MEDKIT 48?! Medical Library
Respiratory Care
Oxygen • COPD • Asthma • ABG • Breathing Terms. Learn respiratory care vocabulary including oxygen saturation, asthma, COPD, wheezing, ABG, hypoxia, ventilation, and respiratory distress.
Learning note: This medical library article is for learning and review only. It is not medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. In a real emergency, call local emergency services.
Overview: Oxygen • COPD • Asthma • ABG • Breathing Terms. Learn respiratory care vocabulary including oxygen saturation, asthma, COPD, wheezing, ABG, hypoxia, ventilation, and respiratory distress.
What this lesson teaches
Respiratory terms describe oxygen moving into the body and carbon dioxide moving out. Breathing problems can become urgent because every organ depends on oxygen delivery.
This lesson teaches common respiratory vocabulary for emergency care, nursing, and medical review.
- Separate oxygenation from ventilation.
- Recognize asthma, COPD, wheezing, hypoxia, and respiratory distress terms.
- Understand pulse oximetry and ABG basics.
- Use respiratory clues to prioritize safety.
Core lesson
Oxygenation means getting oxygen into the blood. Ventilation means moving air in and out to remove carbon dioxide. A patient can have problems with one or both.
Pulse oximetry estimates oxygen saturation, often written as SpO2. It is helpful but not perfect. Poor circulation, movement, nail products, and other factors can affect readings. Always assess the patient, not just the number.
Asthma often involves airway narrowing, inflammation, and bronchospasm. COPD is a chronic lung disease category often involving airflow limitation, chronic bronchitis, or emphysema patterns.
An ABG, or arterial blood gas, gives information about oxygen, carbon dioxide, pH, and acid-base balance. Students should understand that CO2 retention can affect mental status and breathing patterns.
Key terms to know
- Oxygenation
- The process of oxygen entering the blood.
- Ventilation
- Movement of air in and out of the lungs, especially related to carbon dioxide removal.
- SpO2
- Peripheral oxygen saturation measured by pulse oximetry.
- Hypoxia
- Low oxygen at the tissue level.
- Dyspnea
- Shortness of breath or difficult breathing.
- Wheezing
- A high-pitched sound often linked to narrowed airways.
- Asthma
- A condition involving airway inflammation, narrowing, and bronchospasm.
- COPD
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, a chronic airflow limitation condition.
- ABG
- Arterial blood gas, measuring pH, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and related values.
- Respiratory distress
- Increased work of breathing, often with signs such as retractions, fast breathing, accessory muscle use, or low oxygen.
How to think through questions
- Look at work of breathing, mental status, skin color, oxygen saturation, breath sounds, and ability to speak.
- A normal-looking pulse ox does not always mean the patient is safe. Ventilation and CO2 can still be a problem.
- Respiratory distress signs are priority clues in emergency questions.
Common mistakes
- Confusing oxygenation and ventilation.
- Ignoring increasing sleepiness or confusion in a breathing patient.
- Assuming wheezing is always asthma. Many conditions can cause wheeze.
- Treating the pulse ox number without assessing the patient.
Memory hooks
- Oxygenation = O2 in. Ventilation = CO2 out.
- Wheeze means narrowed airflow until proven otherwise.
- Breathing effort matters as much as the number.
Mini quiz
- What is dyspnea?
Show answer
Shortness of breath or difficult breathing.
- What does ABG stand for?
Show answer
Arterial blood gas.
- What is the difference between oxygenation and ventilation?
Show answer
Oxygenation is getting oxygen into blood; ventilation is moving air to remove carbon dioxide.
Quick review
Respiratory Care Study Guide is designed to help students understand the language before they play the terms in MEDKIT 48 HOURS?! Review the key terms, then return to the game and test recall under pressure.
Study method: read the core lesson, say each key term out loud, answer the mini quiz, then play the matching game level.