Medical Terminology Simplified

Deficiency of oxygen in blood, usually a sign of respiratory impairment; also called

low blood oxygen

Blood oxygen can be measured by testing a sample of blood from an artery.

Deficiency of oxygen in body tissues, usually a sign of respiratory impairment

Generalized hypoxia occurs in healthy people when they ascend to high altitude, where it

causes altitude sickness that may lead to potentially fatal complications.

Acute, contagious respiratory infection characterized by sudden onset of fever, chills,

headache, and muscle pain

Pulmonary malignancy commonly attributed to cigarette smoking

Lung cancer comprises various malignant neoplasms that may appear in the trachea,

bronchi, or air sacs of the lungs. Survival rates are low in lung cancer due to rapid

metastasis and late detection.

Acute infectious disease characterized by a cough with a sound like a “whoop”; also

called whooping cough

Immunization of infants as part of the diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus (DPT) vaccine

prevents the spread of pertussis.

Abnormal presence of fluid in the pleural cavity

The fluid may contain blood (hemothorax), serum (hydrothorax), or pus (pyothorax).

Treatment includes a surgical puncture of the chest using a hollow-bore needle (thora-

centesis, thoracocentesis) to remove excess fluid. (See Fig. 4–5.)

Collection of air in the pleural cavity, causing the complete or partial collapse of a

lung

Pneumothorax can occur with pulmonary disease (emphysema, lung cancer, or tubercu-

losis) when pulmonary lesions rupture near the pleural surface, allowing communication

between an alveolus or bronchus and the pleural cavity. It may also be the result of an

open chest wound or a perforation of the chest wall that permits the entrance of air.

(See Fig. 4–8.)

Additional Medical Terms • CHAPTER 4 135

lung cancer

KĂN-sĕr

pertussis

pĕr-TŬS-ĭs

pleural effusion

PLOO-răl ĕ-FŪ-zhŭn

pleur: pleura

-al: pertaining to

pneumothorax

nū-mō-THŌ-răks

pneum/o:air; lung

-thorax:chest

hypoxemia

hī-pŏks-Ē-mē-ă

hyp: under, below,

deficient

ox: oxygen

-emia: blood

hypoxia

hī-PŎKS-ē-ă

hyp: under, below,

deficient

ox: oxygen

-ia: condition

influenza

ĭn-floo-ĔN-ză