufficiency marked by progressive hypoxia...restrictive lung disease that follows severe infection or trauma in young and previously healthy individuals

severe inflammatory damage that causes abnormal permeability of the alveolar-capillary membrane.  Alveoli fill with fluid, which interferes with gas exchange.

total absence of oxygen in body tissues

incomplete; imperfect

collapse of lung tissue, preventing respiratory exchange of O₂ and CO₂


caused by obstruction of foreign bodies, excessive secretions, or pressure on the lung from tumor

process of becoming solid, especially in connection with the lungs

-pathological engorgement of lung tissues that occurs in acute pneumonia

acute inflammation of nasal passages accompanied by profuse nasal discharge

acute respiratory syndrome that occurs primarily in children and infants and is characterized by laryngeal obstruction and spasm, barking cough, and stridor

genetic disease of exocrine glands characterized by excessive secretions of thick mucus that do not drain normally, causing obstruction of passageways (including pancreatic and bile ducts and bronchi)

leads to chronic airway obstruction, recurrent respiratory infection, bronchiectasis and respiratory failure

pus in a body cavity, especially in the pleural cavity (pyothorax)

result of primary infection in lungs

acute form: life-threatening infection of the epiglottis and surrounding area that occurs most commonly in children ages 2-12

classic form: sudden fever, dysphagia, inspiratory stridor, and severe respiratory distress

hemorrhage from the nose

deficiency of oxygen in the blood, usually a sign of respiratory impairment

deficiency of oxygen in body tissues, usually a sign of respiratory impairment

decreased oxygen = cyanosis

contagious infection; fever chills, headache and muscle pain

pulmonary malignancy (cigarette smoking)

metastasizes rapidly

acute infectious disease characterized by a 'whoop' sounding cough (aka whooping cough)

DPT immunization prevents

abnormal presence of fluid in pleural cavity.

could be blood (hemothorax), serum (hydrothorax) or pus (pyothorax).  Surgery to remove excess fluid (thoracentesis, thoracocentisis)

collection of air in the pleural cavity, causing the complete or partial collapse of a lung. 

see picture

arterial blood gas

measurement of O₂ and CO₂ content of arterial blood by various methods

accesses adequacy of ventilation, oxygenation and acid-base balance

visual examinatyion of the interior bronchi using a bronchoscope (flexible fiberscopic instrument with a light, which can be inserted through the nose or mouth)

radiograph of the chest taken from the AP, PA or lateral projections

diagnoses atelectasis, tumors, pneumonia, emphysema, and many other lung diseases

computed tomography

uses narrow beam of x-rays that rotate in a full arc around the patient to acquire mulitple views of the body that a computer interprets to produce cross-sectional images of that body part

detects lesions in lungs & thorax, blood clots, and pulmonary embolism (PE)l. may or may not have a contrast medium

uses electromagnetic energy to produce multiplanar cross-sectional images of the body

variety of tests to determine the capacity of the lungs to exchange O₂ and CO₂ efficiently

pulmonary function test

measures amount of air that can be forcefully exhaled from the lungs after the deepest inhalation

measures volume of air that can be forcefully exhaled during the first second of measuring FVC

pulmonary function test

spiro: to breathe

measurement of FVC adn FEV₁, producing a tracing on a graph

use of body positioning to assist in removal of secretions from specific lobes of the lung, bronchi, or lung cavities

drugs used to increase airflow by dilating constricted airways through relaxation of the smooth muscles that surround the bronchioles and bronchi

treat asthma, emphysema, COPD.  Often has a spacer

hormonal agents that reduce tissue edema and inflammation associated with chronic lung disease

therapy that uses a device to produce a fine spray that delivers medication directly into the lungs