Chapter Nine

alveol/o

alveolus, air sac

bronch/o, bronch/i

airway, bronchus

laryng/o

larynx (voice box)

lob/o

lobe

muc/o

mucus

nas/o

nose

ox/i

Oxygen

pharyng/o

pharynx (throat)

phragm/o, phragmat/o

partition

pleur/o

pleura, rib

pneum/o, pneumon/o

air, lung

pulmon/o

lung

rhin/o

nose

sept/o

putrefying; wall, partition

sinus/o

cavity

thorac/o

thorax, chest

trache/o

trachea, windpipe

capn/o

carbon dioxide

orth/o

straight

atel/o

incomplete

carcin/o

cancer

coccidioid/o

Coccidioides immitis (a fungus)

coni/o

combining form for dust

cyst/o

bladder, sac

embol/o

embolus (plug)

glott/o

glottis (of the larynx)

py/o

pus

sphyx/o

pulse

tonsill/o

almond, tonsil

tubercul/o

little swelling

legionell/o

lung disease

alveoli

tiny sacs of lung tissue specialized for the movement of gases between air and blood

Oxygen (O2)

gas that enters the blood through the lungs and travels to the heart to be pumped via arteries to all body cells

Carbon Dioxide (CO2)

A gas that is expelled from the body by the respiratory system.

pulmonologist

a physician who specializes in diagnosing and treating diseases and disorders of the respiratory system

otolaryngologist (ENT)

a physician specializing in diagnosing and treating the ear, nose, and throat

anoxia

absence of oxygen

aphonia

absence of voice

apnea

absence of breathing

bradypnea

abnormally slow breathing

bronchospasm

a contraction of the smooth muscle in the walls of the bronchi and bronchioles that tighten and squeeze the airway shut

Cheyne-Stokes respiration

repeated breathing pattern characterized by fluctuation in the depth of respiration: first deeply, then shallow, then not at all

dysphonia

difficulty producing speech sounds, usually due to hoarseness

dyspnea

difficult or labored breathing

epitaxis

bleeding from the nose

hemoptysis

coughing up blood

hemothorax

a collection of blood in the pleural cavity

hypercapnia

the abnormal buildup of carbon dioxide in the blood

hypocapnia

condition of deficient carbon dioxide (in the blood)

hyperpnea

increase in depth and rate of breathing

hyperventilation

the condition of taking abnormally fast, deep breaths

hypopnea

shallow or slow respiration

hypoventilation

ventilation of the lungs that does not fulfill the body's gas exchange needs

hypoxemia

deficient amount of oxygen in the blood

hypoxia

Low oxygen saturation of the body, not enough oxygen in the blood

laryngospasm

the sudden spasmodic closure of the larynx

orthopnea

ability to breathe only in an upright position

paraoxysm

a sudden convulsion or outburst; a fit

sputum

mucous secretion from the lungs, bronchi, and trachea expelled through the mouth

tachypnea

rapid breathing

thoracalgia

pain in the chest region

asphyxia

the loss of consciousness that occurs when the body cannot get the oxygen it needs to function

asthma

episodes of breathing difficulty due to narrowed or obstructed airways

atelectasis

collapsed lung; incomplete expansion of alveoli

bronchiectasis

abnormal dilation of the bronchi with accumulation of mucus

bronchitis

inflammation of the bronchial tubes

Bronchiolitis

Infection of the bronchioles (smaller air-tubes in the lungs)

bronchogenic carcinoma

lung cancer; cancer originating in the bronchi

bronchopneumonia

diseased state of the bronchi and lungs

chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

permanent, destructive pulmonary disorder that is a combination of chronic bronchitis and emphysema

Coccidioidomycosis

Dimorphic fungi that can cause systemic mycosis, endemic to Southwestern USA, California. Causes pneumonia and meninngitis; can disseminate to bone and skin. Found in San Juaquin Vally or desert (desert bumps) vally fever

coryza

acute inflammation of nasal passages accompanied by profuse nasal discharge; also called a cold

rhinitis

inflammation of the mucous membranes of the nose

croup or laryngotracheobronchitis

an acute respiratory syndrome in children and infants characterized by obstruction of the larynx, hoarseness, and a barking cough

cystic fibrosis (CF)

A genetic disorder that is present at birth and affects both the respiratory and digestive systems.

Emphysema

a condition in which the air sacs of the lungs are damaged and enlarged, causing breathlessness.

epiglotitis

inflammation of the epiglottis

laryngitis

inflammation of the larynx, or voice box

legionellosis

bacterial lung infection caused by the bacterium Legionella pneumophila

nasopharyngitis

inflammation of the nose and pharynx

Pertussis (whooping cough)

An airborne bacterial infection that affects mostly children younger than 6 years. Patients will be feverish and exhibit a "whoop" sound on inspiration after a coughing attack; highly contagious through droplet infection.

pharyngitis

a throat infection, inflammation of the pharynx

pleural effusion

abnormal accumulation of fluid in the pleural space

pleuritis

inflammation of the pleura (also called pleurisy)

pneumoconiosis

any fibrosis of the lung tissues caused by dust in the lungs after prolonged environmental or occupational contact

pneumonia

An inflammation of lung tissue, where the alveoli in the affected areas fill w/fluid

pneumonitis

inflammatory condition of the lungs that is independent of a particular cause

pneumothorax

air in the pleural cavity caused by a puncture of the lung or chest wall

pulmonary edema

fluid in the air sacs and bronchioles

pulmonary embolism (PE)

occlusion in the pulmonary circulation, most often caused by a blood clot

pyothorax, empyema

the presence of pus in the pleural cavity between the layers of the pleural membrane

neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (NRDS)

lung disorder of neonates, particularly premature infants, in which certain cells of the lungs fail to mature at birth to cause lung collapse that can result in suffocation

adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)

acute respiratory failure in adults characterized by tachypnea, dyspnea, cyanosis, tachycardia, and hypoxia

severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)

severe and highly contagious viral lung infection with high fever

sinusitis

Infection/inflammation of the nasal sinuses

tonsillitis

acute or chronic inflammation of the tonsils

tracheitis

inflammation of the trachea

tracheostenosis

abnormal narrowing of the trachea

tuberculosis

An infectious disease that may affect almost all tissues of the body, especially the lungs

upper respiratory infection

infection of the nasal cavity, pharynx, or larynx