Health Science- Respiratory Vocab Words

-pnea

breathing

alveol/o

alveolus, air sac

anoxia

absence of oxygen

apnea

absence of breathing

asphyxia

pathologic changes caused by a lack of oxygen in air that is inhaled

asthma

A chronic allergic disorder characterized by episodes of severe breathing difficulty, coughing, and wheezing.

brady-

slow

bradypnea

abnormally slow breathing

bronch/o

bronchial tube, bronchus

bronchiecstasis

abnormal dilation of the bronchi with accumulation of mucus

bronchoconstrictor

medication that narrows the opening of the passages into the lungs

bronchodilator

a medication that relaxes and expands the opening of the passages into the lungs

Cheyne-Stokes respiration

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

an acute respiratory syndrome in children and infants characterized by obstruction of the larynx, hoarseness, and a barking cough

cyan/o

blue

cystic fibrosis

A genetic disorder that is present at birth and affects both the respiratory and digestive systems.

emphysema

A serious disease that destroys lung tissue and causes breathing difficulties. Destruction of the alveoli

epiglott/o (epiglottis)

epiglottis

epiglottis

A flap of tissue that seals off the windpipe and prevents food from entering.

epistaxis

nosebleed

hemoptysis

coughing/spitting up blood

hemothorax

blood in the chest

hyperpnea

excessive breathing

hypoxia

Low oxygen saturation of the body, not enough oxygen in the blood

inhalation

breathing in

laryng/o

larynx

laryngectomy

surgical removal of the larynx

laryngitis

inflammation of the larynx

laryngoscopy

visual examination of the larynx

laryngospasm

the sudden spasmodic closure of the larynx

Tuberculosis

An infectious disease that may affect almost all tissues of the body, especially the lungs

nas/o

nose

tracheostomy

surgical opening into the trachea

nasopharyngitis

inflammation of the nose and pharynx

otolaryngologist

specialist in the ear and throat

trache/o

trachea, windpipe

thoracotomy

incision of the chest

pertussis

whooping cough

thoracentesis

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

pharyng/o

pharynx (throat)

thorac/o

chest

pharyngitis

inflammation of the throat

tachypnea

rapid breathing

pleur/o

pleura

Dyspnea

difficulty breathing

pleuralgia

pain in the pleura

tachy-

fast

pleurisy

inflammation of the pleura

spirometry

a measurement of breathing. The volume of air.

pneum/o

lung, air

sinusotomy

incision into a sinus

pneumonectomy

the surgical removal of all or part of a lung

sinusitis

inflammation of the sinuses

pneumothorax

air in the pleural cavity

rhinorrhea

runny nose

pulm/o

lung

sinus/o

sinus

pulmonologist

physician who studies and treats diseases of the lung