(2)

• Decompensation


  Failure of the heart to circulate the blood properly or at a fast enough rate
• Defibrillation


  Ending the fibrillation (irregular, inefficient contractions of the atria or ventricles) of the heart; usually done with electric shock
• Degeneration


  Breakdown of tissue
• Delirium


  Disordered mental state with excitement and delusions
• Dermatomyositis


  Degenerative changes in skin and muscle that cause weakness and pain, sometimes affects the chest wall
• Desquamation


  To peel off in layers
• Detergents


  Drugs, compounds, or solutions used for cleaning
• Diagnosis


  Determination of the nature of a disease or the disease-producing symptoms
• Diaphragm


  The dome-shaped muscles that separate the thoracic and abdominal cavities
• Diastolic


  Rhythmic period of relaxation and dilation of a chamber of the heart during which it fills with blood
• Diffuse


  Scattered, covering a large area
• Diluent


  An agent that dilutes the strength of a solution or mixture
• Disinfection


  Destruction of pathogenic (disease-producing) organisms by use of a chemical agent
• Distal


  Farthest from point of reference
• Distilled water


  Water that has been evaporated and condensed to remove all minerals and other impurities
• Double pneumonia, bilateral


  Inflammation of both lungs
• Duct


  A canal or passage for fluid or gases
• Duo Medihaler-Iso


  A pressurized vial containing a bronchodilator solution for relief of bronchospasm
• Dyspnea


  Labored respiration of which the patient is aware
• Edema


  Accumulation of fluid in the tissues
• Elasticity


  Ability to stretch
• Electrolytes


  Particles in the body having an electric charge and having to do with body function and metabolism, mainly sodium, potassium, chloride, and bicarbonate
• Embolism


  Artery blocked by an embolus
• Embolus


  A globule of fat, a clot, or gas bubble circulating in the bloodstream that obstructs the blood flow
• Emesis


  The act of vomiting
• Emphysema


  Air trapped in lungs or tissue as a result of disease process and/or aging
• Empiric


  One who does not rely on scientific reasoning or education in practicing medicine; a quack
• Empyema


  Presence of pus in a cavity
• Endobronchial


  Within a bronchus
• Endocrine function


  Functioning of ductless glands that secrete substances directly into the bloodstream
• Endotracheal


  Within the trachea, as an endotracheal tube
• Enzyme


  A chemical produced by the body that acts as a catalyst in the metabolism of food substances
• Epiglottis


  Elastic cartilage covered by mucous membrane, diverts food from the mouth to the esophagus by closing over the trachea
• Epiglottitis


  Inflammation of the epiglottis that can cause airway obstruction
• Epilepsy


  Disorder of the central nervous system that causes convulsions
• Erythrocyte


  Red blood cells responsible for transportation of oxygen and carbon dioxide
• Etiology


  Study of a cause or causes of a disease
• Eupnea


  Normal respiration
• Exacerbation


  Increase of symptoms and/or activity of disease
• Excision


  The act of cutting away or taking out