Respiratory System Terminology and Definitions

Flashcards covering key terms and definitions related to the respiratory system, including medical terminology and conditions.

adenoidectomy

Removal of adenoids (tonsils).

aerophagia

Eating (swallowing) air.

anosmia

Without or no smell (absence/decreased sense of smell).

anoxia

Without or no oxygen.

apnea

Without or not breathing.

asphyxia

Extreme decrease in the amount of oxygen in the body.

asthma

Chronic episodes of airway inflammation/narrowing.

atelectasis

Incomplete dilation/expansion (collapsed lung).

bradypnea

Slow breathing.

bronchiectasis

Expansion/dilation of the bronchi.

bronchiolitis

Inflammation of the bronchioles.

bronchitis

Inflammation of the bronchi.

bronchoscopy

Visual examination of the bronchi.

cyanosis

Abnormal condition of blue (blue skin due to lack of oxygen).

dyspnea

Difficulty breathing.

epistaxis

Nosebleed.

eupnea

Normal breathing.

hemoptysis

Coughing up blood.

hemothorax

Blood in the chest (blood in the pleural cavity).

hypercapnia

Excessive carbon dioxide in the blood.

hypoxemia

Low oxygen in the blood.

hypoxia

Low oxygen in the tissues.

laryngoplegia

Paralysis of the larynx.

laryngoscope

Instrument for examining the larynx.

orthopnea

Breathing straight (difficulty breathing laying down).

pharyngospasm

Involuntary contraction/twitching of the pharynx.

phrenalgia

Pain of the diaphragm.

pleurisy

Inflammation of the pleura.

pleurodynia

Pain of the pleura.

pneumomelanosis

Blackening of lung tissue from inhaling coal dust.

pneumonia

Infection of the lung.

pneumothorax

Collapsed lung from air in the pleural cavity.

polysomnography

Process of recording sleep (sleep study test).

rales

Crackling noise heard with auscultation of the lung.

rhonchi

Coarse rattling breath sound.

spirometry

Act of measuring the breath (lung function test).

sputum

Mucus coughed up from airways.

stridor

Wheeze like sound heard with auscultation (from obstruction).

tachypnea

Fast, rapid breathing.

thoracocentesis

Surgical puncture of the chest (to remove fluid).

thoracopathy

Disease of the chest.

tonsillectomy

Removal of the tonsils.

tracheostomy

Forming an opening in the trachea.

tracheotomy

Incision of the trachea.

tuberculosis

Infectious disease caused by bacteria.

wheezes

Coarse, whistling lung sound caused by narrowed airways.