Lung Disorders Special Report
Lung Disorders Glossary
Johns Hopkins Lung Disorders Glossary
Derived from The Johns Hopkins White Paper 2007: Lung Disorders
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.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.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.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.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.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.Posted in Lung Disorders on April 14, 2007
