CH 12 Key Terms

Comprehensive set of 84 vocabulary flashcards covering normal structure and function, disorders, and diagnostic procedures of the respiratory system.

Adenoids

Lymphoid tissue located in the nasopharynx; also called the pharyngeal tonsils.

Alveoli

The tiny air sacs in the lungs through which gases are exchanged between the atmosphere and the blood in respiration (singular: alveolus); also applies to the bony socket for a tooth.

Bronchiole

One of the smaller subdivisions of the bronchial tubes (root: bronchiol/o).

Bronchus

One of the larger air passageways in the lungs; the bronchi begin as two branches of the trachea and then subdivide within the lungs (plural: bronchi) (root: bronch/o).

Carbon dioxide ($CO_2$)

A gas produced by energy metabolism in cells and eliminated through the lungs.

Carbonic acid

An acid formed when carbon dioxide dissolves in water; $H_2CO_3$.

Compliance

A measure of how easily the lungs expand under pressure; compliance is reduced in many types of respiratory disorders.

Diaphragm

The dome-shaped muscle under the lungs that flattens during inspiration (root: phren/o).

Epiglottis

A leaf-shaped cartilage that covers the larynx during swallowing to prevent food from entering the trachea.

Expectoration

The act of coughing up material from the respiratory tract; also the material thus released; sputum.

Expiration

The act of breathing out or expelling air from the lungs; exhalation.

Glottis

The opening between the vocal folds.

Hemoglobin

The iron-containing pigment in red blood cells that transports oxygen.

Inspiration

The act of drawing air into the lungs; inhalation.

Larynx

The enlarged, superior portion of the trachea that contains the vocal folds (root: laryng/o).

Lingual tonsils

Small mounds of lymphoid tissue at the posterior of the tongue.

Lung

A cone-shaped, spongy respiratory organ contained within the thorax (roots: pneum/o, pulm/o).

Mediastinum

The space between the lungs together with the organs contained in this space.

Nose

The organ of the face used for breathing and housing receptors for the sense of smell; includes an external portion and an internal nasal cavity (roots: nas/o, rhin/o).

Oxygen ($O_2$)

The gas needed by cells to release energy from food during metabolism.

Palatine tonsils

The paired masses of lymphoid tissue located on either side of the oropharynx; usually meant when the term tonsils is used alone.

Pharynx

The throat; a common passageway for food entering the esophagus and air entering the larynx (root: pharyng/o).

Phrenic nerve

The nerve that activates the diaphragm (root: phrenic/o).

Pleura

A double-layered membrane that lines the thoracic cavity (parietal pleura) and covers the lungs (visceral pleura) (root: pleur/o).

Parietal pleura

The outer layer of the pleura membrane that lines the thoracic cavity.

Visceral pleura

The inner layer of the pleura membrane that covers the lungs.

Pleural space

The thin, fluid-filled space between the two layers of the pleura; also called the pleural cavity.

Pulmonary ventilation

The movement of air into and out of the lungs.

Sinus

A cavity or channel; the paranasal sinuses are located near the nose and drain into the nasal cavity.

Sputum

The substance released by coughing or clearing the throat; expectoration; it may contain a variety of materials from the respiratory tract.

Surfactant

A substance that decreases surface tension within the alveoli and eases lung expansion.

Trachea

The air passageway that extends from the larynx to the bronchi (root: trache/o).

Turbinate bones

The bony projections in the nasal cavity that contain receptors for the sense of smell; also called conchae (singular: concha).

Vocal folds

Membranous folds on either side of the larynx that are important in speech production; also called vocal cords.

Acidosis

Abnormal acidity of body fluids; respiratory acidosis is caused by abnormally high carbon dioxide levels.

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)

Pulmonary edema that can lead rapidly to fatal respiratory failure; causes include trauma, aspiration into the lungs, viral pneumonia, and drug reactions; also called shock lung.

Acute rhinitis

Inflammation of the nasal mucosa with sneezing, tearing, and profuse secretion of watery mucus, as seen in the common cold.

Alkalosis

Abnormal alkalinity of body fluids; respiratory alkalosis is caused by abnormally low carbon dioxide levels.

Aspiration

The accidental inhalation of food or other foreign material into the lungs; also means the withdrawal of fluid from a cavity by suction.

Asthma

A disease characterized by dyspnea and wheezing caused by spasm of the bronchial tubes or swelling of their mucous membranes.

Atelectasis

Incomplete expansion of a lung or part of a lung; lung collapse; may be present at birth (as in respiratory distress syndrome) or caused by bronchial obstruction or compression of lung tissue (prefix atel/o means "imperfect").

Bronchiectasis

Chronic dilatation of a bronchus or bronchi.

Bronchitis

Inflammation of a bronchus.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

Any of a group of chronic, progressive, and debilitating respiratory diseases, which includes emphysema, asthma, bronchitis, and bronchiectasis.

Croup

A childhood disease usually caused by a viral infection that involves upper airway inflammation and obstruction; characterized by a barking cough, difficulty breathing, and laryngeal spasm.

Cyanosis

Bluish discoloration of the skin caused by lack of oxygen in the blood (adjective: cyanotic).

Cystic fibrosis (CF)

An inherited disease that affects the pancreas, respiratory system, and sweat glands; characterized by mucus accumulation in the bronchi causing obstruction and leading to infection.

Diphtheria

Acute infectious disease, usually limited to the upper respiratory tract, characterized by the formation of a surface pseudomembrane composed of cells and coagulated material.

Dyspnea

Difficult or labored breathing (-pnea), sometimes with pain; "air hunger".

Emphysema

A chronic pulmonary disease characterized by enlargement and destruction of the alveoli.

Empyema

Accumulation of pus in a body cavity, especially the pleural space; also called pyothorax.

Hemoptysis

The spitting of blood from the mouth or respiratory tract (-ptysis means "spitting").

Hemothorax

Presence of blood in the pleural space.

Hydrothorax

Presence of fluid in the pleural space.

Hyperventilation

Increase in the rate and depth of breathing to above optimal levels, with blood carbon dioxide decreasing to levels below normal.

Hypoventilation

Condition in which the amount of air entering the alveoli is insufficient to meet metabolic needs and blood carbon dioxide increases to levels above normal.

Influenza

An acute, contagious respiratory infection causing fever, chills, headache, and muscle pain; commonly called the "flu".

Pertussis

An acute, infectious disease characterized by a cough ending in a whooping inspiration; whooping cough.

Pleural effusion

Accumulation of fluid in the pleural space; the fluid may contain blood (hemothorax) or pus (pyothorax or empyema).

Pleurisy

Inflammation of the pleura; also called pleuritis; a symptom of pleurisy is sharp pain on breathing.

Pneumoconiosis

Disease of the respiratory tract caused by inhalation of dust particles; named more specifically by the type of dust inhaled, such as silicosis, anthracosis, asbestosis.

Pneumonia

Inflammation of the lungs generally caused by infection; may involve the bronchioles and alveoli (bronchopneumonia) or one or more lobes of the lung (lobar pneumonia).

Bronchopneumonia

A form of pneumonia involving the bronchioles and alveoli.

Lobar pneumonia

A form of pneumonia involving one or more lobes of the lung.

Pneumonitis

Inflammation of the lungs; may be caused by infection, asthma, allergy, or inhalation of irritants.

Pneumothorax

Accumulation of air or gas in the pleural space; may result from injury or disease or may be produced artificially to collapse a lung.

Pyothorax

Accumulation of pus in the pleural space; empyema.

Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS)

A respiratory disorder that affects premature infants born without enough surfactant in the lungs; it is treated with respiratory support and surfactant administration.

Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)

The sudden and unexplained death of an apparently healthy infant; crib death.

Tuberculosis

An infectious disease caused by the tubercle bacillus, Mycobacterium tuberculosis; often involves the lungs but may involve other parts of the body as well.

Miliary tuberculosis

An acute generalized form of tuberculosis with formation of minute tubercles that resemble millet seeds.

Arterial blood gases (ABGs)

The concentrations of gases, specifically oxygen and carbon dioxide, in arterial blood; reported as the partial pressure ($P$) of the gas in arterial ($a$) blood, such as $PaO_2$ or $PaCO_2$.

$$PaO_2$$

The partial pressure ($P$) of oxygen ($O_2$) in arterial ($a$) blood.

$$PaCO_2$$

The partial pressure ($P$) of carbon dioxide ($CO_2$) in arterial ($a$) blood.

Bronchoscope

An endoscope used to examine the tracheobronchial passageways; also allows access for tissue biopsy or removal of a foreign object.

Lung scan

Study based on the accumulation of radioactive isotopes in lung tissue; also called a pulmonary scintiscan.

Ventilation scan

A pulmonary study that measures ventilation after inhalation of radioactive material.

Perfusion scan

A pulmonary study that measures blood supply to the lungs after injection of radioactive material.

Pulse oximetry

Determination of the oxygen saturation of arterial blood by means of a photoelectric apparatus (oximeter), usually placed on the finger or the ear; reported as $SpO_2$ in percent.

Pulmonary function tests

Tests done to assess breathing, usually by spirometry.

Spirometer

An apparatus used to measure breathing volumes and capacities; record of test is a spirogram.

Spirogram

The record of a test produced by a spirometer.

Thoracentesis

Surgical puncture of the chest for removal of air or fluids, such as may accumulate after surgery or as a result of injury, infection, or cardiovascular problems; also called thoracocentesis.

Tuberculin test

A skin test for tuberculosis; tuberculin (PPD), the test material made from products of the tuberculosis organism, is injected below the skin; a hard, raised lump appearing within 48 to 72 hours indicates an active or inactive TB infection; also called the Mantoux test.