Medical terminology skeletal and respiratory system

alveoli/alveolus

a) air sacs at end of bronchioles; 300,000,000 alveoli w/in lungs

b) They allow for the exchange of gases (O2 & CO2) in respiration thru alveolar wall & capillaries

larynx

Air enters from nasal cavities/mouth thru pharynx to larynx

Tube composed of cartilage (3 single, 3 paired = 9 total) that begins at the pharynx and forms the initial
segment of the respiratory tree, extending from the base of the tongue to the trachea.

Glottis

upper opening of the larynx

Epiglottis

uppermost cartilage, thin, leaf-shaped structure posterior to roof of tongue, automatically covers
entrance of larynx when swallowing to prevent food/liquid from entering airway.

Trachea

Passageway for air from larynx to bronchi; also known as windpipe

9-15 cm long, runs midline of neck along front of esophagus extending from larynx into thorax, dividing into
the right and left bronchi. 15-20 stacked C shaped rings of cartilage with opening along the back wall of
trachea and are closed by the trachealis muscle. Tracheal rings are elastic and it can bend and stretch. Lined
with mucosa made of ciliated epithelium that sweeps mucus, trapped dust & pathogens upward.

bronchioles

Smallest subdivision of bronchial tree

bronchi/bronchus

2 main branches (rt & lft primary bronchus) which carries air from trachea into lungs

function and parts of the pharynx

a muscular funnel that receives air from the nasal cavity and food and drink from the oral cavity.

Is divided into 3 regions:
- nasopharynx
- oropharynx
- laryngopharynx

anoxia

without oxygen

apnea

absence of spontaneous respiration

asbestosis

lung disease caused by the inhalation of asbestos particles

asthma

episodes of breathing difficulty due to narrowed or obstructed airways

atelectasis

collapse of part of a lung

pneumonia

inflammation of the lung parenchmia

pneumothorax

air in the pleural cavity

pyothorax

pus in the pleural cavity

pleurisy

inflammation of the pleura

hypoxia

decrease below normal levels of oxygen in the tissues, gasses or blood

hypoxemia

decreased levels of oxygen in the blood

pharyngitis

inflammation of the pharynx

sinusitis

inflammation of the lining of a sinus

rhinitis

inflammation of the nasal mucosa

bradypnea

slow breathing

bronchiectasis

the abnormal / chronic dilatation of the small bronchioles due to repeated infections

bronchiolitis

inflammation of the small bronchioles

bulla

bubble- like dilated structure

emphysema

dilation of respiratory bronchioles and alveoli

tuberculosis

infectious disease that can affect any organ or tissue

cilia

hairlike motile projection from the surface of a cell

concha/choncae

shell-shaped bone on the lateral wall of the nasal cavity

cricoid

ring-shaped cartilage in the larynx

coryza

viral inflammation of the mucous membrane of the nose

epistaxis

nosebleed

eupnea

normal breathing

expectorate

cough up and spit out mucus from the respiratory tract

empyema

pus in a body cavity, particularly in the pleural cavity

dyspnea

shortness of breath (SOB); difficulty breathing

- can be on exertion or severe disorders

cystic fibrosis

genetic disease in which excessive viscid mucus obstructs passages, including bronchi

Diaphragm

a) Dome-shaped skeletal muscle that separates abdominal and thoracic cavities
b) Right side slightly higher than the left

musculomembranous partition separating the abdominal and thoracic cavities

contracts and relaxes to get air in and out of alveoli for O2 & CO2 exchange

decongestant

agent that reduces swelling and fluid in the nose and sinuses

Lung fissures

separate lobes from each other

glucocorticosteroid

hormone of the adrenal cortex that influences glycogen metabolism and exerts an anti-inflammatory effect

crackle/rale

explosive popping sound due to the sudden opening of small airways or air moving through secretions

rhoncus/wheeze

wheezing sound heard on auscultation of the lungs

spirometer

an instrument used to measure respiratory volumes

stridor

high pitches noise made when there is respiratory obstruction in the larynx or trachea

tracheostomy

surgical opening into the windpipe (trachea), through which a tube can be inserted to assist breathing

tracheotomy

incision made into the trachea for the tracheostomy

hemoptysis

bloody sputum

sputum

matter coughed up and spat out by individuals with respiratory disorders

hemothorax

blood in the pleural cavity

hypercapnia

abnormal increase of carbon dioxide in the arterial blood stream

hilum

site where each lung receives its bronchus, nerves, blood vessels, lymphatic vessels

the part where the nerves and blood vessels enter and leave an organ

components of the upper respiratory tract

1) Nose
2) Pharynx
3) Larynx

components of the lower respiratory tract

1) Trachea
2) Bronchus
3) Lungs

5 functions of the respiration system

1) Exchange of gases (respiration)
a) The exchange of O2 & CO2 bet the atmosphere & body cells
b) Breathing normally occurs every 3-5 sec

2) Regulation of blood pH
a) CO2 levels affect pH

3) Protection
a) Protects against foreign bodies and microorganisms
b) i.e. nasal hair, cilia lining airways, mucus production

4) Voice production
a) Movement of air across vocal cords enable speech and other sounds

5) Olfaction
a) Olfactory region location in superior region of nasal cavity
b) 12 million receptor cells in a patch of epithelium (quarter size). Each cell has cilia (hair-like structures)
c) Sense of taste is influenced by sense of smell

lungs

1)Organs of respiration

2) 2 conical, soft, sponge-like organs in thoracic cavity, base sits on diaphragm and inner surface lies alongside
mediastinum.

3) Rt. Lung has 3 lobes
a) Superior, middle & inferior

4) Lft. Lung has 2 lobes
a) Superior and inferior
b) “cardiac depression”/ “cardiac notch” / indentation

5) Lung fissures – separate lobes from each other

Lung parenchyma

lung specific functional cells supported by thin connective stroma.

pleural cavity

space between pleura that contains serous fluid / pleural fluid (thin film of lubricant)

pleura

serous membrane covering each lung & lining the thoracic cavity; reflected upon walls of thorax &
diaphragm

b) parietal pleura (lines chest cavity) & visceral pleura (covers lungs)

mediastinum

Space bet lungs, contains heart, esophagus, trachea, great bld vessels, thymus (impt in
newborn immune response, essential to T lymph cell maturation) lymph nodes & connective
tissue.

Inspiration

diaphragm contracts on inhalation, flattening downward & permitting lungs to expand.
Increases volume of thoracic cavity and reduces pressure in airways. External intercostal muscles lift chest
wall up & out to further expand thoracic cavity.

Expiration

diaphragm relaxes to promote exhalation, rising to its dome-shaped position and compressing
the lungs. Intercostal muscles relax and thoracic cavity goes back to original volume.

Sinuses

air-filled spaces

vocal cords

a) 2 thin, reed-like folds of tissue w/in larynx that vibrate as air passes between them producing sounds
b) Muscle of cords pull them closer together w/varying tautness.
c) High-pitched sounds is produced by taut cords, lower pitch produced by more relaxed cords.
d) Male cords longer and thicker, vibrate more slowly & produce lower-pitched sounds

voice box

larynx

idiopathic

pertaining to a disease with unknown etiology (cause)

laryngitis

inflammation of the larynx

laryngoscope

a hollow tube with a light and a camera used to visualize or operate on the larynx

lobecotomy

surgical removal of a lobe of an organ such as the thyroid gland, lung, or liver.

mesothelioma

cancer arising from the cells lining the pleura or the peritoneum

nares

nostrils where air enters the body

nasal septum

partition between right & left nasal cavities

function of the nose

a) Passageway for air
b) Air cleanser
c) Air moisturizer
d) Air warmer
e) Sense of smell (olfaction)

Olfaction

sensation of smell

a) Olfactory region location in superior region of nasal cavity
b) 12 million receptor cells in a patch of epithelium (quarter size). Each cell has cilia (hair-like structures)
c) Sense of taste is influenced by sense of smell

nebulizer

device used to deliver liquid medicine in a fine mist for inhalation

phlegm

abnormal amounts of mucus expectorated from the respiratory tract

pleural tap

aka thoracentesis
- insertion of a needle thru an intercostal space to remove fluid from a pleural effusion for laboratory study or to relieve pleasure

pneumonectomy

the surgical removal of an entire or part of a lung

respiration

Resting adult breaths 10-15 times /minute, inhales about 500 ml of air during inspiration and exhales it
during expiration

respiratory tract structures/organs

1. nose
2. pharynx
3. larynx
4. trachea
5. bronchi and bronchioles
6. alveoli

rhinoplasty

surgical procedures to change the size or shape of the nose

surfactant

5% of alveolar cells secrete this detergent-like substance to keep sacs from collapsing
(decreases surface tension of fluid lining the alveoli, permitting expansion; synthetic lung
surfactant to tx pts w/respiratory distress syndrome)

a protein and fat compound that creates surface tension to hold the lung alveolar wall apart

tachypnea

rapid breathing

thorax

the trunk between the abdomen and the neck

thyroid

gland in the neck, or cartilage of the larynx

tonsils

lymph nodes in the back of the mouth and top of the throat. They help to filter out bacteria and other germs to prevent infection in the body

tonsilitis

inflammation of the tonsils

turbinate

another name for the nasal conchae on the medial walls of the nasal cavities

ventilation

movement of gases into and out of the lungs

achondroplasia

occurs when the long bones stop growing during childhood but the bones of the axial skeleton are not affected

osteomyelitis

inflammation of bone tissue due to a bacterial infection

osteomalacia

aka rickets in children
- disease caused by vitamin d deficiency
-when bones lack calcium, they become soft and flexible

basic components of the skeletal system

1. bones
2.cartilage
3. tendons
4. ligaments

functions of the skeletal system

1) Support
2) Protection
3) Movement
4) Blood formation
5) Mineral storage and balance
6) Detoxification

rickets

disease in children due to vitamin d deficiency

Epiphyseal plate/ Epiphyseal line

Thick layer of cartilage between the epiphysis and the shaft which allows bone to grow in
length.

After bone growth stops, compact bone grows in the epiphyseal plate & forms this line.

Periosteum

a) tough connective tissue sheath that covers the outer surface of bones.
b) Attached to compact/cortical bone by collagen fibers
c) Protects bone and anchors blood vessels & nerves

medullar cavity

a) hollow cylinder inside diaphysis that contains bone marrow.
b) Lined by a thin membrane called endosteum

Osteoclasts

a) Produced by bone marrow
b) Dissolve calcium phosphorus and organic components of matrix.
c) Absorb calcium salts therefore remove excess bone tissue, as in remodeling of growing bones or
damaged bone (repair of fractures) (Tabers)
d) If osteoclasts out perform osteoblasts à osteoporosis