| rate, respiratory | The number of breaths per minute (or, more formally, the number of movements indicative of inspiration and expiration per unit time). In practice, the respiratory rate is usually determined by counting the number of times the chest rises (or falls) per minute. By whatever means, the aim is to determine if the respirations are normal, abnormally fast (tachypnea), abnormally slow (technically termed bradypnea), or nonexistent (apnea). (12 Dec 1998) |
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| Gierke's respiratory bundle | A slender, compact fibre bundle extending longitudinally through the dorsolateral region of the medullary tegmentum, surrounded by the nucleus of the solitary tract, below the obex decussating over the central canal, and descending over some distance into the upper cervical segments of the spinal cord. It is composed of primary sensory fibres that enter with the vagus, glossopharyngeal, and facial nerves, and in part convey information from stretch receptors and chemoreceptors in the walls of the cardiovascular, respiratory, and intestinal tracts; in rostral parts of the tract impulses are generated by the receptor cells of the taste buds in the mucosa of the tongue. Its fibres are distributed to the nucleus of the solitary tract. Synonym: tractus solitarius, fasciculus rotundus, fasciculus solitarius, funiculus solitarius, Gierke's respiratory bundle, Krause's respiratory bundle, round fasciculus, solitary bundle, solitary fasciculus. (05 Mar 2000) |
| region of respiratory mucosa | The area commencing at the vestibule of the nose lined with respiratory mucosa; with the exception of the olfactory mucusa, it includes the entire nasal cavity. Synonym: regio respiratoria tunicae mucosae nasi, respiratory region of tunica mucosa of nose. (05 Mar 2000) |
| virus, respiratory syncytial | A virus that causes mild respiratory infections (colds and coughs) in adults but in young children can produce severe respiratory problems (bronchitis and pneumonia). Effective immunity against rsv requires a continuous solid level of antibodies against the virus. There is particular concern for rsv in premature babies because of their lack of maturity and lack of antibodies. (12 Dec 1998) |
| respiratory | <physiology> Pertaining to respiration. Origin: L. Spirare = to breathe (18 Nov 1997) |
| respiratory acidosis | <biochemistry> A metabolic derangement of acid-base balance where the blood pH is abnormally low. Causes include haemorrhagic shock, cardiogenic shock, severe dehydration, sepsis, toxic ingestion (for example isopropyl alcohol, methanol), alcoholic ketoacidosis, lactic acidosis, renal failure and diabetic ketoacidosis. Respiratory acidosis will occur if the lungs are not ventilating properly resulting in an excess of carbon dioxide in the body. (25 Jun 1999) |
| respiratory airway | That part of the airway where interchange of gases occurs; it includes respiratory bronchioles, alveolar ducts, sacs, and alveoli. (05 Mar 2000) |
| respiratory alkalosis | The alkalosis resulting from abnormal loss of CO2 produced by hyperventilation, either active or passive, with concomitant reduction in arterial plasma bicarbonate concentration. See: compensated alkalosis. Synonym: acapnial alkalosis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| respiratory apparatus | The organs that are involved in breathing. These include the nose, throat, larynx, trachea, bronchi, and lungs. (12 Dec 1998) |
| respiratory arrhythmia | Phasic sinus arrhythmia or any other rhythm fluctuation induced by respiratory fluctuation. (05 Mar 2000) |
| respiratory ataxia | Completely irregular breathing pattern, with continually variable rate and depth of breathing; results from lesions in the respiratory centres in the brainstem, extending from the dorsomedial medulla caudally to the obex. Synonym: ataxic breathing, Biot's breathing, respiratory ataxia. (05 Mar 2000) |
| respiratory bronchioles | The smallest bronchioles (0.5 mm in diameter) that connect the terminal bronchioles to alveolar ducts; alveoli rise from part of the wall. Synonym: bronchioli respiratorii. (05 Mar 2000) |
| respiratory burst | <biochemistry> Response of phagocytes to particles (particularly if opsonise d) and to agonists such as formyl peptides and phorbol esters, an enhanced uptake of oxygen leads to the production, by an NADH dependent system, of hydrogen peroxide, superoxide anions and hydroxyl radicals, all of which play a part in bactericidal activity. Defects in the metabolic burst, as in chronic granulomatous disease, predispose to infection particularly with catalase positive bacteria and are usually fatal in childhood. (27 Jun 1999) |
| respiratory capacity | <chest medicine, physiology> The volume of gas that can be expelled from the lungs from a position of full inspiration, with no limit to the duration of expiration, it is equal to the inspiratory capacity plus the expiratory reserve volume. (11 Nov 1997) |
| respiratory care unit | The hospital unit in which patients with respiratory conditions requiring special attention receive intensive medical care and surveillance. (12 Dec 1998) |