In this issue

• Terms and chart related to the the lung, respiration, and pathological types of respiration

Learning on the go!

The goal of this newsletter is to provide you with enough information to be useful, but not more than can be learned within the busy schedule of a health care worker. You’ll find anatomy charts, medical Spanish vocabulary, occasional feedback from subscribers, and more! Feel free to read them now and save them for later use such as with a patient or as a study guide for coursework.

El pulmón - The lung

1. Respiratory rate or breathing frequency:The number of breathes taken in one minute.
2. Breaths per minute (bpm)
3. Eupnea: Normal breathing, 12–20 bpm
4. Bradypnea: Less than 12 bpm
5. Tachypnea: More than 20 bpm
6. Dyspnea or Shortness of breath: Feelings associated with impaired breathing.
7. Apnea: Temporary suspension of breathing.
8. Hyperpnea: Increased depth of breathing.
9. Hypopnea: Overly shallow breathing.
10. Orthopnea: Shortness of breath when lying flat.
11. Platypnea: Shortness of breath in standing of sitting position.
12. Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea: Attacks of severe shortness of breath and coughing that occur at night and awaken the patient.

1. Frecuencia respiratoria o ventilatoria: El número de respiraciones tomadas en un minuto.
2. Respiraciones por minuto (rpm)
3. Eupnea: Respiración normal, 12–20 rpm.
4. Bradipnea: Menos de 12 rpm
5. Taquipnea: Más de 20 rpm
6. Disnea: Sensación subjetiva de dificultad respiratoria.
7. Apnea: Suspensión transitoria de la respiración.
8. Hiperpnea: Aumento de la profundidad de la respiración.
9. Hipopnea: Disminución del flujo aéreo.
10. Ortopnea: Disnea en posición decúbito supino.
11. Platipnea: Disnea en posición vertical o erecta.
12. Disnea paroxística nocturna: Ataques de disnea que ocurren durante la nochey despiertan al paciente, forzándolo a tomar la posición ortopneica.

Pathological types of ventilation:

1. Cheyne-stokes respiration: There’s a gradual increase in the frequency and depth of breathing, which then gradually decreases until reaching a period of apnea.
2. Biot’s respiration: Groups of quick, shallow inspirations followed by regular or irregular periods of apnea.
3. Kussmaul respiration: Classic hyperpnea with a normal or slightly elevated respiratory rate.

Tipos patológicos de respiración

1. Respiración de cheyne-stokes: Hay un aumento gradual en la frecuencia y amplitud de las respiraciones, para luego disminuir hasta apnea.
2. Respiración de biot: Ventilación entrecortada, irregular, de amplitud variable y con periodos de apnea.
3. Respiración de kussmaul: Clásica hiperpnea con una frecuencia respiratoria normal o un poco aumentada.

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