Med Teer

• Abscess . Localized collection of pus in a cavity formed by tissue degeneration.
• Absorption. To soak up; as a sponge
• Acapnia. Reduced carbon dioxide tension in the blood; results from increased pulmonary ventilation.
• Acarbia. Reduced level of carbon dioxide in the blood with a proportional reduction in the alkaline bicarbon- ate.
• Acid-base balance. The human body cannot survive if the bloodstream becomes either markedly acid or al- kaline; it must remain in a very narrow range of bal- ance between acidity and alkalinity. Normal range is a pH of 7.35 to 7.45, neutral is a pH of 7, so the body normally is slightly alkaline. pH means the in- verse of the log of the hydrogen ion concentration in the bloodstream.
• Acidosis. A condition characterized by the presence of excessive quantities of acids in the blood; used mostly to indicate a decrease in the alkaline reserve below normal levels.
• Acute. Sharp, severe, occurring suddenly.
• Adhesive force. The clinging of the walls of the bron- chioles of a diseased lung that has sticky secretions as a result of the disease.
• Adrenalin (epinephrine). Medication used as a vaso- constrictor and cardiac stimulant in acute circulatory failure; also used as a local vasoconstrictor to relieve hemorrhage and local congestion and to relax the bronchi in asthmatic paroxysms.
• Aerosol. Liquid droplets suspended in a stream of gas
• Air trapping. Abnormal condition in which air cannot be expelled from the alveoli during exhalation as a re- sult of collapse of bronchioles or blockage by tena- cious mucus
• Airway. The path air travels from the atmosphere to and from the alveoli. In anesthesia or resuscitation, a mechanical device used to keep the passages of the upper respiratory tract open for the passage of air.
• Alcohol. A colorless, flammable liquid made from the fermentation of carbohydrates by yeast, used primar- ily for disinfection. In respiratory therapy ethyl alco- hol is used to break up bubbles in pulmonary edema by lowering the surface tension of the bubbles
• Alkalosis A condition in which the alkaline (hy- droxyl ion concentration) content in the blood in- creases above normal limits. A term used most often to indicate an increase in alkaline reserve above nor- mal levels.
• Allergy. A hypersensitive state acquired through ex- posure to a particular allergen
• Alveolar. Pertaining to the alveoli.
• Alveoli. Air sacs located at the end of the respiratory tract that are microscopic in size. The total number of these sacs has been estimated at 300 million (singular: alveolus)
• Ambient. Pressure equal to the atmosphere around an organism.
• Amelioration. Improvement
• Anaphylaxis. A rapid, exaggerated, allergic reaction.
• Anemia. A condition in which blood is deficient in volume or quality of red blood cells.
• Aneurysm. A weakness in the wall of the artery caus- ing a dilation in that area
• Angina. A severe constricting pain; usually related to a heart condition
• Anoxia. A term that literally means without oxygen. This term is used generally to indicate lack of oxygen in the blood and tissues of the body.
• Antibiotic. Inhibits the growth of microorganisms and fights infection.
• Antiseptic. An agent that inhibits the growth of mi- croorganisms
• Antitussive. Cough stopping.
• Aortic. Pertaining to the aorta
• Apnea. Complete cessation of respiration from any Cause
• Apneic. Not breathing.
• Apneusis. Abnormal respiration characterized by a prolonged inspiration.
• Articular. Of, relating to, or affecting a joint
• Arrested. As this pertains to disease, it means that the course of the disease has been stopped-that the dis- ease is staying in its present condition and not getting worse; the disease is not progressing.
• Dysrythmia (also known as arythmia). Variation from the normal rhythm, especially of the heart
• Arterial. Pertaining to the arteries
• Articulate. To unite by joints; to join.
• Aseptic. Sterile: free from septic or poisonous mate- rial
• Asphyxia. A condition characterized by interference with oxygenation and carbon dioxide elimination; usually associated with the environment.
• Aspirate. Inhalation of any foreign matter, such as food, saliva, or stomach contents (as after vomiting), into the airway.
• Asthma. A disease state characterized with difficult respiration and wheezing on expiration. Wheezes are caused as exhaled air flows past narrowed air pas- sages caused by spasms of circular muscles around bronchi and bronchioles; usually complicated by se- cretions inside the airway that increase the difficulty in breathing and lead to infection.