Medical Terminology Simplified

(Grace) #1
Completely unexpected and unexplained death of an apparently well, or virtually
well, infant; also called crib death
SIDS is the most common cause of death between the second week and first year of life.

Diagnostic Procedures


Measurement of the oxygen (O 2 ) and carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) content of arterial
blood by various methods
ABG analysis is used to assess the adequacy of ventilation and oxygenation and the
acid-base status of the body.

Visual examination of the interior bronchi using a bronchoscope, a flexible fiber-
optic instrument with a light, which can be inserted through the nose or mouth
(See Fig. 4–9.)
Bronchoscopy may be performed to remove obstructions, obtain a biopsy specimen, or
observe directly for pathological changes.

Radiographic study using a narrow beam of x-rays that rotates in a full arc around
the patient to acquire multiple views of the body, which a computer interprets to
produce cross-sectional images of an internal organ or tissue; also called computer-
ized axial tomography (CAT) scanning
In the respiratory system, CT scanning is used to detect lesions in the lungs and thorax,
blood clots, and pulmonary embolism. CT scans may be performed with or without a
contrast medium.

136 CHAPTER 4• Respiratory System


Figure 4-8Pneumothorax. (A)Normal lung. (B)Pneumothorax on inspiration in which outside air rushes in due to
disruption of chest wall and parietal pleura and the mediastinal contents shift to the side opposite the injury, compressing the
uninjured lung. (C)Pneumothorax on expiration in which the lung air rushes out due to disruption of the visceral pleura and
the mediastinal contents move toward the center.


Normal lung
Pneumothorax on
inspiration

Visceral
pleura

Parietal
pleura

Pleural
cavity

Air

Pneumothorax on
expiration

Visceral
pleura

Parietal
Air pleura

A BC

sudden infant death
syndrome (SIDS)

arterial blood gas (ABG)
ăr-TĒ-rē-ăl
arteri:artery
-al:pertaining to

bronchoscopy
brŏng-KŎS-kō-pē
bronch/o:bronchus
(plural,
bronchi)
-scopy: visual
examination

computed tomography
(CT)
cŏm-PŪ-tĕd tō-
MŎG-ră-fē
tom/o: to cut, slice
-graphy: process of
recording
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