Medical Terminology – Respirations
Respiration
Act of breathing; interchange of gases
between lungs and the atmosphere.
Adventitious
Abnormal breath sounds.
Anoxia
Without or absence of oxygen.
Apnea
A period of cessation of breathing.
Bronchial
Normal breath sounds over the
mainstream bronchus.
Bronchovesicular
Normal breath sounds over the bifurcation
area.
Cheyne-Stokes respirations
Cyclic pattern of breathing; characterized
by very rapid respirations which gradually
cease for a period of time, then cycle is
repeated.
Cyanosis
Slightly bluish gray or dark purple
discoloration of the skin indicating
deoxygenated hemoglobin in the blood.
Dyspnea
Subjective complaint of labored, difficult
and/or painful breathing; normal when
due to vigorous work or athletic activity.
Eupnea
Normal breathing
Hyperpnea
Increased respiratory rate which is deeper
than usual, a certain degree is normal
after exercise.
Hyperventilation
Increase in rate and/or depth of
respiration, may result in a fall in B/P,
vasoconstriction, and sometimes syncope.
Hypoventilation
Reduced rate and depth of breathing.
Hypoxia or Hypoxemia
Insufficient oxygenation of the blood.
Kussmaul’s respirations
Very deep gasping type of breathing
associated with severe diabetic acidosis
and coma. “Air Hunger”
Labored
Breathing which actively involves
accessory inspiratory and expiratory
muscles.
Orthopnea
Discomfort in breathing in any but erect
sitting or standing position.
Polypnea
Very rapid breathing; panting.
Rales and Rhonchi
Abnormal sound (crackling, clicking,
rattling or bubbling sound) heard on
auscultation of the chest.
Stertorous
Snoring sound of labored breathing.
Stridor
Harsh, high pitched sound (like the
blowing of the wind) during respiration;
due to obstruction of air passages;
crowing sound.
Tachypnea
Abnormally rapid respiration.
Vesicular
Normal breath sounds in peripheral lung
fields.
Wheezing
Whistling sounds during difficult
breathing; like in asthma, croup.