| A | B |
|---|
| agonal respirations | Slow, gasping respiration, sometimes seen in dying patients. |
| airway | The upper airway tract or the passage above the larynx, which includes the nose, mouth, and throat. |
| American Standard System | A safety system for oxygen cylinders, designed to prevent the accidental attachment of a regulator to a cylinder containing the wrong type of gas. |
| apnea | A period of not breathing. |
| aspiration | The introduction of vomitus or other foreign material into the lungs. |
| ataxic respirations | Irregular, ineffective respirations that may or may not have an identifiable pattern. |
| bag-valve-mask (BVM) device | A device with a one-way valve and a face mask attached to a ventilation bag; when attached to a reservoir and connected to oxygen, delivers more than 90% supplemental oxygen. |
| barrier device | A protective item, such as a pocket mask with a valve, that limits exposure to a patient''s body fluids. |
| bilateral | A body part that appears on both sides of the midline. |
| complete airway obstruction | Occurs when a foreign body completely obstructs the patient''s airway. Patients cannot breathe, talk, or cough. |
| compliance | The ability of the alveoli to expand when air is drawn in during inhalation. |
| cricoid pressure | Pressure on the cricoid cartilage; applied to occlude the esophagus in order to inhibit gastric distention and regurgitation of vomitus in the unconscious patient. |
| diffusion | A process in which molecules move from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration. |
| dyspnea | Difficulty breathing. |
| exhalation | The passive part of the breathing process in which the diaphragm and the intercostal muscles relax, forcing air out of the lungs. |
| gag reflex | A normal reflex mechanism that causes retching; activated by touching the soft palate or the back of the throat. |
| gastric distention | A condition in which air fills the stomach, often as a result of high volume and pressure during artificial ventilation. |
| good air exchange | A term used to distinguish the degree of distress in a patient with a partial airway obstruction. With good air exchange, the patient is still conscious and able to cough forcefully, although wheezing may be heard. |
| head tilt-chin lift maneuver | A combination of two movements to open the airway by tilting the forehead back and lifting the chin; not used for trauma patients. |
| hypoxia | A condition in which the body''s cells and tissues do not have enough oxygen. |
| hypoxic drive | A "backup system" to control respiration; senses drops in the oxygen level in the blood. |
| inhalation | The active, muscular part of breathing that draws air into the airway and lungs. |
| ischemia | A lack of oxygen that deprives tissues of necessary nutrients. |
| jaw-thrust maneuver | Technique to open the airway by placing the fingers behind the angle of the jaw and bringing the jaw forward; used for patients who may have a cervical spine injury. |
| labored breathing | Breathing that requires visibly increased effort; characterized by grunting, stridor, and use of accessory muscles. |
| metabolism | The sum of all the physical and chemical processes of living organisms; the process by which energy is made available for the uses of the organism. |
| minute volume | The volume of air moved through the lungs in 1 minute; calculated by multiplying tidal volume and respiratory rate. |
| nasal cannula | An oxygen-delivery device in which oxygen flows through two small, tubelike prongs that fit into the patient''s nostrils; delivers 24% to 44% supplemental oxygen, depending on the flow rate. |
| nasopharyngeal (nasal) airway | Airway adjunct inserted into the nostril of a conscious patient who is unable to maintain airway patency independently. |
| nonrebreathing mask | A combination mask and reservoir bag system that is the preferred way to give oxygen in the prehospital setting; delivers up to 90% inspired oxygen and prevents inhaling the exhaled gases (carbon dioxide). |
| oropharyngeal (oral) airway | Airway adjunct inserted into the mouth to keep the tongue from blocking the upper airway and to facilitate suctioning the airway. |
| partial airway obstruction | Condition in which an obstruction leaves the patient able to exchange some air, but also causes some degree of respiratory distress. |
| patent | Open, clear of obstruction. |
| pin-indexing system | A system established for portable cylinders to ensure that a regulator is not connected to a cylinder containing the wrong type of gas. |
| pneumothorax | A partial or complete accumulation of air in the pleural space. |
| poor air exchange | A term used to describe the degree of distress in a patient with a partial airway obstruction. With poor air exchange, the patient often has a weak, ineffective cough, increased difficulty breathing, or possible cyanosis and may produce a high-pitched noise during inhalation (stridor). |
| recovery position | A side-lying position used to maintain a clear airway in unconscious patients without injuries who are breathing adequately. |
| retractions | Movements in which the skin pulls in around the ribs during inspiration. |
| Sellick maneuver | A technique that is used to prevent gastric distention in which pressure is applied to the cricoid cartilage; also referred to as cricoid pressure. |
| stoma | An opening through the skin and into an organ or other structure; a stoma in the neck connects the trachea directly to the skin. |
| suction catheter | A hollow, cylindrical device used to remove fluid from the patient''s airway. |
| tidal volume | The amount of air that is exchanged with each breath. |
| tonsil tips | Large, semirigid suction tips recommended for suctioning the pharynx; also called Yankauer tips. |
| ventilation | Exchange of air between the lungs and the environment, spontaneously by the patient or with assistance from another person, such as an EMT-B. |
