Medical Terminology Simplified

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