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Chapter 15: Glossary
Thorax and Lungs
Adventitious breath sounds Adventitious breath sounds, including crackles, wheezes, pleural
friction rubs, and stridor, are abnormal.
Agonal respirations Agonal respirations are a poor clinical sign that indicates impending death.
An agonal breathing pattern is irregularly irregular, characterized by varying depths and patterns of
respirations.
Air trapping Air trapping is an abnormal respiratory pattern in which inspiration is rapid and
shallow and expiration is forced.
Alveoli Alveoli are the smallest functional units of the respiratory system, where gas exchange
occurs.
Angle of Louis (sternal angle) The angle of Louis articulates with the second rib.
Apex The apex refers to the top of the lung.
Apnea Apnea is a lack of respirations for 10 or more seconds.
Apneustic respirations Apneustic respirations are characterized by prolonged gasping
inspirations followed by short, inefficient expirations, with pauses between breaths.
Base The base refers to the bottom of the lung.
Biot's respirations (ataxic breathing) Biot's respirations are an irregular pattern of breathing in
which deep and shallow breaths occur at random intervals, interspersed with long periods of apnea.
Bradypnea Bradypnea is a respiratory rate less than 12 breaths per minute.
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Bronchial Bronchial breath sounds are high-pitched, loud, and located over the trachea.
Bronchovesicular Bronchovesicular breath sounds are moderate-pitched breath sounds located
between the scapula at the first and second intercostal spaces and lateral to the sternum.
Cheyne-Stokes respirations Cheyne-Stokes respirations are a regularly irregular pattern of
alternating deep and shallow respirations interspersed with periods of apnea.
Costal angle The costal angle is located where the 10th pair of ribs meets the sternum at the
midsternal line.
Costal margins The costal margins are the medial borders created by the connection of the false
ribs.
Crepitus Crepitus is an abnormal finding in which small beads of air escape the lung and become
trapped in the subcutaneous tissue.
Diaphragmatic excursion Diaphragmatic excursion evaluates the distance the diaphragm moves
during inspiration and expiration.
Eupnea Eupnea is a normal respiratory rate, between 12 and 20 breaths per minute.
False ribs The false ribs are the 8th through 10th pairs of ribs, which connect with costal
cartilage.
Floating ribs The floating ribs (pairs 11 and 12) do not connect with the anterior thorax.
Hyperpnea In hyperpnea, the volume of a breath is larger than the resting tidal volume. However,
the respiratory rate and pattern remain normal.
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Intercostal space The intercostal space is the area between each rib.
Kussmaul's respirations Kussmaul's respirations, which are normally seen in diabetic
ketoacidosis and metabolic acidosis, are deeper and faster than normal respirations.
Kyphosis Kyphosis is an excessive convexity of the thoracic vertebrae.
Manubrium The manubrium is the upper third of the sternum, which articulates with the
clavicles and first pair of ribs.
Mediastinum The mediastinum is the area between the right and left lungs.
Midaxillary line The midaxillary line is the imaginary vertical line drawn from the apex of the
axillae and lying midway between the anterior and posterior lines.
Midclavicular line The midclavicular line is an imaginary vertical line drawn from the midpoint
of the clavicle.
Orthopnea Orthopnea is difficulty breathing in nonupright positions.
Parietal pleura The parietal pleura covers the chest wall and superior surface of the diaphragm.
Pleura A pleura is a serous sac that covers an organ or cavity.
Scoliosis Scoliosis is a lateral curvature of the spine.
Sighing Sighing is a pattern of normal respirations interrupted by a deep inspiration followed by
a deep expiration.
Suprasternal notch The suprasternal notch is located in the midsternal line above the
manubrium.
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Tachypnea Tachypnea is a respiratory rate greater than 20 breaths per minute.
Tactile or vocal fremitus Tactile or vocal fremitus describes the palpable vibration of the chest
wall that is produced by speaking.
Thoracic expansion Thoracic expansion evaluates the extent and symmetry of chest expansion.
Vertebra prominens The vertebra prominens is located at the level of C7 and T1.
Vertebrosternal ribs Vertebrosternal (true) ribs are the first seven pairs of ribs, which articulate
with the sternum via the costal cartilage.
Vesicular Vesicular breath sounds are low-pitched and located over the peripheral lung.
Visceral pleura The visceral pleura covers the external surface of the lungs.
Voice sounds Voice sounds are used to determine whether the lungs are filled with air or fluid, or
are solid. Bronchophony, egophony, and whispered pectoriloquy are examples of voice sounds.
Xphoid process The xiphoid process is the lower third of the sternum.
Copyright © 2010 by Delmar, Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.