HLTH 1010 -- Chapter 8

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 body

-pnea

breathing

pnum/o-, pneumon/o-

lung, air

pulm/o, pulmon/o-

lung

sinus/o-

sinus

som/o-

sleep

spir/o-

to breathe

thorac/o-, -thorax

chest, pleural cavity

trache/o-

windpipe, trachea

anoxia

absence of oxygen from body’s tissues and organs even though there is adequate flow of oxygen

antitussive

cough medicine

aphonia

loss of ability of larynx to produce normal speech sounds

asbestosis

caused by asbestos particles in lungs, usually occurs after working with asbestos

asphyxia

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

asthma

chronic inflammatory disease of bronchial tubes

atelectasis

collapsed lung

bradypnea

abnormally slow rate of respiration

bronchiectasis

permanent thickening of walls of bronchi, caused by chronic infection and inflammation

bronchodilator

inhaled medication that relaxes and expands bronchial passages into lungs

bronchorrhea

excessive discharge of watery mucus from bronchi

bronchoscopy

visual examination of bronchi using a bronchoscope

bronchospasm

contraction of smooth muscle in walls of bronchi and bronchioles, tightening and squeezing airway shut

cheyne-stokes respiration

irregular pattern of breathing characterized by alternating rapid or shallow respiration followed by slower respiration or apnea

chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

group of lung disease in which bronchial airflow is obstructed, making it difficult to breathe out

croup

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

cyanosis

bluish discoloration of skin due to lack of adequate oxygen in blood

cystic fibrosis

genetic disorder in which lungs and pancreas are clogged with large quantities of abnormally thick mucus

dysphonia

difficulty in speaking

dyspnea

shortness of breath (SOB)

emphysema

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

empyema

collection of pus in any body cavity

endotracheal intubation

passage of tube through mouth into trachea to establish/maintain an open airway

epistaxis

nosebleed

hemoptysis

expectoration of blood or blood-stained sputum derived from lungs or bronchial tubes as result of pulmonary or bronchial hemorrhage

hemothorax

collection of blood in pleural cavity

hyperpnea

breathing that is deeper and more rapid than is normal at rest

hypopnea

shallow or slow respiration

hypoxemia

condition of having low oxygen levels in blood

hypoxia

condition of having deficient oxygen levels in body tissues and organs

laryngitis

inflammation of larynx

laryngoscopy

visual examination of larynx and vocal cords using a flexible or rigid laryngoscopy inserted through mouth

laryngospasm

sudden spasmodic closure of larynx

mediastinum

middle section of chest cavity and located between lungs

nebulizer

electronic device that pumps air through a liquid medicine to turn it into a mist, then inhaled by patient via face mask

otolaryngologist (ENT)

specialized training in diagnosis and treatment of diseases/disorders of head and neck

pertussis

whooping cough, bacterial infection of upper respiratory tract

pharyngitis

sore throat, inflammation of pharynx

pleural effusion

excess accumulation of fluid in pleural space

pleursisy

inflammation of pleura (membranes that cover lungs and line pleural)

pleurodynia

sharp chest pain that occurs when inflamed pleural membranes rub against each other with each inhalation

pneumoconiosis

any fibrosis of lung tissue caused by mineral dust in lungs after prolonged environmental or occupational contact

pneumoectomy

surgical removal of all or part of lung

pneumonia

serious inflammation of lungs in which alveoli and air passages fill with pus and other fluids

pneumothorax

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

polysomnography

sleep study

pulmonary edema

accumulation of fluid in lung tissues, especially alveoli

pulmonologist

diagnosis and treats diseases/disorders of respiratory system

pulse oximeter

external monitor placed on patient’s fingertip or earlobe to measure oxygen saturation level in blood

pyothorax

presence of pus in pleural cavity between layers of pleural membrane resulting from a bacterial infection

sinusitis

inflammation of sinuses

sleep apnea

breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep for periods long enough to cause a measurable decrease in blood oxygen levels

spirometer

recording device that measures amount of air inhaled or exhaled and length of time required for each breath

tachypnea

abnormally rapid rate of respiration

thoracentesis

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

thoraectomy

surgical incision into chest wall to open pleural cavity

tracheostomy

surgical creation of a stoma into trachea below vocal cords to insert a temporary or permanent tube to facilitate breathing

tracheotomy

incision is made into trachea to gain access to airway below a blockage

tuberculosis

disease that attacks lungs, bacterial infection

upper respiratory tract

nose, mouth, pharynx, epiglottis, larynx, and trachea

lower respiratory tract

bronchial tree and lungs

nasal septum

wall of cartilage that divides nose into two equal sections

cilia

thin hairs located inside nostril, filter incoming air

mucous membranes

line the nose

mucus

slippery secretion produced by mucous membranes that protects and lubricates these tissues

olfactory receptors

nerve endings that act as receptors for sense of smell

palatine tonsils

located at back of mouth

nasopharyngeal tonsils

behind nose and roof of mouth

paranasal sinuses

air-filled cavities lined with mucous membrane and located in bones of skull

frontal sinuses

located above eyebrows, infection can cause severe pain

sphenoid sinuses

located behind eye and under pituitary gland, infection can cause vision damage

maxillary sinuses

located under eyes, infection can cause pain in posterior teeth

ethmoid sinuses

located behind nose and eyes

pharynx

throat

nasopharynx

posterior to nasal cavity and continues downward to behind the mouth, used for transport of air

oropharynx

portion visible when looking into mouth, transports air, fluid, and food

laryngopharynx

air, food, and fluids continue downwards to esophagus and trachea

larynx

voice box

epiglottis

lid-like structure at base of tongue, swings downward and closes off laryngopharynx so food does not enter trachea and lungs

trachea

transports air to and from lungs

bronchi

branch out from trachea and convey air into two lungs

bronchioles

smallest branches of bronchi

alveoli

air sacs, found at end of each bronchiole

surfactant

reduces surface tension of fluid in lungs

right lung

bigger, three lobes: upper, middle, and lower