Respiratory System Definitions Quiz

Respiratory System Definitions

• SOBOE: Shortness of breath on exertion; difficulty breathing during physical activity, like walking up stairs. Also called exertional dyspnea, breathlessness on exertion.

• SOB: Shortness of breath, or breathlessness; a feeling of not being able to breathe normally, often described as frightening and suffocating.

• Cyanosis: Bluish-purple discoloration of the skin, typically seen in lips, mouth, earlobes, and fingernails; indicates low oxygen levels in the bloodstream, potentially a problem with the heart or lungs.

• Dyspnea: Difficulty breathing, described as a feeling of not getting enough air (air hunger), chest tightness, or working harder to breathe. It's synonymous with shortness of breath.

• Apnea: Cessation of breathing for more than 15 seconds, commonly associated with bradycardia and desaturation; often seen in sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a common condition causing repeated pauses of breathing during sleep.

Other Respiratory Conditions

• Orthopnea: Shortness of breath while lying down that improves when sitting or standing; often caused by heart failure or lung disease. Treating the underlying condition, adjusting posture, using oxygen, or taking medication can help.

• Hyperventilation: Rapid or deep breathing, often due to anxiety or panic; can lead to feeling breathless due to the body expelling excessive carbon dioxide.

• Sputum: Thick mucus produced in the lungs; can be a symptom of lung infections or chronic lung conditions. It's not saliva.

• Respiration: Process of breathing in oxygen and breathing out carbon dioxide; also refers to the chemical process organisms use to release energy from food using oxygen and producing carbon dioxide.

• Wheezing: A whistling or rattling sound when breathing, due to partially blocked airways; can be caused by allergies, a cold, bronchitis, asthma, pneumonia, or heart failure.