Respiratory System Medical Terms

Respiratory system

brings oxygen into the bloodstream, which is transported to all
body cells

Lower respiratory tract

Trachea, bronchial tree, alveoli, and lungs.

Upper respiratory tract

Nasal cavity, pharynx, and larynx.

Inhalation

Brings oxygen into the blood.

Diffusion

Transfers oxygen into the bloodstream and removes carbon dioxide.

Exhalation

Removes carbon dioxide from the body.

Acapnia

Absence of carbon dioxide.

Anoxia

Absence of oxygen.

Aphonia

Loss of voice.

Apnea

Long pause between breaths.

Bradypnea

Slow breathing.

Bronchospasm

Narrowing of airways due to muscle constriction in bronchioles.

Cheyne-Stokes respiration

Pattern of deep, shallow, and paused breathing.

Dysphonia

Hoarse voice.

Dyspnea

Difficulty breathing.

Epistaxis (Rhinorrhagia)

Nosebleed

Hemothorax

Blood pooling in the pleural cavity.

Hypercapnia

Excessive carbon dioxide in blood.

Hyperpnea

Deep or rapid breathing.

Hypopnea

Shallow breathing.

Hypoventilation

Slow breathing that fails to meet gas exchange needs.

Hypoxemia

Low oxygen levels in blood.

Hypoxia

Low oxygen throughout the body.

Laryngospasm

Closure of glottis from throat muscle contraction.

Orthopnea

Difficulty breathing while lying down, relieved when upright.

Sputum

Mucus coughed up from the lungs.

Tachypnea

Rapid breathing.

Thoracalgia

Chest pain.

Asphyxia

Lack of breathing or suffocation.

Asthma

Narrowing of bronchioles and mucus plugs in lungs.

Bronchitis

Inflammation of the bronchi.

Bronchogenic carcinoma

Lung cancer from bronchi cells.

Bronchopneumonia

Inflammation of bronchioles and alveoli.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

Blocked airflow, often from bronchitis or emphysema.

Coccidioidomycosis (Valley fever)

Fungal infection spreading from upper respiratory tract to lungs.

Coryza

Common cold caused by a virus.

Croup

Viral infection in children causing barking cough.

Cystic fibrosis (CF)

Genetic disease causing thick mucus in lungs and digestive tract.

Emphysema

Lung disease with chronic cough, barrel chest, and low oxygen.

Epiglottitis

Inflammation of epiglottis, can block airway in children.

Laryngitis

Inflammation of the larynx.

Pertussis (Whooping cough)

Infection causing severe coughing fits.

Pharyngitis

Sore throat; inflammation of the pharynx.

Pleural effusion

Fluid buildup in pleural cavity.

Pneumoconiosis

Lung inflammation from inhaling fine particles (e.g., asbestosis, silicosis).

Pneumonia

Lung inflammation with fluid in alveoli.

Pneumothorax

Air or gas in pleural cavity from injury or coughing.

Pulmonary edema

Fluid in alveoli from infection or injury.

Pulmonary embolism (PE)

Blood clot in the lungs.

Rhinitis

Inflammation of nasal lining.

Tuberculosis (TB)

Bacterial lung infection by Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Upper respiratory infection (URI)

Infection of nasal cavity, pharynx, or larynx.

Antihistamine

Drug that reduces allergic reactions and airway constriction.

Arterial blood gases (ABGs)

Test measuring oxygen and carbon dioxide in blood.

Aspiration

Removal of fluid, air, or foreign bodies by suction.

Auscultation

Listening to body sounds, usually with a stethoscope.

Bronchodilation

Procedure or drug that relaxes airway muscles to ease breathing.

CPAP (Continuous positive airway pressure)

Device that helps regulate breathing during sleep.

Expectorant

Drug that loosens mucus and promotes coughing.

Incentive spirometry

Breathing therapy used after surgery.

Laryngectomy

Surgical removal of the larynx.

Mechanical ventilation

Machine-assisted breathing for patients in distress.

Nebulizer

Device that turns liquid medicine into a mist for inhalation.

Oximetry (Pulse oximeter)

Test measuring oxygen levels in the blood.

Pleurocentesis

Needle aspiration of fluid from pleural cavity.

Pulmonary function tests (PFT)

Tests that measure lung capacity and function.

Pulmonologist

Doctor specializing in lung diseases.

Resuscitation

Emergency procedure to restore breathing.

Rhinoplasty

Surgical repair of the nose.

Thoracentesis

Needle puncture to remove pleural fluid for diagnosis or treatment.