Respiratory System - Medical Terminology

bronchi/o, bronch/o

bronchus

bronchiol/o

bronchiole

alveol/o

alveolus, air sac

pleur/o

pleura

pneum/o, pneumon/o

air, lung

pulmon/o

lung

anthrac/o

coal, coal dust

atel/o

incomplete, imperfect

coni/o

dust

lob/o

lobe

orth/o

straight

ox/i, ox/o

Oxygen

pector/o, steth/o, thorac/o

chest

phren/o

diaphragm; mind

spir/o

to breathe

-capnia

carbon dioxide

-osmia

smell

-phonia

voice

-pnea

breathing

-ptysis

spitting

-thorax

chest

COPD

chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

ABG

arterial blood gas(es)

MRI

magnetic resonance imaging

AFB

acid-fast bacillus (TB organism)

NMT

nebulized mist treatment

ARDS

acute respiratory distress syndrome

O2

oxygen

CA

cancer

PA

posteroanterior; pernicious anemia

CO2

carbon dioxide

PCO2

partial pressure of carbon dioxide

COPD

chronic obstructive pulmonary

PCP

Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia;disease primary care physician

CPAP

continuous positive airway pressure

PFT

pulmonary function test

CPR

cardiopulmonary resuscitation

pH

degree of acidity or alkalinity

CT

computed tomography

PND

paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea

CTPA

computed tomography pulmonary angiography

PO2

partial pressure of oxygen

CXR

chest x-ray, chest radiograph

RD

respiratory distress

DPI

dry powder inhaler

RDS

respiratory distress syndrome

DPT

diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus

SIDS

sudden infant death syndrome

Hb, HGB

hemoglobin

SOB

shortness of breath

HMD

hyaline membrane disease

T&A

tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy

IRDS

infant respiratory distress syndrome

TB

tuberculosis

MDI

metered-dose inhaler

URI

upper respiratory infection

carbon dioxide (CO2)

Tasteless, colorless, odorless gas produced by body cells during metabolism

cartilage

Tough, elastic connective tissue that is more rigid than ligaments but less dense than bone

cilia

hairlike structure

diffuse

to spread or scatter freely or widely

mucous membrane

Moist tissue layer lining hollow organs and cavities of the body that open to the environment;

septum

wall dividing two cavities

serous membrane

Thin layer of tissue that covers internal body cavities and secretes a fluid that keeps the membrane moist;

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

A slow process of dilation and disruption of the airways and alveoli caused by chronic bronchial obstruction.

asthma

produces spasms in the bronchial passages (bronchospasms) that may be sudden and violent (paroxysmal) and lead to dyspnea

status asthmaticus

a prolonged, extremely severe, life-threatening asthma attack

influenza

acute infectious respiratory viral disease

pleural effusion

fluid in the pleural space

Auscultation

listening to sounds within the body

Percussion

gentle tapping on the chest with the fingers and listening to the resultant sounds to determine the position, size, or consistency of the underlying structures

transudate

The fluid component of blood that normally passes through the endothelial cell walls of the microcirculation

exudate

fluid, such as pus, that leaks out of an infected wound

pneumothorax

air in the pleural cavity

hydrothorax

fluid in the pleural cavity

pyothorax, empyema

pus in the pleural cavity

Pneumonia

inflammation of the lungs

Cystic fibrosis

hereditary disorder of the exocrine glands that causes the body to secrete extremely thick (viscous) mucus.

acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)

lungs no longer function effectively

acidosis

excessive acidity of body fluids

anosmia

absence of the sense of smell

apnea

absence of breathing

asphyxia

condition caused by insufficient intake of oxygen

atelectasis

Collapsed or airless state of the lung

Cheyne-Stokes respiration

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

coryza

common cold

crackle

abnormal respiratory sound heard on auscultation, caused by exudates, spasms, hyperplasia, or when air enters moisture-filled alveoli; also called rale

croup

Common childhood condition involving inflammation of the larynx, trachea, bronchial passages and, sometimes, lungs

deviated nasal septum

displacement of cartilage dividing the nostrils

epistaxis

nosebleed

hypoxemia

deficient amount of oxygen in the blood

hypoxia

Oxygen deficiency in body tissues

pertussis

whooping cough

pleurisy (pleuritis)

Inflammation of the pleural membrane characterized by a stabbing pain that is intensified by coughing or deep breathing

pneumoconiosis

abnormal condition of dust in the lungs

pulmonary edema

Accumulation of extravascular fluid in lung tissues and alveoli, most commonly caused by heart failure

pulmonary embolism

Blocking of a pulmonary artery due to a blood clot

rhonchus

abnormal breath sound heard on auscultation

stridor

High-pitched, harsh, adventitious breath sound caused by a spasm or swelling of the larynx or an obstruction in the upper airway

wheeze

Whistling or sighing sound heard on auscultation that results from narrowing of the lumen of the respiratory passageway

aerosol therapy

treatment by inhalation of a drug or water in spray form