Glossary

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  • Vicarious respiration

    Increased respiration in one lung when respiration in the other is lessened or abolished.  

  • Thoracic respiration

    Respiration performed entirely by expansion of the chest when the abdomen does not move. It is seen when the peritoneum or diaphragm is inflamed, when the abdominal cavity is restricted by tight bandages or clothes, or during abdominal surgery.  

  • Stridulous respiration

    Respiration marked by high-pitched crowing or barking sound heard on inspiration, caused by an obstruction near the glottis or in the respiratory passageway.  

  • Stertorous respiration

    Respiration marked by rattling or bubbling sounds. The noise made when someone breathes deeply through both the nose and mouth simultaneously, leading to the soft palate vibrating due to the merging air streams. This is often observed in individuals with brain compression or those who have had a stroke.  

  • Radiofrequency electrophrenic respiration

    A method of stimulating respiration in cases of respiratory paralysis from spinal cord injury at the cervical level. Intermittent electrical stimuli to the phrenic nerves are supplied by a radiofrequency transmitter implanted subcutaneously. The diaphragmatic muscles contract in response to these stimuli.  

  • Paradoxical respiration

    Respiration occurring in patients with chest trauma and multiple rib fractures in which a portion of the chest wall sinks inward with each spontaneous inspiratory effort.  

  • Muscles of respiration

    Any of the muscles used in breathing, including the diaphragm, the muscles of the rib cage (parasternal intercostals, scalenes, internal and external intercostals, triangularis sterni, and accessory muscles), and the abdominal muscles.  

  • Mitochondrial respiration

    The stages of cell respiration (citric acid cycle and cytochrome transport system) that take place in the mitochondria. Water is formed from oxygen and hydrogen ions, and energy is released.  

  • Labored respiration

    Dyspnea or difficult breathing; respiration that involves active participation of accessory inspiratory and expiratory muscles.  

  • Intrauterine respiration

    Respiration by the fetus before birth.  

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