RLL

Medical abbreviation · Respiratory

RLL
Stands forRight lower lobe
CategoriesMedical

RLL stands for Right lower lobe, a respiratory abbreviation.

Largest lobe of the right lung, at the base of the chest, with five segments. It is the most common site of aspiration pneumonia in upright patients because the right main bronchus is wider, shorter and more vertical than the left.

Example: Witnessed aspiration during a seizure; CXR shows new RLL infiltrate.

Usage notes

Inhaled foreign bodies in children also tend to lodge on the right for the same anatomical reason. Lower lobe disease blurs the outline of the diaphragm rather than the heart on chest x-ray. Crackles heard low on the right side of the back are often documented as "RLL crackles."

More respiratory abbreviations

  • PSG – Polysomnography
  • PSV – Pressure support ventilation
  • PTX – Pneumothorax
  • RAD – Reactive airway disease
  • RDI – Respiratory disturbance index
  • RDS – Respiratory distress syndrome
  • RML – Right middle lobe
  • RSBI – Rapid shallow breathing index
  • RUL – Right upper lobe
  • RV – Residual volume
  • SABA – Short-acting beta2-agonist
  • SAMA – Short-acting muscarinic antagonist

See all 109 respiratory abbreviations →

Edited by the AbbreviationList.com team. Spotted an error or a missing meaning? Contact us.

This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.