COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS
GRADED A+
◉ thoracic landmarks.
Answer: midline trachea, costal angle, angle of ribs, intercostal
spaces, suprasternal notch
◉ symmetry of chest.
Answer: thoracic expansion at costal angle, w/o use of accessory
muscles
◉ hx questions for cc of resp issue.
Answer: What is the nature of your cough?; Do you produce any
sputum?; Is your cough related to activity?; What position are you
most comfortable in?; How many pillows do you sleep with at night?;
Is your SOB related to activity?
◉ normal respirations.
Answer: rate between 12 to 20/min; ratio of resp to heart beats=
1:4; pt should breathe easily, regularly w/o apparent distress;
pattern should be even, not too shallow or too deep
,◉ hypopnea.
Answer: term for abnormally shallow respirations
◉ tachypnea.
Answer: term for resp rate greater than 20, but consistent and may
occur during hyperventilation; often a symptom of pain
◉ bradypnea.
Answer: term for resp rate less than 12; may indicate neurologic or
electrolyte disturbances, infection, or conscious response to protect
against the pain of pleurisy or other irritative pneumonia. Can also
be 2/2 level of cardio fitness
◉ hyperventilation.
Answer: term for fast and deep, heavy respirations, can be caused by
exercise, anxiety, and CNS and metabolic diseases
◉ hyperpnea.
Answer: term for abnormally deep respirations
◉ kussmaul respirations.
Answer: deep and mostly rapid respirations, used to describe resp
effort of metabolic acidosis
, ◉ cheyne stokes respirations.
Answer: regular breathing with intervals of apnea by crescendo
decrescendo breathing; can be seen in sleeping pts, but mostly pts
who are very ill, esp with brain damage
◉ biot respirations.
Answer: irregular breathing that varies in depth and is interrupted
irregularly by intervals of apnea; associated with severe and
persistent increased intracranial pressure, resp compromise from
drug poisoning, or brain damage at the medulla and generally equals
poor prognosis
◉ peripheral areas related to respiratory assessment.
Answer: observe the lips and nails for cyanosis or pallor; lips for
pursing; fingers for clubbing; and alae nasi for flaring
◉ pleural friction rub.
Answer: dry, rubbing, or grating sound; palpable, coarse, grating
vibration; usually on inspiration; caused by inflammation of the
pleural surfaces; think feel of leather rubbing on leather
◉ thoracic expansion.