The Language of Medicine Chapter 12

adenoids

lymphatic tissue in the nasopharynx; pharyngeal tonsils

alveolus

air sac in the lung

apex of the lung

tip or uppermost portion of the lung

base of the lung

lower portion of the lung

Bronchioles

smallest branches of the bronchi

bronchus

one of the two tubes that connect the lungs with the trachea

cilia

thin hairs attached to the mucous membrane epithelium lining the respiratory tract

Diaphragm

Muscle separating the chest and abdomen. It contracts to pull air into the lungs and relaxes to push air out.

epiglottis

lid-like piece of cartilage that covers the larynx, preventing food from entering the larynx and trachea during swallowing

glottis

slit-like opening to the larynx

expiration

breathing out (exhalation)

hilum of the lung

midline region where the bronchi, blood vessels, and nerves enter and exit the lungs

inspiration

breathing in (inhalation)

larynx

voice box

lobe

division of a lung

mediastinium

separates the lungs into right and left cavities in the thoracic cavity

nares

nostrils

palatine tonsil

one of a pair of almond-shaped masses of lymphatic tissue in the oropharynx

paranasal sinus

one of the air cavities in the bones near the nose

parietal pleura

outer layer of pleura lying closer to the ribs and chest wall

Pharynx

throat; including the nasopharynx, oropharynx, and laryngopharynx

pleura

double-layered membrane surrounding each lung

pleural cavity

space between the folds of the pleura

pulmonary parenchyma

essential parts of the lung, responsible for respiration; bronchioles and alveoli

trachea

windpipe

visceral pleura

inner layer of pleura lying closer to the lung tissue

respiratory pathway

nose/mouth -> pharynx -> larynyx -> trachea -> bronchi -> bronchioles -> alveoli

adenoid/o

adenoids

alveol/o

alveolus, air sac

bronch/o, bronchi/o

bronchial tube, bronchus

bronchiol/o

bronchiole, small bronchus

capn/o

carbon dioxide

coni/o

dust

cyan/o

blue

epiglott/o

epiglottis

laryng/o

larynx (voice box)

lob/o

lobe of the lung

mediastin/o

mediastinum

nas/o

nose

orth/o

straight, upright

ox/o

Oxygen

pector/o

chest

pharyng/o

pharynx (throat)

phon/o

voice

phren/o

diaphragm

pleur/o

pleura

pneumo/o, pneumon/o, pneu-, pulm/o, pulmon/o

lung, air

rhin/o

nose

sinus/o

sinus, cavity

spir/o

breathing

tel/o

complete

thorac/o, -thorax

chest

tonsill/o

tonsils

trache/o

trachea, windpipe

-ema

condition

-osmia

smell

-pnea

breathing

-ptysis

spitting

-sphyxia

pulse

-thorax

pleural cavity, chest

Auscultation

listening to sounds within the body

percussion

tapping on a surface to determine the difference in the density of the underlying structure

pleural rub

scratchy sound produced by pleural surfaces rubbing against each other

rales (crackles)

fine crackling sounds heard on auscultation (during inhalation) when there is fluid in the alveoli

rhonchi

loud rumbling sounds heard on auscultation of bronchi obstructed by sputum

sputum

material expelled from the bronchi, lungs, or upper respiratory tract by spitting

stridor

strained, high-pitched sound heard on inspiration caused by obstruction in the pharynx or larynx

wheezes

continuous high-pitched whistling sounds produced during breathing

croup

acute viral infection of infants and children with obstruction of the larynx, accompanied by barking cough and stridor

Diphtheria

acute infection of the throat and upper respiratory tract caused by the diphtheria bacterium

epistaxis

nosebleed

pertussis

whooping cough; highly contagious bacterial infection of the pharynx, larynx, and trachea caused by Bordetella pertussis

asthma

chronic bronchial inflammatory disorder with airway obstruction due to bronchial edema and constriction and increased mucus production

bronchiectasis

chronic dilation of a bronchus secondary to infection

chronic bronchitis

inflammation of bronchi persisting over a long time; type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

cystic fibrosis (CF)

inherited disorder of exocrine glands resulting in thick mucinous secretions in the respiratory tract that do not drain normally

atlectasis

collapsed lung; incomplete expansion of alveoli

emphysema

hyperinflation of air sacs with destruction of alveolar walls

lung cancer

malignant tumor arising from the lungs and bronchi

pneumoconiosis

abnormal condition of dust in the lungs

pneumonia

acute inflammation and infection of alveoli, which fill with pus or products of the inflammatory reaction

pulmonary abscess

large collection of pus (bacterial infection) in the lungs

pulmonary edema

fluid in the air sacs and bronchioles

pulmonary embolism (PE)

clot or other material lodges in vessels of the lung

pulmonary fibrosis

formation of scar tissue in the connective tissue of the lungs

Sarcoidosis

chronic inflammatory disease in which small nodules (granulomas) develop in lungs, lymph nodes, and other organs

Tuberculosis (TB)

infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis; lungs usually are involved, but any organ in the body may be affected

mesothelioma

rare malignant tumor arising in the pleura

pleural effusion

abnormal accumulation of fluid in the pleural space

pleurisy (pleuritis)

inflammation of the pleura

pneumothorax

collection of air in the pleural space

chest x-ray

radiographic image of the thoracic cavity

computed tomography (CT) scan of the chest

computer-generated series of x-ray images show thoracic structures in cross section and other planes

magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the chest

magnetic waves create detailed images of the chest in frontal, lateral, and cross-sectional planes

positron emission tomography (PET) scan of the lung

radioactive glucose is injected and images reveal metabolic activity in the lungs

ventilation-perfusion (V/Q) scan

detection device records radioactivity in the lung after injection of a radioisotope or inhalation of small amount of radioactive gas

bronchoscopy

fiberoptic endoscope examination of the bronchial tubes

endotracheal intubation

placement of a tube through the mouth into the pharynx, larynx, and trachea to establish an airway

laryngoscopy

visual examination of the voice box

lung biopsy

removal of lung tissue followed by microscopic examination