Chapter 9: The Respiratory System

spir/o

spirat/o

hal/o

breathing

re-

again, back

home/o

similar

ox/o

oxygen

O₂

capn/o

carbon dioxide

CO₂

olfact/o

smell

aer/o

air, gas

dynam/o

force, energy

nas/o

rhin/o

nose

pharyng/o

pharynx

throat

laryng/o

larynx

voice box

glott/o

glottis

the vocal cords and the space between them

vestibul/o

entrance, cavity or channel that is an entrance to another cavity

trache/o

trachea

windpipe

bronch/o

bronchus

a branch from the trachea

alveol/o

alveolus

air sac

small sac or cavity

pleur/o

pleura

thin membrane with two layers that lines the chest cavity and covers the lungs

pne/o

-pnea

breath or respiration

pneum/o

air

sometimes lung

pneumon/o

lung

muc/o

mucus, the slimy protective secretion of mucous membranes

mucous, the membranes that secrete mucus

mediastin/o

the space between the two lungs that contains all the thoracic viscera except the lungs

nares

external openings of the nose

nostrils

agonal breaths/breathing

the last breaths taken at or near death, or after cardiac arrest; often gasping or labored

asthma

chronic disease that often causes bronchoconstriction, making breathing difficult

sometimes caused by an allergic response

cilia

small, hair like structures on the surface of the epithelium that beat rhythmically

cough

reflex stimulated by irritation or foreign matter in the trachea or bronchi

diaphragm

a thin dome-shaped sheet of muscle that separates the thorax from the abdomen

emphysema

overexpansion of alveolar walls causing the walls to break down and block other airways, resulting in less oxygen/carbon dioxide exchange in the lungs

friable

crumbly

easily crumbled

furcation

divided

branched

hiccups

spasms of the diaphragm accompanied by sudden closing of the glottis;

may be caused by nerve irritation, indigestion, or central nervous system damage, but most often temporary and harmless

paranasal sinus

sinus

a hollow cavity in the skull connected to the nasal passages

sigh

a deep breath through the nose that is usually taken in response to a slightly low blood oxygen level or a slightly high blood carbon dioxide level

sinus

a cavity, recess or passage in any organ or tissue

sneeze

reflex stimulated by irritation or foreign matter in the nasal passages

turbinate

scroll shaped bone on the wall of a nasal passage

aka nasal concha

ventilate

breathing in and out

ventilator

a machine that artificially moves air into and out of the lungs

yawn

a slow, deep breath taken through the wide open mouth

can be caused by mildly low blood oxygen levels, fatigue, boredom, stress, or drowsiness

-staxis

bleeding

escape of blood from the vessels

-ectasis

expansion

dilation

distention

atel/o

incomplete

imperfect

iatr/o

physician

medicine

tuss/o

cough

URI

upper respiratory infection

LRI

lower respiratory infection

RAO

recurrent airway obstruction

CO₂

carbon dioxide

O₂

oxygen

CPR

cardiopulmonary resuscitation

ETT

ET tube

endotracheal tube

QNS

quantity not sufficient

xs

excessive