Essential Medical Terminology for Cardiac and Respiratory Care

Posted on Jan 4, 2026 in Biology

Medical Terminology Reference

Cardiovascular System Terms

  • ADLs: Activities of Daily Living; such as feeding, dressing, bathing, and toileting.
  • Aorta: The main artery that carries blood away from the heart.
  • Atria (singular: atrium): The two smaller hollow cavities of the heart which receive blood into the heart.
  • Blood Pressure: The pressure of blood in the arteries.
  • Blood Vessel: A tubular channel that carries blood (e.g., artery).
  • Cardiac Cycle: Any of the events relating to the blood flow that occur from the beginning of one heartbeat to the beginning of another.
  • Cardiac Catheterisation: A surgical procedure where a catheter is introduced into a blood vessel and guided to the heart for the purpose of viewing the condition of blood vessels to assess heart function.
  • Deoxygenated: Deprived of oxygen.
  • Diastolic: When the heart is in a period of relaxation and expansion.
  • ECG/EKG: Electrocardiogram; a tracing of the electrical action of the heart.
  • GTN: Glyceryl trinitrate; a vasodilator medication used in the treatment of angina, also called nitroglycerin.
  • Hypertension: High pressure readings in the arteries taken over three consecutive readings, also called high blood pressure.
  • MI: Myocardial Infarct; the death of heart muscle due to sudden deprivation of oxygen in circulating blood, also called heart attack.
  • Oxygenated: Saturated with oxygen.
  • Pulmonary Artery: The blood vessel which carries deoxygenated blood to the lungs.
  • Pulmonary Vein: The blood vessel that carries oxygenated blood from the lungs to the left atrium of the heart.
  • Pulse: The contraction and expansion of an artery due to blood circulation.
  • Pulse Rate (P): The speed of the pulse, also called Heart Rate (HR).
  • Sublingual: Under the tongue.
  • Systolic: Blood pressure when the heart is contracting.
  • Valves: A fold in the heart membrane which prevents backflow of fluid (e.g., blood).
  • Ventricles: Small cavities or chambers in the heart.

General and Specialized Terms

  • Paediatrics: The branch of medicine dealing with children.
  • PCA: Patient Controlled Analgesia; a specialized pump containing pain control medication is connected to an IV infusion. The pump has a hand button attached to it which patients press to administer pain control medication whenever needed, and a lock-out function prevents overdose.

Respiratory System Terms

Pulmonary Function and Measurement

  • Peak Flow: A measurement of the total lung capacity after forced breathing in followed by forced breathing out, also called Peak Expiratory Flow.
  • Peak Flow Meter: A home-use device for people with asthma which measures peak flow rates.
  • Respirations: Breaths.
  • Respiratory: Relating to respiration.

Anatomy and Conditions

  • AE: Air Entry; entry of air into the lungs which is heard by auscultation (listening using a stethoscope).
  • Alveolus (pl. alveoli): The final branchings of the respiratory tree where gas exchange for the lung occurs.
  • Apnoea: Cessation of breathing, often temporary (e.g., sleep apnoea).
  • Asthma: A condition marked by episodes of wheezing and dyspnoea.
  • Basely: At the base of the lungs.
  • Bilateral (abbrev. bilat.): Both sides.
  • Bronchus (pl. bronchi): One of two large air passages which branch from the trachea and take air to and from the lungs.
  • Dyspnoea: Difficulty breathing, also called shortness of breath.
  • Epiglottis: A flap of tissue at the base of the tongue that keeps food from going into the trachea when food or fluids are swallowed.
  • Eupnoea: Easy, free respiration under normal resting conditions.
  • Exhale: To breathe out.
  • FBC: 1. Full Blood Count, also called Complete Blood Count (CBC), tests the cells in a patient’s blood for abnormalities. 2. Fluid Balance Chart is a chart which documents the fluid intake and the output of a patient on a daily basis.
  • Inhale: To breathe in.
  • Intercostal Space: The space between the ribs which is filled in by the intercostal muscles.
  • Larynx: The voice box that produces sound.
  • Nasal: Relating to the nose.
  • Pharynx: The throat.
  • Pleural Membrane: A shiny, thin, transparent membrane which covers each lung, preventing the lung from making direct contact with the chest wall and the diaphragm, also called pleura.
  • Tachypnoea: Abnormally fast breathing.
  • Trachea: The tube which carries air from the nasal and oral cavities to and from the lungs, also called the windpipe.
  • URTI: Upper Respiratory Tract Infection, also called a cold.
  • Wheezing: A continuous, coarse whistling sound heard in the respiratory airways if the patient has difficulty breathing.

Devices and Administration

  • Bradypnoea: Abnormally slow breathing.
  • Chamber: The receptacle where liquid asthma medication is placed, also called nebuliser bowl.
  • Mask: A device worn over the nose and mouth which allows the patient to breathe oxygen from a storage tank into the lungs, also called an oxygen mask.
  • Nebuliser: A device that converts liquid medication into a fine mist, which is then breathed in through a mask or mouthpiece.
  • Oral: Relating to the mouth.
  • Oxygen Outlet: An oxygen source to connect tubing to.