Chapter 13 Respiratory System

Alveolus (aveoli)

a small saclike dilation (out pocketing) of the alveolar ducts

bifurcation

a division into two branches (bronchi)

bronchus (bronchi)

one of the larger passages conveying air to (right or left principle lobe) and within the lungs

bronchioles

one of the subdivisions of the branches bronchial tree

capillaries

smallest arteries in the lung located next to the alveoli; functions are to pick o2 from inhaled air and return CO2 to be exhaled

diaphragm

muscular partition that separates the thoracic cavity from the abdominal cavity and aids in respiration by moving up and down

expiration/exhalation

act of breathing out; CO2 moves out of the body in this order: lungs, bronchi, trachea, larynx, pharynx, nose (mouth)

hilus

part of the lung where vessels, nerves, and bronchi enter

inspiration/inhalation

act of breathing in; O2 enters the body in this order: nose (mouth), pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, lungs

larynx

voice organ, containing the vocal cords

lung

two cone shaped, spongy organs consisting of alveoli, blood vessels, nerves, elastic tissue, each is enveloped in a double folded membrane called the pleura

nasal cavity

nose, nares, cavity separated by septum

parenchyma (lung)

the essential elements or working parts of an organ (eg alveoli in the lung)

parietal pleura

the serous membrane that lines the thoracic (chest) cavity

perfusion

the passage of blood through capillaries in the lung where O2 and CO2 are exchanged

pharynx

throat, cavity behind the nasal cavities and mouth

respiration and ventilation

act of breathing air in the lungs (inhaling) and removing CO2 out of the lungs (exhaling)

sputum

matter ejected from the trachea, bronchi, and lungs through the mouth

surfacant

lipoprotein mixture that coats and prevents collapse of the alveoli by reducing surface tension of pulmonary fluids

trachea/windpipe

air passageway from the throat to the lungs that carries air in an out of the lungs

visceral pleura

membrane that covers the lungs; this membrane and the parietal membrane are close together; between them is a thin film of lubricating fluid that prevents friction when they slide against each other

acute respiratory distress syndrome

infection, injury, or other conditions cause fluid build up in the alveoli preventing the lungs from filling the air

anthracnosis/black lung disease

accumulation of carbon deposits in the lung due to breathing smoke or coal dust

asbestosis

lung disease caused by inhaling asbestos particles; associated with development of mesothelioma, a type of lung cancer

asphyxia

suffocation from lack of O2

asthma

inflammation and swelling of bronchial tubes and bronchial spasms causing a narrowing of bronchi, bronchial airway obstruction, and mucus production. Triggers in those with a genetic predisposition are irritants which include respiratory infections, pollutants, and exposure to allergens

atelectasis

incomplete expansion of the lungs at birth or collapse of the adult lung

bronchiectasis

chronic dilation of one or more bronchi

bronchitis

inflammation of one or more bronchi; in chronic bronchitis, the lining of the airways is constantly irritated, inflamed, and swollen, and forms lots of thick mucus; low blood O2 causes cyanosis, right heart failure, and edema (blue bloaters)

bronchospasm

spasmodic contraction of bronchi muscles, as in asthma

byssinosis/brown lung disease

lung disease resulting from inhaling dust from cotton, flax, or hemp

coccidioidomycosis/valley fever

respiratory infection caused by inhaling fungal spores of Coccidioides immitis, fungus found in the soil in Southwestern United States and Washington state, parts of Mexico, Central and South America; symptoms vary in severity from that of a common cold to those resembling influenza

chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

chronic progressive lung disease: emphysema or chronic bronchitis; poor airflow in the lungs; symptoms are wheezing, shortness of breath with difficulty exhaling, and cough

cor pulmonale

heart failure from pulmonary disease

coryza/common cold

acute inflammation of the mucous membrane of the nose with mucus discharge

croup

viral upper airway infection in children; symptoms include a barking cough, difficulty (suffocative) breathing, stridor, and spasm of the larynx

cystic fibrosis

hereditary disease of mucus and sweat glands; chronic disease present at birth affects the lungs, pancreas, liver, intestines, sinuses, and sex organs. Thick and sticky mucus clogs the lungs and blocks the release of pancreatic enzymes

deviated septum

defect in the wall between the nostrils that can cause partial or complete obstruction

diptheria

an acute upper respiratory infection caused by the Corynebacterium diphtheriae bacterium primarily affecting the membranes of the nose, throat, or larynx accompanied by fever and pain; the bacteria produces a toxin which destroys healthy tissues in the respiratory system; the disease is prevented by childhood immunization

effusion

escape of a fluid; exudation or transudation (from the lungs)

emphysema

walls between the aveoli are permanently damaged causing aveoli to lose shape, resulting in an abnormal accumulation of air in the lungs and retention of CO2 ; patients often use forceful exhalation to remove excess air (pink puffers); nearly always caused by smoking

fibrosis

formation of fibrous or scar tissue (in lungs) usually caused by previous infections

flu

popular name for influenza

hay fever/allergic rhinits

a hypersensitive state (eg allergy to pollen, symptoms are similar to the common cold)

hemothorax

blood in the pleural thoracic cavity

histoplasmosis

fungal infection of the lungs caused by Histoplasma fungus. The fungus lives in soil that contains large amounts of bird or bat droppings; may be symptomatic or asymptomatic, resembling tuberculosis

influenza

an acute viral infection of the respiratory tract; serious for the very young and old

laryngitis

inflammation of the larynx

laryngotracheo-bronchitis

inflammation of the larynx, trachea, and bronchi

lobar pneumonia

acute inflammation of lobes of the lungs, most often caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, but can be caused by viral or fungal infections; consolidation of the lungs when alveoli fill up with fluid or pus; serious complications can be prevented with Pneumococcal pneumonia vaccine

lung abscess

pus formed by the destruction of lung tissue and microorganisms by white blood cells that have gone to a localized area to fight infection

lung cancer/carcinoma

leading cause of death from cancer in the United States; most cases of lung cancer are caused by smoking; two main types are non-small cell lung cancer and small cell lung cancer

pertussis/whooping cough

acute upper respiratory infectious disease caused by bacterium Bordetella pertussis; marked by peculiar paroxysms of cough, ending in a prolonged crowing or whooping respiration; can be prevented by childhood immunization

pharyngitis

inflammation of the pharynx

pleural effusion

accumulation of fluid in the pleural space, which compresses the underlying portion of the lung, resulting in dyspnea

pleurisy

inflammation of the pleura

pneumococcal disease

nfection caused by bacteria (Streptococcus pneumoniae), most often of the lungs, but can also infect the meninges causing meningitis

pneumoconiosis

any lung disease, e.g., anthracosis, silicosis, caused by permanent deposition of substantial amounts of particulate matter in the lungs

pneumothorax

a collection of gas or air in the pleural cavity, resulting from a perforation through the chest wall or the visceral pleura; caused by pneumonia or trauma

pulmonary embolism (PE)

blood clot of pulmonary arteries, most frequently by detached fragments of thrombus from a leg or pelvic vein; risk factors are recent surgery or hospitalization

pulmonary fibrosis

formation of scar tissue (in lungs); most common type is idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and the cause is unknown, although one cause is sarcoidosis, an inflammatory disease primarily of the lungs

respiratory distress syndrome (RDS)

disease of newborns, born premature (

rhinitis rhinorrhea

inflammation and discharge from the nasal membrane; "runny nose

sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)

crib death; cause unknown; associated failure of synapse of nerves to activate the diaphragm

silicosis

a lung disorder caused by inhalation of silica (quartz) dust, resulting in the formation of small nodules in the lung

sinusitis

inflammation of the sinuses; caused by bacteria, viruses, or allergens

sleep apnea

pauses in breathing lasting from seconds to minutes, 30 or more times an hour; two main types: obstructive (blocking of the airway) or central (brain does not send proper signals to muscles that control breathing

streptococcal throat/strep throat

sore throat caused by the spore bacteria group A Streptococcus; a complication is acute rheumatic heart disease

tonsillitis

=inflammation of the tonsils, especially the palatine tonsils

tuberculosis (TB)

an infectious disease caused by bacteria, Mycobacterium tuberculosis; marked by tubercles and caseous necrosis in tissues of the lung; can be latent and develop into active disease if untreated

upper respiratory tract infection (URI)

general term for colds; can be a viral or bacterial infection that affects the throat (pharyngitis), nasopharynx (nasopharyngitis), sinuses (sinusitis), larynx (laryngitis), trachea (tracheitis), or bronchi (bronchitis)

anoxia

without O2

apnea

temporary cessation of breathing asphyxia

bradypena

abnormally slow breathing

Cheyne-Stokes breathing

waxing and waning of the depth of respiration: the patient breathes deeply a short time and then breathes slightly or stops altogether; the cycle repeats

consolidation

solidification of lung tissue because aveola are filled with fluid, as in pneumonia

cough

inhalation and forceful expiration; usually caused by irritation of the airways from dust, smoke, infection, or mucus; can be described as croupy, rasping, harsh, hollow, loose, dry, productive, brassy, bubbly, or wrackin

cyanosi

a bluish discoloration of skin and mucous membranes caused by insufficient O2 in the blood

dysphonia

voice impairment; difficulty in speaking; complication of laryngitis

dyspnea

labored or difficult breathing

epistaxis

hemorrhage from the nose; nosebleed

expectoration

the act of coughing up and spitting out mucus from the lungs, bronchi, and trachea

flail chest

chest wall moves paradoxically with respiration as a result of multiple fractures of the ribs

hemoptysis

the spitting of blood or of blood-stained sputum (from the lungs)

hiccup

sharp respiratory sound with spasm of the glottis and diaphragm

hypercapnia

an excess of CO2 in the blood

hyperventilation

increased rate and/or depth of respiration, e.g., from anxiety

hypoxia

insufficient O2

Kussmaul breathing

gasping, labored breathing; also called air hunger

orthopnea

difficult breathing, except in the upright position

palpation

application of hands and fingers to external surfaces to detect abnormalities

percussion and ascultation

striking the chest with short, sharp blows of the fingers and listening through a stethoscope for the sounds produced

productive cough

cough with spitting of mucus or phlegm from the bronchi

rales, rhonch

an abnormal respiratory sound (crackling) heard on auscultation, indicating some pathologic condition

shortness of breath (SOB)

difficult or labored breathing; symptom of lung disease

sneeze

spasmodic contraction of muscles causing air to be expelled forcefully through the nose and mouth

tachypnea

very rapid respiration

wheeze

breathing with a raspy or whistling sound; common symptom of asthma

arterial blood gases

O2 , CO2 , and other gases in the arterial blood

complete blood count (CBC)

measurement of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets to determine the presence of infection