A
acute
Having a short and relatively severe course.
acute bronchitis
Inflammation of the bronchi.
alpha-1 antitrypsin
A naturally occurring substance in the body that protects against damage to the walls of the alveoli by blocking the action of enzymes that break down proteins. A deficiency in this substance is one cause of emphysema.
alveoli
Tiny air sacs in the lungs. The walls of the alveoli contain capillaries, which absorb inhaled oxygen into the bloodstream and release carbon dioxide from the bloodstream into the lungs to be exhaled.
amiodarone
Generic name for Cordarone, a drug used to treat an irregular heart rhythm.
apnea
Cessation of breathing.
arterial blood gases
A measurement of the oxygen, carbon dioxide, and acidity of blood taken from an artery.
asthma
A disease characterized by inflammation and narrowing of the bronchi, making breathing difficult.
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B
beta2 agonists
The most commonly used type of bronchodilator, these medications open airways by relaxing bronchial smooth muscles.
blood gases
Oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood.
blood pressure
Pressure of blood against the walls of an artery.
breath training
Techniques that help a person with COPD control his or her breathing rate, decrease the amount of energy required for breathing, and improve the position and function of the respiratory muscles.
bronchi
Large airways in the lungs that branch from the trachea.
bronchiectasis
Persistent widening of the airways as the result of a lung disorder such as a lung infection, tumor, or cystic fibrosis.
bronchioles
Small airways in the lungs that branch from the bronchi.
bronchiolitis obliterans
Obstructive inflammation of the bronchioles.
bronchoalveolar lavage
Putting saline in the lung, then removing as much as possible to examine for abnormal cells or infectious organisms.
bronchodilators
Medications that open airways by relaxing bronchial smooth muscles.
bronchoscopy
Passage of a thin, hollow, flexible tube through the mouth and windpipe to allow viewing of the main bronchial passages.
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C
cannula
A two-pronged device that connects to an oxygen canister or concentrator and rests just inside the nostrils.
catheter
A thin, flexible tube.
chronic
Persisting over a long period.
chronic bronchitis
A recurrent problem defined by coughing up phlegm nearly every day for at least three months of the year (for example, every winter) for two or more consecutive years.
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
A group of lung diseases, mainly emphysema and chronic bronchitis, characterized by an obstruction of airflow during exhalation.
coagulate
To change from a liquid to a solid state.
continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP)
A technique that involves wearing a nasal mask that delivers a steady stream of air to maintain airway pressure and keep open the back of the throat in people with sleep apnea.
cor pulmonale
Heart disease due to resistance of blood flow through the lungs; it often leads to right heart failure.
corticosteroids
Medications that reduce inflammation, for example, in the airways.
Cushing's syndrome
A condition that produces complications such as osteoporosis, high blood pressure, and roundness of the face.
cystic fibrosis
An inherited disease in infants, children, and young adults that causes the body to produce an abnormally thick, sticky mucus that clogs the lungs and leads to life-threatening lung infections.
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D
deep vein thrombosis
A condition caused by formation of a blood clot in a deep vein of the body, usually in the leg, pelvis, or arm.
diaphragm
The large, dome-shaped muscle located at the base of the lungs, separating the chest cavity from the abdomen. The diaphragm plays an important role in breathing.
diffusion capacity
A measurement of how well gas passes across membranes in the lungs.
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E
elastin
A protein that makes the lungs elastic.
emphysema
A disease in which damage to the alveoli causes the lungs to lose their elasticity. People with emphysema are unable to move adequate quantities of fresh air through their lungs.
epiglottis
A flap of cartilage in the back of the throat that prevents food from entering the trachea.
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F
FEV1 (forced expiratory volume in one second)
A pulmonary function test that measures the amount of air expelled from the lungs in the first second of a forced exhalation.
fibrosis
A process by which inflamed tissue becomes scarred. Scarring in the lungs is called pulmonary fibrosis.
FVC (forced vital capacity)
A lung function test that is a measure of the total volume of air exhaled.
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G
gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
A condition in which stomach acid and enzymes flow back into the esophagus.
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H
hypercalcemia
Excessive blood levels of calcium.
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I
idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
Progressive scarring of the lungs in which the cause is unknown.
interstitial lung disease
A group of lung disorders that affect the supporting matrix of the lungs.
interstitium
The supportive tissue between the air sacs of the lungs.
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J
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K
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L
larynx
Voice box.
leukotrienes
Cell products that may narrow bronchi and stimulate the production of mucus.
lobe
A section of the lung; the right lung has three lobes, while the left lung has two.
lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS)
A surgical procedure in which lung tissue affected by emphysema is removed.
lung volume tests
Tests to measure the amount of air in the lungs.
lymph nodes
Small, round clumps of immune defense cells that help prevent the spread of infection and protect the bloodstream from viral and bacterial invasion.
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M
mediastinoscopy
A procedure in which the structures behind the breastbone in the chest cavity are examined.
mesothelioma
Cancer involving the pleura (the membranes that cover the lungs).
metered dose inhaler (MDI)
A device used to inhale medications that delivers a highly concentrated amount of drug directly to the airways.
mucus clearance device
A small handheld device shaped like a pipe. Blowing into it creates vibrations in the chest that loosen mucus and help medication to penetrate the lungs more easily.
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N
nebulizer
A device that vaporizes liquid medication into a fine mist that can be inhaled easily.
nodules
Small lumps of tissue.
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O
obstructive lung disease
Lung disease in which the airways are narrowed.
oxygen concentrator
An electric device that extracts oxygen from room air.
oxygen flow rate
The number of liters of oxygen that comes out of the cannula per minute.
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P
palliative treatments
Care aimed at delaying the progression of disease, relieving pain, and limiting disease complications, rather than curing the disease.
passive smoking
Inhaling the smoke from cigarettes smoked by others.
peak flow meter
A handheld device that measures how rapidly air flows out of the lungs.
pharynx
The back part of the throat.
pleura
The membranes that cover the outside of the lungs and the inside wall of the chest cavity.
pleural effusion
Fluid within the pleural space.
pleurisy
An inflammation of the pleura.
pneumonia
An infection in the lungs.
pneumothorax
Leakage of air into the space around the lung.
polysomnography
Sleep studies that monitor brain waves.
primary lung cancer
Lung cancer that originates in the lung.
pulmonary artery
The blood vessel that delivers oxygen-poor blood from the right ventricle of the heart to the lungs.
pulmonary embolism
A condition that occurs when a blood clot travels from a vein in the leg, pelvis, or arm and lodges in the pulmonary artery.
pulmonary fibrosis
Chronic inflammation and progressive scarring of the walls of the alveoli (the air sacs of the lungs). When the cause is unknown, it is called idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
pulmonary function tests
A group of procedures used to evaluate the status of the lungs and to confirm the presence of certain lung disorders.
pulmonary hypertension
Abnormally high blood pressure in the arteries of the lungs.
pulmonary isotope ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) scan
A test used to help diagnose a pulmonary embolism; involves the intravenous injection of particles labeled with a radioactive substance and the inhalation of radioactive particles.
pulmonary rehabilitation
A comprehensive preventive healthcare program provided by a team of health professionals to help people cope physically, psychologically, and socially with COPD.
pulmonary sarcoidosis
An inflammatory disease in which granulomas, small areas of inflamed cells, appear in the lungs and adjacent lymph nodes.
pulmonologist
A lung specialist.
pulse oximetry
A noninvasive way to measure the level of oxygen in the blood using a sensor placed on the earlobe or fingertip that directs a beam of light through the tissue.
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Q
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R
radon
A colorless, odorless gas formed naturally during the decay of uranium, found in rocks and soil.
resectable tumor
A tumor that can be removed in its entirety.
restrictive lung disease
Lung disease in which the ability of the lungs to expand is impaired.
right heart failure
Heart failure that mainly affects the right side of the heart, slowing the movement of blood through the heart and causing swelling of the liver and edema of the legs.
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S
secondary lung cancer
Lung cancer that has spread to the lungs from another part of the body.
side-stream smoke
Smoke coming from the end of a burning cigarette.
sleep apnea
Temporary cessation of breathing during sleep, often leading to daytime sleepiness.
spacer
An attachment to a metered dose inhaler (MDI) that eliminates the need to release the medication and inhale simultaneously.
spiral computed tomography (spiral CT)
An imaging test that generates a series of cross-sectional images that may be used to create a three-dimensional image.
spirometer
An instrument used in a pulmonary function test; it records the total volume and rate of air being breathed out. This test helps to diagnose or assess a lung disorder or to monitor its treatment.
spirometry
Measurement of the volume of air forcefully exhaled by the lungs as a function of time.
staging
A system for determining how much cancer a patient has and how far it has spread.
systemic
Affecting the body as a whole.
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T
total lung capacity
The amount of air in the lungs after maximal inspiration.
trachea
Windpipe.
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U
uvula
The tag-like structure that hangs down from the back of the throat.
uvulopalatopharyngoplasty
A surgical procedure that increases the size of the upper airway by removing the uvula and part of the soft palate.
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V
vena cava
The vein that returns blood from the upper and lower body to the heart.
ventilation
Movement of air (gases) in and out of the lungs.
ventricle
Lower chamber of the heart. The heart has a right and left ventricle.
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W
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X
x-ray
A procedure that uses invisible electromagnetic energy to produce images of bones, organs, and internal tissues.
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Y
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Z
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This glossary is derived from The Johns Hopkins White Paper 2007: Lung Disorders
Look In the Book: Lung Disorders
copyright 2007 Johns Hopkins Health Alerts.
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