respiratory chapter 1

Alveol-

Small cavity

Epi-

Upon

Phren-

Diaphragm

Bronch-

Windpipe

Exhal-

To breathe out

Carcin-

Spreading sore

Hem-

Blood

Keel-like

Carina

Inhal-

To breathe in

Ring

Cricoid cartilage

Respiration

The process of exchanging gases between the atmosphere and body cells

Upper respiratory tract

Includes the nose, nasal cavity, sinuses, and pharynx

Lower respiratory tract

Includes the larynx, trachea, bronchial tree, and lungs

External respiration

Exchange of gases between the air in the lungs and the blood

Internal respiration

Exchange of gases between the blood and the body cells

Oxygen (O2)

Gas used by body cells

Carbon dioxide (CO2)

Gas produced by body cells

Cellular respiration

Process where cells use oxygen and release carbon dioxide to produce energy

Respiratory Therapist

Healthcare professional who assesses and treats patients with breathing problems

Mucus

Sticky substance secreted by the mucous membrane that entraps dust and small particles entering the airways.

Cilia

Hair-like structures on epithelial cells that move to push mucus and trapped particles towards the pharynx.

Sinuses

Air-filled spaces in the skull bones (frontal, sphenoid, ethmoid, and maxillary) that reduce skull weight and affect voice quality.

Pharynx

Passageway posterior to the nasal and oral cavities, aiding in food passage to the esophagus and air passage to the larynx.

Larynx

Enlargement in the airway superior to the trachea, housing the vocal cords and preventing foreign objects from entering the trachea.

Cigarette Smoking

The act of inhaling and exhaling the smoke produced by burning tobacco, which can cause damage to the respiratory system and increase the risk of various diseases.

Respiratory System

The organ system responsible for breathing, consisting of the lungs, airways, and other structures involved in the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the body.

Lung Cancer

A type of cancer that begins in the lungs and is often associated with cigarette smoking, characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in lung tissue.

Emphysema

A lung condition where the air sacs in the lungs are damaged, making it difficult to breathe, often caused by long-term exposure to irritants like cigarette smoke.

Secondhand Smoke

Also known as environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), it is the combination of smoke exhaled by smokers and smoke from the burning end of tobacco products, which can be harmful to non-smokers.

Alveoli

Microscopic air sacs in the lungs where the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide takes place during breathing.

Larynx

The voice box located in the throat, containing the vocal cords and playing a role in producing sound and protecting the airway during swallowing.

Glottis

The opening between the vocal cords in the larynx, which can be adjusted to control airflow and produce different pitches of sound.

Vocal Cords

Folds of tissue in the larynx that vibrate when air passes over them, producing sound and enabling speech.

Epiglottis

A flap of tissue in the throat that covers the glottis during swallowing to prevent food or liquid from entering the airway.

Trachea

A flexible cylindrical tube about 2.5 centimeters in diameter and 12.5 centimeters in length that extends from the larynx to the bronchial tree.

Bronchial Tree

Consists of branched airways leading from the trachea to the microscopic air sacs in the lungs, facilitating the passage of air for respiration.

Carina

A ridge of cartilage that separates the openings of the main bronchi, ensuring proper airflow and preventing collapse of the trachea.

Hyaline Cartilage

C-shaped rings in the tracheal wall that prevent the trachea from collapsing and blocking the airway.

Ciliated Epithelium

The inner wall of the trachea lined with a membrane containing goblet cells that help clean incoming air and move trapped particles upward for removal.

Tracheostomy

A medical procedure involving making a temporary opening in the trachea to bypass obstructions, which can be life-saving in cases of airway blockage.

Alveoli

Thin-walled, microscopic air sacs where gas exchange occurs between inhaled air and the bloodstream, facilitating the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide.

Respiratory Bronchioles

Short structures branching from terminal bronchioles, enabling gas exchange as air sacs bud from their sides.

Deoxyribonuclease (DNase)

An enzyme that degrades accumulating extracellular DNA, used as a treatment to ease breathing in conditions like cystic fibrosis where airways are clogged with thick mucus.

Alveolus

Tiny air sacs in the lungs where gas exchange occurs, allowing oxygen to enter the blood and carbon dioxide to be removed.

Capillaries

Small blood vessels that surround the alveoli and facilitate the exchange of gases between the lungs and the bloodstream.

Bronchiole

Small branching tubes in the respiratory system that lack cartilage and lead to the alveoli.

Cartilaginous rings

C-shaped structures in the trachea that provide support and prevent collapse.

Respiratory bronchioles

Tubes in the respiratory system that lead to the alveolar ducts and participate in gas exchange.

Fiberoptic bronchoscope

Flexible instrument used to examine the trachea and bronchial tree for diagnostic purposes.

Pleural cavity

Space between the visceral and parietal pleurae containing a thin film of serous fluid that reduces friction during breathing.

Lobar bronchus

Branch of the bronchial tree that supplies air to a specific lobe of the lung.

Alveolar sacs

Clusters of alveoli where gas exchange takes place in the lungs.

Respiratory cycle

Complete sequence