HOSA Medical Terminology - The Respiratory System

bronch/o, bronchi/o

bronchial tube, bronchus

laryng/o

larynx, throat

nas/o

nose

ox/i, ox/o, ox/y

oxygen

pharyng/o

throat, pharynx

phon/o

sound, voice

pleur/o

pleura, side of the body

-pnea

breathing

pneum/o, pneumon/o, pneu-

lung, air

pulm/o, pulmon/o

lung

sinus/o

sinus

somn/o

sleep

spir/o

to breathe

thorac/o, -thorax

chest, pleural cavity

trache/o, trachea

windpipe, trachea

alveoli (al-VEE-oh-lye)

aka air sacs; the very small, grapelike clusters found at the end of each bronchiole

anoxia (ah-NOCK-see-ah)

the absence of oxygen from the body's tissues or organs despite adequate flow of blood

antitussive (an-tih-TUSS-iv)

medication administered to prevent or relieve coughing

aphonia (ah-FOH-nee-ah)

the loss of the ability of the larynx to produce normal speech sounds

asbestosis (ass-beh-STOH-sis)

the form of pneumoconiosis caused by asbestos particles in the lungs

asphyxia (ass-FICK-see-ah)

the loss of consciousness that occurs when the body cannot get the oxygen it needs to function

asthma (AZ-mah)

a chronic inflammatory disease of the bronchial tubes

atelectasis

(at-ee-LEK-tah-sis)

the incomplete expansion of part or all of a lung due to a blockage of the air passages or pneumothorax.

bradypnea (brad-ihp-NEE-ah)

an abnormally slow rate of respiration usually of less than 10 breaths per minute

bronchodilator (brong-koh-dye-LAY-tor)

a medication that relaxes and expands the bronchial passages into the lungs

bronchorrhea (brong-koh-REE-ah)

an excessive discharge of mucus from the bronchi

bronchoscopy (brong-KOS-koh-pee)

the visual examination of the bronchi using a bronchoscope

bronchospasm (BRONG-koh-spazm)

a contraction of the smooth muscle in the walls of the bronchi and bronchioles that tighten and squeeze the airway shut

Cheyne-Stokes respiration (CHAYN-STOHKS)

pattern of breathing characterized by a gradual increase of depth and sometimes rate to a maximum level, followed by a decrease, resulting in apnea

croup (KROOP)

an acute respiratory infection in children and infants characterized by obstruction of the larynx, hoarseness, and swelling around the vocal cords resulting in a barking cough and stridor

cyanosis (sigh-ah-NOH-sis)

blue discoloration of the skin caused by a lack of adequate oxygen in the blood

cystic fibrosis (SIS-tick-figh-BROH-sis)

a life-threatening genetic disorder in which the lungs and pancreas are clogged with large quantities of abnormally thick mucus

diphteria (dif-THEE-ree-ah)

acute infection of the throat and upper respiratory tract caused by the diphtheria bacterium

dysphonia (dis-FOH-nee-ah)

difficulty in speaking, which may include any impairment in vocal quality

dyspnea (DISP-nee-ah)

difficult or labored breathing; also known as shortness of breath

emphysema (em-fih-SEE-mah)

the progressive, long-term loss of lung function, usually due to smoking

endotracheal intubation (en-doh-TRAY-kee-al in-too-BAY-shun)

procedure in which a plastic tube is inserted into the trachea to maintain an open airway

epistaxis (ep-ih-STACK-sis)

aka nose bleed, is bleeding from the nose that is usually caused by an injury, excessive use of blood thinners, or bleeding disorders.

hemoptysis (hee-MOP-tih-sis)

to cough up blood or blood-stained sputum

hemothorax (hee-moh-THOH-racks)

accumulation of blood in the pleural cavity (the space between the lungs and the walls of the chest)

hypercapnia (high-per-KAP-nee-ah)

the abnormal buildup of carbon dioxide in the blood

hypernea (high-perp-NEE-ah)

aka hyperventilation; excessive breathing

hypopnea (high-poh-NEE-ah)

shallow or slow respiration/breathing

hypoxemia (high-pock-SEE-mee-ah)

a condition of having low oxygen levels in the blood

laryngectomy (lar-in-JECK-toh-mee)

surgical removal of the larynx

laryngitis (lar-in-JIGH-tis)

inflammation of the larynx

laryngoscopy (lar-ing-GOS-koh-pee)

the visual examination of the larynx and vocal cords using a laryngoscope

laryngospasm (lah-RING-goh-spazm)

the sudden spasmodic closure of the larynx

mediastinum (mee-dee-as-TYE-num)

the middle section of the chest cavity and is located between the lungs

nebulizer (NEB-you-lye-zer)

an electronic device that pumps air or oxygen through a liquid medicine to turn it into a mist that is inhaled via a face mask or mouthpiece

otolaryngologist (oh-toh-lar-in-GOL-oh-jist)

aka an ENT (ear, nose, throat); a physician with specialized training in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases and disorders of the head and neck

pertussis (per-TUS-is)

aka whooping cough; highly contagious bacterial infection of the pharynx, larynx, and trachea caused by Bordetella pertussis

pharyngitis (fah-rin-JIGH-tis)

aka sore throat; inflammation of the pharynx

phelgm (FLEM)

thick mucus secreted by the tissues lining the respiratory passages

pleurisy (PLOOR-ih-see)

inflammation of the pleura that produces sharp chest pain with each breath

pleurodynia (ploor-oh-DIN-ee-ah)

a sharp pain that occurs when the inflamed membranes rub against each other with each inhalation

pneumoconiosis (new-moh-koh-nee-OH-sis)

any fibrosis of the lung tissues caused by dust in the lungs after prolonged environmental or occupational contact

pneumonectomy (new-moh-NECK-toh-mee)

the surgical removal of all or part of a lung

pneumonia

(new-MOH-nee-ah)

an inflammation of lung tissue, where the alveoli in the affected areas is fill willed fluid

pneumothorax

(new-moh-THOR-racks)

the accumulation of air in the pleural space resulting in a pressure imbalance that causes the lung to fully or partially collapse

polysomnography (pol-ee-som-NOG-rah-fee)

test to monitor brain waves, muscle tension, eye movement, and oxygen levels in the blood as the patient sleeps

pulmonologist (pull-mah-NOL-oh-jist)

a physician who specializes in diagnosing and treating diseases and disorders of the respiratory system

pulse oximeter

pyothorax (pye-oh-THOH-racks)

the presence of pus in the pleural cavity between the layers of the pleural membrane

sinustitis (sigh-nuh-SIGH-tis)

aka sinus infection; inflammation of the sinuses

sleep apnea (AP-nee-ah)

a potentially serious disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops during sleep for long enough periods to cause a measurable decrease in blood oxygen levels

spirometer (spih-ROM-eh-ter)

a recording device that measures the amount of air inhaled or exhaled (volume) and the length of time required for each breath

tachypnea (tack-ihp-NEE-ah)

an abnormally rapid rate of respiration usually of more than 20 breaths per minute

thoracentesis (thoh-rah-sen-TEE-sis)

the surgical puncture of the chest wall with a needle to obtain fluid from the pleural cavity

thoractomy (thoh-rah-KOT-toh-mee)

incision of the chest

tracheostomy (tray-kee-OS-toh-mee)

the surgical creation of a stoma into the trachea in order to insert a tube to facilitate breathing

tracheotomy (tray-kee-OT-oh-mee)

an emergency procedure in which an incision is made into the trachea to gain access to the airway below a blockage

tuberculosis

(too-ber-kew-LOH-sis)

an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis that usually attacks the lungs

spirometer (spih-ROM-eh-ter)

a recording device that measures the amount of air inhaled or exhaled (volume) and the length of time required for each breath

tachypnea (tack-ihp-NEE-ah)

thoracentesis (thoh-rah-sen-TEE-sis)

pulmonologist (pull-mah-NOL-oh-jist)

a physician who specializes in diagnosing and treating diseases and disorders of the respiratory system

pulmonologist (pull-mah-NOL-oh-jist)

a physician who specializes in diagnosing and treating diseases and disorders of the respiratory system

pulse oximeter (ock-SIM-eh-ter)

an external monitor that measures the oxygen saturation level in the blood