Chapter 20: The Respiratory System

Key vocabulary terms and definitions related to the structure, function, and disorders of the respiratory system.

Alveoli

Tiny, grape-like sacs in the lungs where the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide occurs.

Asthma

A chronic, episodic inflammatory disease that makes breathing difficult and causes coughing and wheezing.

Bronchi

The branches of the respiratory passages that lead from the trachea into the lungs.

Bronchiectasis

A condition in which the bronchi become permanently dilated (widened) and damaged.

Bronchitis

Inflammation and irritation of the lining of the bronchi.

Chest Percussion

Clapping the chest to help the lungs drain secretions with the aid of gravity.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

A chronic, progressive, incurable lung disease that causes difficulty breathing.

Emphysema

A chronic, incurable lung disease in which alveoli become filled with trapped air; often results from smoking and chronic bronchitis.

Expiration

The process of exhaling air out of the lungs.

Hemoptysis

Coughing up blood from the respiratory tract.

Inspiration

The process of breathing air into the lungs.

Lung Cancer

A type of cancer that begins in the lungs.

Lungs

The main organs of respiration responsible for the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide.

Multidrug-Resistant TB (MDR-TB)

A form of tuberculosis caused by organisms resistant to medications commonly used to treat TB.

Oxygen Therapy

The administration of oxygen to increase the supply of oxygen to the lungs.

Pneumonia

Acute inflammation of lung tissue caused by bacterial, viral, or fungal infection or chemical irritants.

Respiration

The process of inhaling air into the lungs and exhaling air out of the lungs.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)

A common respiratory virus that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms in adults and children.

Sputum

Mucus coughed up from the lungs.

Trachea

The air passage that extends from the throat to the bronchi; also called the windpipe.

Tuberculosis (TB)

A contagious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, transmitted through the air, usually affecting the lungs but possibly other organs.