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| Question | Answer |
| Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) | Form of pulmonary edema that is caused by fluid accumulation in the interstitial space within the lungs. |
| Apnea | Absence of breathing. |
| Asphyxia | A decrease in the amount of oxygen and an increase in the amount of carbon dioxide as a result of some interference with respiration. |
| Bradypnea | Slow respiration. |
| Carbaminohemoglobin | Hemoglobin with carbon dioxide bound. |
| Carboxyhemoglobin | Hemoglobin with carbon monoxide bound. |
| Carina | The point at which the trachea bifurcates into the right and left mainstem bronchi. |
| Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) | A disease characterized by a decreased ability of the lungs to perform the function of ventilation. |
| Cor Pulmonale | Hypertrophy of the right ventricle resulting from disorders of the lung. |
| Crepitus | Crackling sounds. |
| Cyanosis | Bluish discoloration of the skin due to an increase in reduced hemoglobin in the blood. The condition is directly related to poor ventilation. |
| Deoxyhemoglobin | Hemoglobin without oxygen. |
| Diaphoresis | Sweatiness. |
| Diffusion | The movement of molecules through a membrane from an area of greater concentration to an area of lesser concentration. |
| Dyspnea | Difficult or labored breathing; a sensation of "shortness of breath." |
| Flail Chest | One or more ribs fractured in two or more places, creating an unattached rib segment. |
| Free Radicals | Molecules, atoms, or ions with an odd number of electrons (unpaired electrons) that can be formed through interaction with oxygen and can cause damage to body cells. Also called reactive oxygen species. |
| Hemoglobin | Oxygen-bearing molecule in the RBC. It is made up of iron-rich red pigment called heme and a protein called globin. |
| Hemoptysis | Expectoration of blood from the respiratory tree. |
| Hemothorax | A collection of blood in the pleural space. |
| Hyperoxia | Higher than normal levels of oxygen. |
| Hypoxia | State in which insufficient oxygen is available to meet the oxygen requirements of the cells. |
| Nasal Flaring | Excessive widening of the nares with respiration. |
| Normoxia | Normal levels of oxygen. |
| Orthopnea | Difficulty breathing while lying supine. |
| Oxidative Stress | Damage to body cells and tissues caused by the presence of free radicals, which may form when molecules, atoms, or ions interact with oxygen. |
| Oxyhemoglobin | Hemoglobin with oxygen bound. |
| Pallor | Paleness. |
| Paroxysmal Nocturnal Dyspnea (PND) | A sudden episode of difficult breathing that occurs after lying down; most commonly caused by left-heart failure. |
| Perfusion | The circulation of blood throughout the capillaries. |
| pH | Abbreviation for potential of hydrogen. A measure of relative acidity or alkalinity. Since the pH scale is inverse to the concentration of acidic hydrogen ions, the lower the pH, the greater the acidity and the higher the pH, the greater the alkalinity. A normal pH range is 7.35-7.45 |
| Pleuritic | Sharp or tearing, as a description of pain. |
| Pneumothorax | A collection of air in the pleural space, causing a loss of the negative pressure that bings the lung to the chest wall. In an open pneumothorax, air enters the pleural space through an injury to the chest wall. In a closed pneumothorax, air enter the pleural space through an opening in the pleura that covers the lung. A tension pneumothorax develops when air in the pleural space cannot escape, causing a buildup of pressure and collapse of the lung. |
| Polycythemia | An excess of RBC's. |
| Positive End-Expiratory Pressure (PEEP) | A method of holding the alveoli open by increasing expiratory pressure. Some bag-valve units used in EMS have PEEP attachments. Also, EMS personnel sometimes transport patients who are on ventilators with PEEP attachments. |
| Respiration | The exchange of gases between a living organism and its environment. |
| Spontaneous Pneumothorax | A pneumothorax (collection of air in the pleural space) that occurs spontaneously, in the absence of blunt or penetrating trauma. |
| Subcutaneous Emphysema | Presence of air in the subcutaneous tissue. |
| Surfactant | A compound secreted by the lungs that contributes to the elastic properties of the pulmonary tissues. |
| Tachycardia | A rapid heart rate greater than 100/bpm. |
| Tachypnea | Rapid respiration. |
| Tactile Fremitus | Vibratory tremors felt through the chest by palpation. |
| Tracheal Deviation | Any position of the trachea other than midline. |
| Tracheal Tugging | Retraction of the tissues of the neck due to airway obstruction or dyspnea. |
| Ventilation | The mechanical process of moving air in and out of the lungs. |
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