HIM 2360 Medical Terminology: Respiratory, Cardiovascular, and Nervous Systems

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering key medical terms, anatomical structures, diagnostic procedures, pathologies, and combining forms for the Respiratory, Cardiovascular, and Nervous Systems based on lecture slides.

External Respiration

The exchange of air in lung capillaries where inhaled oxygen passes into the capillaries and carbon dioxide passes from capillaries into air sacs to be exhaled.

Internal Respiration

The gas exchange occurring simultaneously between body cells and capillaries, where oxygen leaves the blood for tissue cells and carbon dioxide enters the blood to travel back to the lungs.

Respiratory System Pathway

Air passage flow: Nose (nares) -> Nasal cavities and paranasal sinuses -> Pharynx -> Larynx -> Trachea -> Bronchi -> Bronchioles -> Alveoli -> Lung capillaries (bloodstream).

Anatomy of Respiration

Major structural divisions including nasal cavity, pharynx parts (naso-, oro-, laryngo-), larynx, trachea, mainstem bronchi, lungs, pleura, alveoli, and diaphragm.

Adenoids

Lymphatic tissue located in the nasopharynx, also referred to as pharyngeal tonsils.

Alveolus

Air sac in the lung where gas exchange occurs with surrounding pulmonary capillaries.

Apex of the lung

The tip or uppermost portion of the lung.

Base of the lung

The lower, inferior portion of the lung resting above the diaphragm.

Bronchioles

The smallest branches of the bronchi that connect to the alveoli.

Bronchus

A major branch of the trachea leading directly into a lung; also called a bronchial tube.

Carbon dioxide ($\text{CO}_2$)

Waste gas produced by tissue cells during cellular metabolism and exhaled through the lungs.

Cilia

Thin microscopic hairs attached to the mucous membrane lining the respiratory tract that sweep foreign material upward.

Diaphragm

Muscular partition separating the chest and abdominal cavities; contracts to pull air into the lungs and relaxes to push air out.

Epiglottis

Flap-like structure of cartilage covering the larynx to prevent food and liquid from entering the larynx and trachea during swallowing.

Glottis

The slit-like opening into the larynx.

Hilum (of lung)

Midline depression where bronchial tubes, blood vessels, lymphatics, and nerves enter and exit the lungs.

Larynx

Voice box; anatomical structure containing vocal cords between the pharynx and trachea.

Mediastinum

Central region of the chest cavity located between the lungs containing the heart, trachea, esophagus, bronchial tubes, and large blood vessels.

Palatine tonsils

Pair of almond-shaped masses of lymphatic tissue situated on both sides of the oropharynx.

Parietal pleura

Outer layer of the double-folded membrane lining the thoracic cavity and chest wall.

Visceral pleura

Inner layer of the double-folded pleural membrane covering the outer surface of lung tissue.

Pulmonary parenchyma

The functional tissue elements of the lungs responsible for respiration, specifically the bronchioles and alveoli.

Atelectasis

Incomplete expansion or collapsed lung caused by airway obstruction or external pressure from fluid, air, or blood in the pleural cavity.

Pneumothorax

Accumulation of air within the pleural cavity, leading to lung collapse.

Bronchoscopy

Endoscopic examination of the bronchial tubes using a flexible or rigid endoscope for visualization, tissue biopsy, or washings.

Endotracheal intubation

Passage of a tube through the mouth and larynx into the trachea to establish an open airway for ventilation.

Thoracentesis

Surgical puncture of the chest wall with a needle to aspirate fluid from the pleural space.

Tracheostomy

Surgical creation of an opening into the trachea through the neck to insert an artificial breathing tube.

Chest X-ray (CXR)

Radiographic examination of the chest, standardly obtained in a posteroanterior (PA) projection.

capn/o

Combining form meaning carbon dioxide.

coni/o

Combining form meaning dust.

tel/o

Combining form meaning complete.

-ptysis

Suffix meaning spitting.

-sphyxia

Suffix meaning pulse.

Blood Vessel Structural Differences

Arteries possess thick muscular walls to handle high pressure; veins have thinner muscular walls and internal valves to prevent backflow; capillaries consist of a single layer of endothelium.

Cardiovascular Circulation Circuits

Pulmonary circulation moves oxygen-poor blood to lungs for gas exchange; Systemic circulation delivers oxygenated blood from the left heart to body cells and returns deoxygenated blood to the right heart.

Major Systemic Arteries

Key arterial branches off the aorta including carotid, axillary, brachial, radial, renal, splenic, femoral, popliteal, posterior tibial, and dorsalis pedis.

Tricuspid valve

Atrioventricular valve located between the right atrium and right ventricle.

Mitral valve

Atrioventricular valve located between the left atrium and left ventricle; also named the bicuspid valve.

Pulmonary valve

Semilunar valve positioned between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery.

Aortic valve

Semilunar valve positioned between the left ventricle and the aorta.

Pathway of Blood Through the Heart

Superior/Inferior Vena Cava -> Right Atrium -> Tricuspid Valve -> Right Ventricle -> Pulmonary Valve -> Pulmonary Artery -> Lung Capillaries -> Pulmonary Veins -> Left Atrium -> Mitral Valve -> Left Ventricle -> Aortic Valve -> Aorta.

Diastole and Systole

Diastole is the resting/filling phase of the heartbeat (AV valves open); Systole is the contraction/pumping phase (Semilunar valves open).

Sinoatrial node (SA node)

The natural pacemaker of the heart situated in the right atrial wall that initiates electrical excitation waves.

Atrioventricular node (AV node)

Specialized cardiac tissue in the interatrial septum that receives impulses from the SA node and forwards them to the Bundle of His.

Bundle of His

Conduction tract of specialized fibers transmitting electrical waves from the AV node to the ventricles.

Electrocardiogram Waves

P wave represents atrial excitation; QRS complex represents ventricular contraction; T wave represents electrical recovery of the ventricles.

STEMI

ST elevation myocardial infarction; a severe type of heart attack marked by elevation of the S-T segment on an ECG.

Sphygmomanometer

Device containing an inflatable cuff and pressure gauge used to measure blood pressure in millimeters of mercury ($\text{mm Hg}$).

Hypertension

High blood pressure exceeding $140/90prop\text{mm Hg}$ (or $> 150/90\,\text{mm Hg}$ in adults over age 60).

Coronary arteries

Arterial branches extending from the aorta that supply oxygenated blood directly to the heart muscle (myocardium).

Congestive heart failure (CHF)

Inability of the heart to pump adequate blood flow, resulting in backpressure and accumulation of fluid in body tissues and lungs.

Fibrillation

Rapid, uncoordinated, and inefficient twitching of heart muscle fibers (rate $350$ beats/min or higher).

Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG)

Open heart surgical procedure rerouting blood around blocked coronary arteries using harvested vein or artery grafts.

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)

Catheter-based intervention to open occluded coronary arteries using balloon angioplasty and expandable metallic stent placement.

ather/o

Combining form meaning yellowish plaque.

sphygm/o

Combining form meaning pulse.

Divisions of the Nervous System

Subdivision into the Central Nervous System (Brain and Spinal Cord) and Peripheral Nervous System (12 pairs cranial nerves, 31 pairs spinal nerves, autonomic nerves).

Neuron Anatomy

Individual nerve cell consisting of dendrites (receives impulse), cell body, nucleus, axon (conducts impulse), myelin sheath, terminal end fibers, and synapses.

Types of Glial Cells

Non-conduction supportive cells of the CNS: Astrocytes, Microglial cells, Oligodendroglial cells, and Ependymal cells.

Astrocyte

Star-shaped glial cell that connects capillaries to neurons to transport water and salts and forms the blood-brain barrier.

Oligodendroglial cell

Glial cell responsible for producing and maintaining the insulating myelin sheath surrounding CNS axons.

Microglial cell

Phagocytic glial cell that ingests and destroys cellular waste products and microbes in the central nervous system.

Ependymal cell

Glial cell lining brain ventricles and the central spinal canal that participates in producing cerebrospinal fluid.

Functional Lobes of the Cerebrum

Frontal lobe (thought, movement), Parietal lobe (sensations, spatial awareness), Temporal lobe (hearing, language comprehension), and Occipital lobe (vision).

Afferent nerve

Sensory nerve that transmits nerve impulses from peripheral receptors toward the central nervous system.

Efferent nerve

Motor nerve that carries nerve impulses away from the central nervous system to effector muscles or glands.

Sympathetic nerves

Autonomic nervous system division that prepares the body for stress or emergency ("fight or flight").

Parasympathetic nerves

Autonomic nervous system division that counterbalances sympathetic responses by slowing heart rate, lowering blood pressure, and enhancing digestive functions.

Spinal Cord Cross-Section

Anatomical organization showing inner H-shaped gray matter, outer white matter, central canal, dorsal sensory roots, and ventral motor roots.

Meninges Layers

The three protective outer membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord: Dura mater (outermost), Arachnoid membrane (middle), and Pia mater (innermost).

Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA) Etiologies

Stroke mechanisms: Thrombotic (occlusion by fixed plaque clot), Embolic (traveling clot blocking cerebral artery), and Hemorrhagic (rupture of blood vessel).

Blood-brain barrier

Protective structural and chemical barrier preventing harmful agents and large molecules from moving from brain capillaries into brain parenchyma.

Cauda equina

Bundle of spinal nerve roots located below the lower end of the spinal cord resembling a horse's tail.

Gyri

Convoluted elevated ridges on the outer surface of the cerebral cortex.

Sulci

Grooves or furrows separating individual gyri on the surface of the cerebral cortex.

Thalamus

Main sensory relay station of the brain that sorts and conducts incoming sensory impulses to the cerebral cortex.

Hypothalamus

Region below the thalamus that regulates body temperature, appetite, sleep, water balance, sexual desire, and pituitary secretions.

Medulla oblongata

Part of the brainstem continuous with the spinal cord controlling involuntary vital functions including respiration, heart rate, and blood vessel diameter.

Vagus nerve

Tenth cranial nerve (CN X) supplying autonomic motor and sensory fibers to thoracic and abdominal organs.

caus/o

Combining form meaning burning.

radicul/o

Combining form meaning nerve root.

syncop/o

Combining form meaning cut off or faint.

-paresis

Suffix meaning slight paralysis or weakness.