Med Terms Ch5: Respiratory System and Introduction to Diagnostic Procedures and Tests

nose

lined with mucous membrane and fine hairs; it acts as a filter to moisten and warm the entering air

nasal septum

partition separating the right and left nasal cavities

paranasal sinuses

air cavities within the cranial bones that open into the nasal cavities

pharynx

serves as a food and air passageway. Air enters from the nasal cavities and/or mouth and passes through the pharynx to the larynx. Food enters the pharynx from the mouth and passes into the esophagus. (also called the throat)

adenoids

lymphoid tissue located on the posterior wall of the nasal cavity

tonsils

lymphoid tissue located on the lateral wall at the junction of the oral cavity and oropharynx

larynx

location of the vocal cords. Air enters from the pharynx (also called the voice box)

epiglottis

a flap of cartilage at the root of the tongue, which is depressed during swallowing to cover the opening of the windpipe.

trachea

passageway for air to the bronchi from the larynx; (also called the windpipe)

bronchus (pl. bronchi)

one of two branches from the trachea that conducts air into the lungs, where it divides and subdivides. The branchings resemble a tree; therefore, they are referred to as a bronchial tree.

bronchioles

smallest subdivision of the bronchial tree

alveolus (pl. alveoli)

air sacs at the end of the bronchioles. Oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged through the alveolar walls and the capillaries

lungs

two spongelike organs in the thoracic cavity. The right lung consists of three lobes, and the left lung has two lobes.

pleura

double-folded serous membrane covering each lung and lining the thoracic cavity with a small space between, called the pleural cavity, which contains serous fluid

diaphragm

muscular partition that separates the thoracic cavity from the abdominal cavity and aids in respiration by moving up and down

mediastinum

space between the lungs. It contains the heart, esophagus, trachea, great blood vessels, and other structures.

adenoid/o

adenoids (combining form)

alveol/o

alveolus (combining form)

bronchi/o, bronch/o

bronchus (combining form)

diaphragmat/o,phren/o

diaphragm (combining form)

epiglott/o

epiglottis (combining form)

laryng/o

larynx (combining form)

lob/o

lobe (combining form)

naso/o, rhin/o

nose (combining form)

pharyng/o

pharynx (combining form)

pleur/o

pleura (combining form)

pneum/o, pneumat/o, pneumon/o

lung, air (combining form)

pulmon/o

lung (combining form)

sept/o

septum (wall off, fence) (combining form)

sinus/o

sinus (combining form)

thorac/o

thorax, chest, chest cavity (combining form)

tonsill/o

tonsil (combining form)

trache/o

trachea (combining form)

atel/o

imperfect, incomplete (combining form)

capn/o

carbon dioxide (combining form)

hem/o, hemat/o

blood (combining form)

muc/o

mucus (combining form)

orth/o

straight (combining form)

ox/i

oxygen (combining form)

phon/o

sound, voice (combining form)

py/o

pus (combining form)

radi/o

x-rays, ionizing radiation (combining form)

somn/o

sleep (combining form)

son/o

sound (combining form)

spir/o

breathe, breathing (combining form)

tom/o

to cut, section, or slice (combining form)

a-, an-

absence of, without

endo-

within

eu-

normal, good

poly-

many, much

tachy-

fast, rapid

-algia

pain

-ar, -ary, -eal

pertaining to

-cele

hernia or protrusion

-centesis

surgical puncture to aspirate fluid (with a sterile needle)

-ectasis

stretching out, dilation, expansion

-emia

in the blood

-gram

record, radiographic image

-graph

instrument used to record; record

-graphy

process of recording, radiographic imaging

-meter

instrument used for measuring

-metry

measurement

-pexy

surgical fixation, suspension

-pnea

breathing

-rrhagia

rapid flow of blood

-scope

instrument used for visual examination

-scopic

pertaining to visual examination

-scopy

visual examination

-spasm

sudden, involuntary muscle contraction

-stenosis

constriction or narrowing

-stomy

creation of an artificial opening

-thorax

chest, chest cavity

-tomy

cut into, incision

adenoiditis

inflammation of the adenoids

alveolitis

inflammation of the alveoli (pulmonary or dental)

atelectasis

incomplete expansion (of the lung or portion of the lung)

bronchiectasis

dilation of the bronchi

bronchitis

inflammation of the bronchi

bronchogenic carcinoma

cancerous tumor originating in a bronchus

bronchopneumonia

diseased state of the bronchi and lungs (an inflammation of the lungs that begins in the terminal bronchioles)

diaphragmatocele

hernia of the diaphragm

epiglottitis

inflammation of the epiglottis

hemothorax

blood in the chest cavity

laryngitis

inflammation of the larynx

laryngotracheobronchitis (LTB)

inflammation of the larynx, trachea, and bronchi (the acute form is called croup)

lobar pneumonia

pertaining to the lobe(s); diseased state of the lung (infection of one or more lobes of the lung)

nasopharyngitis

inflammation of the nose and pharynx

pharyngitis

inflammation of the pharynx

pleuritis

inflammation of the pleura (also called pleurisy)

pneumatocele

hernia of the lung (lung tissue protrudes through an opening in the chest)

pneumoconiosis

abnormal condition of dust in the lungs

pneumonia

diseased state of the lung (the infection and inflammation are caused by bacteria such as Pneumococcus, Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, and Haemophilus; viruses; and fungi)

pneumonitis

inflammation of the lung

pneumothorax

air in the chest cavity (pleural space), which causes collapse of the lung (often a result of an open chest wound)

pulmonary neoplasm

pertaining to (in) the lung, new growth (tumor)

pyothorax

pus in the chest cavity (pleural space) (also called empyema)

rhinitis

inflammation of the nose (mucous membranes)

rhinomycosis

abnormal condition of fungus in the nose

rhinorrhagia

rapid flow of blood from the nose (also called epistaxis)

sinusitis

inflammation of the sinuses