HST: Respiratory System Medical Terminology L1

Alveol/o

alveolus; air sac

Atel/o

incomplete; imperfect

Cyan/o

blue

Ox/o

oxygen

Spir/o

breathing

brady-

slow

tachy-

fast

-capnia

carbon dioxide

-ectasis

dilation; expansion

-pnea

breathing

apnea

temporary interruption of breathing

asthma

condition characterized by sudden periodic attacks of dyspnea accompanied by wheezing

atelectasis

collapsed or airless lung caused by any condition that prevents the alveoli from expanding normally to allow for breathing and coughing

auscultation

process of listening for sounds in the body

bronchitis

inflammation of the mucous membranes of the bronchial tubes

cyanosis

condition of bluish tint to the skin due to lack of oxygen circulation to the body tissues

tachypnea

condition of faster than normal breathing

dyspnea

difficult or painful breathing

exhalation

the process of breathing out air/carbon dioxide

hemothorax

bloody fluid in the pleural cavity caused by the rupture of small blood vessels due to inflammation of the lungs

hyperpnea

condition of deeper than normal breathing

inhalation

the process of breathing in air/oxygen

laryngitis

inflammation of the larynx (voice box)

orthopnea

condition in which breathing becomes easier when the patient is sitting up straight

pharyngitis

inflammation of the pharynx (throat)

pulmonary embolism

a traveling blood clot that becomes lodged in a lung

rales

abnormal crackling sound heard during auscultation of the lungs while the patient is breathing in

severe acute respiratory syndrome

a potentially life threatening viral infection that affects the respiratory system and can also affect other body systems, causing multi-organ failure

ABG

arterial blood gases

CO2

carbon dioxide

CXR

chest x-ray

ET

endotracheal

O2

oxygen