| respiratory | (adj) pertaining to respiration, Example: respiratory assistance |
| respiratory acidosis | (n) acidosis resulting from reduced gas exchange in the lungs (as in emphysema or pneumonia); excess carbon dioxide combines with water to form carbonic acid which increases the acidity of the blood, Syn. carbon dioxide acidosis |
| respiratory alkalosis | (n) alkalosis resulting from increased gas exchange in the lungs (as in hyperventilation associated with extreme anxiety or aspirin intoxication or metabolic acidosis) |
| respiratory center | (n) the center in the medulla oblongata and pons that integrates sensory information about the level of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood and determines the signals to be sent to the respiratory muscles |
| respiratory disease | (n) a disease affecting the respiratory system, Syn. respiratory disorder, respiratory illness |
| respiratory distress syndrome | (n) an acute lung disease of the newborn (especially the premature newborn); lungs cannot expand because of a wetting agent is lacking; characterized by rapid shallow breathing and cyanosis and the formation of a glassy hyaline membrane over the alveoli, Syn. hyaline membrane disease, respiratory distress syndrome of the newborn |
| respiratory organ | (n) any organ involved in the process of respiration |
| respiratory quotient | (n) the ratio of the volume of carbon dioxide expired to the volume of oxygen consumed by an organism or cell in a given period of time |
| respiratory rate | (n) the rate at which a person inhales and exhales; usually measured to obtain a quick evaluation of a person's health, Syn. rate of respiration |
| respiratory syncytial virus | (n) a paramyxovirus that forms syncytia in tissue culture and that is responsible for severe respiratory diseases such as bronchiolitis and bronchial pneumonia (especially in children) |
