Temporary cessation of breathing is known as?

Appeared in: AIIMS Delhi NO - 2018

Explanation

Apnea is the medical term for the temporary cessation or absence of breathing.
This term literally means 'absence of breathing'.
It can occur voluntarily (breath-holding) or involuntarily due to various medical conditions, such as sleep apnea or neurological issues.

Why Other Options Were Wrong

Option A: Dyspnea refers to the subjective sensation of difficult or labored breathing, often described as 'shortness of breath' or 'air hunger'. It is a symptom, not a cessation of breathing.
Option C: Tachypnea is an abnormally rapid respiratory rate (greater than 20 breaths per minute in an adult). It is the opposite of a cessation of breathing.
Option D: Bradypnea is an abnormally slow respiratory rate (less than 12 breaths per minute in an adult). While it is a reduced rate, it is not a complete cessation of breathing.

Related Visual

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Medical terminology for respiratory patterns as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
A nurse's ability to accurately identify and document respiratory patterns like apnea, tachypnea, and bradypnea is fundamental to patient safety. It is a key vital sign that can indicate worsening or improving clinical status.
What if? A postoperative patient receiving patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) with morphine is found to have a respiratory rate of 8 breaths/min. The nurse should identify this as bradypnea, a potential sign of opioid-induced respiratory depression, and intervene immediately by stopping the PCA, stimulating the patient, and preparing to administer naloxone if necessary.
In India, with a high prevalence of tuberculosis and other respiratory illnesses, a thorough respiratory assessment is a critical nursing skill for early detection of complications.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key phrase in the question stem: 'Temporary cessation of breathing'.
Break down the meaning: 'cessation' means stopping. So, the question is asking for the term for 'stopping breathing'.
Define each of the options provided based on your medical terminology knowledge.
Dyspnea = difficulty breathing.
Apnea = absence of breathing.
Tachypnea = fast breathing.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Medical terminology for respiratory patterns.
Stem keywords: Temporary cessation, breathing
Lead-in keywords: is known as
Negative lead-in flag: false

Question ID

Q6_dMdeeVmfrNABge8FMt-

Reference Book

E6 Physiology Essentials Sembulingam 10e Part 3 p. 2

E6 Physiology Guyton 4SAE Part 2A p. 137-139

E6 Robert Boland, Marcia L. Verduin - Kaplan and Sadock's Comprehensive Text of Psychiatry-Wolters Kluwer Health (2024) (pp 1-16525 of 16525) p. 6990-6992

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