medical terminology- chapter 7

registered respiratory therapist/certified respiratory therapist

certified is the entry-level credential, but they perform the same duties: assessing pulmonary function, monitoring oxygen levels in the blood, administering breathing treatments, providing emergency care, monitoring ventilators, and educating patients.

respiratory system function

bringing fresh air into lungs, exchanging oxygen for carbon dioxide between the air sacs of the lungs and the bloodstream, and exhaling the stale air

primary structures of the respiratory system

bronchial tubes, larynx, lungs, nasal cavity, pharynx, trachea

aer/o

air

alveol/o

alveolus

anthrac/o

coal

atel/o

incomplete

bronch/o

bronchus

bronchi/o

bronchus

bronchiol/o

bronchiole

coni/o

dust

cyan/o

blue

cyst/o

sac,bladder

diaphragmat/o

diaphragm

epiglott/o

epiglottis

hal/o

tobreathe

laryng/o

larynx

lob/o

lobe

muc/o

mucus

nas/o

nose

ox/o

oxygen

ox/i

oxygen

pharyng/o

pharynx

pleur/o

pluera

pneum/o

lung

pneumon/o

lung

pulmon/o

lung

rhin/o

nose

sept/o

wall

sinus/o

sinus

somn/o

sleep

spir/o

breathing

trache/o

trachea

tuss/o

coughing

-capnia

carbon dioxide

-osmia

smell

-phonia

voice

-phylaxis

protection

-pnea

breathing

-ptysis

spitting

-thorax

chest

nasal cavity

large cavity just behind external nose that receives outside air; covered with mucous membrane to cleanse air

nasal septum

flexible cartilage wall that divides nasal cavity into left and right halves; covered by mucous membrane

pharynx

medical term for throat; passageway that conducts air from nasal cavity to trachea and carries food and drink to esophagus

three sections of the pharynx

nasopharynx, oropharynx, and laryngopharynx

larynx

also called the voicebox, respiratory system organ responsible for producing speech; just below the pharynx

trachea

conducts air from larynx down to main bronchi in chest; windpipe

bronchial tube

organ of respiratory system that carries air into each lung

lungs

major organs of respiration; consists of air passageways, bronchi, and bronchioles, and air sacs (alveoli); gas exchange takes place within alveoli

cells of the body require

continuous delivery of oxygen and removal of carbon dioxide

process of respiration: three parts

ventilation, external respiration, and internal respiration

ventilation

the flow of air between the outside environment and the lungs

inhalation

the flow of air into the lungs; brings fresh oxygen into the air sacs

exhalation

flow of air out of the lungs; removes carbon dioxide from the body

exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide

these gases diffuse in opposite directions between the airs sacs of the lungs and the bloodstream

oxygen enters:

the bloodstream from the air sacs to be delivered throughout the body

carbon dioxide leaves:

leaves the bloodstream and enters the air sacs to be exhaled from the body

internal respiration is the process of:

oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange at the cellular level when oxygen leaves the bloodstream and is delivered to the tiisues

by-product of metabolism:

carbon dioxide; enters the bloodstream from the tissues and is transported back to the lungs for disposal

ventilation begins:

with the nasal cavity; air entrs through two external openings in the nose

nares

external openings of nose that open into nasal cavity

nasal septum

divides the nasal cavity down the middle; is a cartilaginous plate

palate

the roof of the mouth that separates the nasal cavity from the mouth below

mucous membrane

flexible cartilage that lines the walls of the nasal cavity and nasal septum; secretes sticky fluid mucus; wet and moisturizes inhaled air as it passes

mucus

sticky fluid secreted by mucous membrane that lines the respiratory tract; assists in cleansing air by trapping dust and bacteria

cilia

small hairs line the opening of the nose (as well as much of the airways) and filter out large dirt particles before they enter the lungs

paranasal sinuses

air-filled cavities within facial bones that open into nasal cavity; act as echo chamber during sound production

nasopharynx

superior section of pharynx that receives air from nose

oropharynx

middle section of pharynx that receives food and drink from mouth

laryngopharynx

inferior section of pharynx; lies at same level in neck as larynx

adenoids

another term for pharyngeal tonsils; a collection of lymphatic tissue found in nasopharynx to combat microorganisms entering body through nose or mouth

palatine tonsils

tonsils located in lateral wall of pharynx close to mouth

lingual tonsils

tonsils located on very posterior section of tongue as it joins with pharynx

eustachian tube

auditory tube; tube or canal that connects middle ear with nasopharynx and allows for balance of pressure between outer and middle ear; infection can travel via mucous membranes of eustachian tubes, resulting in middle ear infection

vocal cords

structures within larynx that vibrate to produce sound and speech; not actually cord like in structure (folds of membranous tissue that produce sound by vibrating as air passes through the glottis).

glottis

opening between the two vocal cords

stuttering

may result from faulty neuromuscular control of the larynx; some people who stutter can sing or whisper without difficult (involve movements of the larynx that differ from those required for regular speech)

epiglottis

flap of cartilage that covers larynx when swallowing; prevents food and drink from entering larynx and trachea; covers the larynx and trachea during swallowing and shunts food and liquid from the pharynx into the esophagus

larynx composed of several:

cartilage plates held together with ligaments and muscles, include thyroid cartilage

thyroid cartilage

adam’s apple; one of the cartilages of the larynx; larger in men and helps produce the deeper male voice

trachea

windpipe; the passageway for the air that extends from the pharynx and larynx down to the main bronchi; four inches in length; composed of smooth muscle and cartilage rings and is lined by mucous membrane and cilia → assists in cleansing, warming, and moisturizing air as it travels to the lungs; distal end divides to form the left and right primary bronchi

bronchus

distal end of trachea splits into left and right main bronchi as it enters each lung; each is subdivided into smaller branches → smallest bronchi → bronchioles → tiny air sacs called alveoli

bronchioles

narrowest air tubes in lungs; each bronchiole terminates in tiny air sacs called alveoli

alveoli

tiny air sacs at the end of each bronchiole; surrounded by capillary network; gas exchange takes place as oxygen and carbon dioxide diffuse across alveolar and capillary walls; each lung has approximately 150 million

alveoli walls

walls are elastic, giving them the ability to expand to hold air and recoil to their original size

pulmonary capillaries

network of capillaries from the pulmonary blood vessels tightly encases each alveolus; they are so tightly associated with each other they are often referred to as a single unit

respiratory membrane

formed by tight association of walls of alveoli and capillaries; gas exchange between lungs and blood occurs across this membrane

lung is the total collection of:

bronchi, bronchioles, and alveoli; spongy to the touch because they contain air

pleura

protective double layer of serous membrane around lungs; parietal membrane is outer layer and visceral layer is inner membrane; secretes thin, watery fluid to reduce friction associated with lung movement

pleural cavity

cavity formed by serous membrane sac surrounding lungs

serous

watery secretion of serous membranes; between two layers of the pleura that reduces friction when the two layers rub together as the lungs repeatedly expand and contract

lobes

subdivisions of the lung; there are three lobes in the larger right lung (right upper, right middle, and right lower) and two in the left lung (left upper and left lower lobes)

apex

the pointed superior portion of each lung

base

broader lower area

hilium

lung entry point for the bronchi, pulmonary blood vessels, and nerves; medial border

mediastinum

the area between the right and left lung (contains the heart, aorta, esophagus, thymus gland, and trachea)

pulmonary function tests

group of diagnostic tests that give information regarding airflow in and out of the lungs, lung volumes, and gas exchange between the lungs and bloodstream

tidal volume

TV; amount of air that enters lungs in a single inhalation or leaves lungs in a single exhalation of quiet breathing; in an adult this is normally 500ml

inspiratory reserve volume

IRV; amount of air that can be forcibly inhaled after normal inspiration; also called complemental air; usually measures around 3,000 mL

expiratory reserve volume

ERV; amount of air that can be forcibly exhaled after normal, quiet exhalation, also called supplemental air; approximately 1,000mL