Respiratory System: Anatomy & Word Parts

Inhale

O2 enters nose (or mouth) --> pharynx --> larynx --> trachea --> bronchial tree --> alveoli

Exhale

CO2 leaves alveoli --> bronchial tree --> trachea --> larynx --> pharynx --> nose (or mouth)

nose

lined w. mucous membrane and fine hairs; acts like a filter to moisten and warm the entering air

nasal septum

partition separating the R/L nasal cavities

paranasal sinuses

air cavities w/n the cranial bones that open into the nasal cavities

pharynx

serves as a food and air passage

air: nose --> pharynx --> larynx

food: mouth --> pharynx --> esophagus (throat)

adenoids

lymphoid tissue located on the posterior wall of the nasal cavity

aka pharyngeal tonsils

tonsils

lymphoid tissue located on the lateral wall @ the junction of the oral cavity and oropharynx

larynx

location of the vocal cords. Air enters from the pharynx

aka voice box

epiglottis

flap of cartilage that automatically covers the opening of the larynx and keeps food from entering the larynx during swallowing

trachea

passageway for air to the bronchi from the larynx

aka windpipe

broncos (pl. bronchi)

one of two branches from the trachea that conducts air into the lung where it divides and subdivides. The branchings resemble a tree -- hence name: bronchial tree

bronchioles

smallest subdivision of the bronchial tree

alveoli

air sacs @ the ends of the bronchioles

where O2/CO2 exchange occurs

thorax

chest, the part of the body btw the neck and the diaphragm encased by the ribs

thoracic cavity -- hollow space btw the neck and diaphragm

lungs

two spongelike organs in the thoracic cavity

R lung: 3 lobes
L lung: 2 lobes

pleura

double-folded, serous membrane covering each lung (visceral pleura) and lining the thoracic cavity (parietal pleura) w. a small space btw called the pleural cavity (which contains serous fluid)

mediastinum

space btw the lungs -- contains heart, esophagus, trachea, great blood vessels, and others

diaphragm

muscular partition that seperates the thoracic cavity from the abdominal cavity -- aids in the breathing process:
contract = pulls air in
relax = push air out

adenoid/o

adenoids

alveol/o

alveolus (s.), alveoli (pl.)

bronch/o

bronchus (s.), bronchi (pl.)

bronchi/o

bronchus (s.), bronchi (pl.)

diaphragmat/o

diaphragm

epiglott/o

epiglottis

laryng/o

larynx

lob/o

lobe(s)

mediastin/o

mediastinum

nas/o

nose

pharyng/o

pharynx

pleur/o

pleura

pneum/o

lung, air

pneumonia/o

lung, air

pulmonary/o

lung

rhin/o

nose

sept/o

septum

sinus/o

sinus(es)

thorac/o

thorax, chest, chest cavity

tonsill/o

tonsil(s)

trache/o

trachea

atel/o

imperfect, incomplete

capn/o

CO2

carcin/o

cancer

coni/o

dust

hem/o

blood

muc/o

mucus

myc/o

fungus

orth/o

straight

ox/i

O2

phon/o

sound, voice

py/o

pus

somn/o

sleep

spir/o

breathe, breathing

a-, an-

absence of, w/o

dys-

painful, abnormal, difficult, labored

endo-

w/n

eu-

normal, good

hyper-

above, excessive

hypo-

below, incomplete, deficient, under

intra-

w/n

neo-

new

poly-

many, much

tachy-

fast, rapid

-al

pertaining to

-ar, -ary

pertaining to (-a)

-cele

hernia, protrusion

-centesis

surgical puncture to aspirate fluid (w. sterile needle)

-desis

surgical fixation, fusion

-eal

pertaining to (-e)

-ectasis

stretching out, dilation, expansion

-ectomy

excision, surgical removal

-emia

in the blood

-genic

producing, origination, causing

-ia

diseased or abn state, condition of

-ic

pertaining to

-itis

inflammation

-meter

instrument used to measure

-metry

measurement

-oid

resembling

-oma

tumor, swelling

-osis

abn condition

-ous

pertaining to

-plasm

growth, substance, formation

-plasty

surgical repair

-pnea

breathing

-ptysis

spitting, coughing

-rrhagia

excessive bleeding

-rrhea

flow, discharge

-scope

instrument used for visual examination

-scopic

pertaining to visual examination

-scopy

visual exam

-spasm

sudden, involuntary muscle contraction

-stenosis

constriction or narrowing

-stomy

creating of an artificial opening

-thorax

chest, chest cavity

-tomy

cut into, incision