top 8 respiratory system med term

a-

without; not

-centesis

puncture and aspiration of

-ectasis

dilation, expansion

-emia

condition of the blood

-metry

measurement

-pnea

respiration, breathing

atel/o-

incomplete; imperfectly developed

bronch/o-

bronchus

cardi/o-

heart

cyan/o-

blue

orth/o-

straight; normal; correct

ox/o-

presence of oxygen

pneum/o-

air or gas; lung

pulmon/o-

lungs

py/o-

pus

sept/o-

septum

thorac/o-

chest (thorax)

trache/o-

trachea

cardiopulmonary

having to do with both the heart and the lungs

lung

• one of a pair of lobed breathing organs located within the right and left sides of the chest

• the lungs remove CO2 from the blood + bring O2 into the blood

lobe

• a subdivision of an organ that is divided by fissures, CT, or other natural boundaries

• rt lung = 3 lobes , left lung = 2 lobes

LLL

left inferior lobe / left lower lobe

LUL

left superior lobe / left upper lobe

RLL

right inferior lobe / right lower lobe

RML

right middle lobe

RUL

right superior lobe / right upper lobe

pleura

• one of 2 membranes around the lungs

• - visceral + parietal pleurae

apex

• the tip of a pyrimidal or rounded structure like lung/ heart

bronchial tree

• the trachea and the 2 primary bronchi = bronchial tree

• trachea + primary bronchi are exterior to each lung

• —> bronchial tree continues with smaller branchings that bronchioles arise from + end with alveoli

bronchus

• one of 2 large air tubes that begin at the end of the trachea and branch into the lungs

• - each bronchus enters a lung on the lung’s medial side at the hilum (medial indentation)

alveolus

AL-vee-uh-lus

• tiny air sac in the lungs where gas exchange occurs

bronchiole

• tiny branch of air tubes within hte lungs that is a continuation of the bronchus

• carry oxy rich air into the lungs + carry CO2 rich air out of the lungs via the alveoli

What part of the bronchial tree are the tiny tubular branches that carry inhaled and exhaled air to and from each alveoli?

Correct answer:

bronchiole

septum

• dividing wall or enclosure

epiglottis

• stationary flap that covers the trachea during swallowing so food doesnt enter lungs

larynx

LEH-rinx but murican

• a tube shaped organ in the neck that contains the vocal cords

trachea (windpipe)

4 inch by 1 inch tube like part of resp tract that connects larynx with bronchial parts of the lungs.

• surrounded by c shaped rings of cartilage

pharynx (throat)

-FEH-rinx

• the hollow tube about 5 in long that starts behind the nose + ends at the top of trachea + esophagus

• AKA throat

thoracic cavity

• region of thorax that includes pleural cavity and mediastinum

• bound laterally by ribs + caudally by diaphragm

mediastinum

• the area between the lungs

• organs here = heart + its large veins + arteriees

• - trachea

• esophagus

• bronchi

• lymph nodes

diaphragm

• the large sheet of skelet muscle that separates the chest (thoracic) cavoty from the abdomen

• contraction of it helps to expand the lungs when one breathes in air

inspiration

• the act of drawing in air

• - diaphragm is pushed down

expiration

- the act of releasing air from the lungs

diaphragm is pushed up

A&P

anatomy & physiology

auscultation and percussion

TPR

temperature, pulse, respiration

ARDS

acute respiratory distress syndrome

acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)

• respiratory failure of sudden onset due to fluid in the lungs (pulmonary edema) following abrupt inc in permeability of normal barrier between capillaries in lungs + air sacs (alveoli)

• causes labored + inefficient breathing

• hypoxemia (rlly low blood oxy) occurs

• is due to the filling of fluid into the alveoli - usually cuz of direct trauma to teh lungs

• -lungs stop making surfactant, often leads to collapsed lung

SARS

severe acute respiratory syndrome

severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)

• a serious form of pneumonia

• infection with SARS virus causes acute resp distress + sometimes death

• —> when SARS infected person coughs/sneezes, infected droplets disperese in air - they are transmitted by breathing in or touching these particles

• SARS virus may be able to live for months or years when temp below freezing

COPD

chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

• primarily suffer from dyspnea (difficulty breathing), dec exercise capcity, chronic cough - primarily caused by progressive airflow limitation

• - airway obstruction seen in COPD is cuz of mult pathophysiological processes - some are preventable + modifiable

• lifestyle changes like stop smoking can have big impact on slowing lung func decline in COPD

• treat: bronchodilators, lifestyle changes

• COPD ppl have high levels of CO2 + low O2 lvls in blood (cyanosis)

occupational lung disease

• a disease that is due to a factor in a person’s work

• e.g. black lung in coal miners

anoxia

• the absence or near absence of oxy

• - can injure tissues of the body

hypoxemia

having low arterial oxy levels in blood

pulmonary edema

• excessive accumlation of extravascular fluid in alveoli of lungs

• usually happen when a diseased or overworked left ventric of heart isnt able to pump enough blood

• prevents efficient pulmonary gas exchange in the pulmonary alveoli + can be life threatening

pulmonary embolism

• sudden blockage of a pulmonary artery or one of its branches caused by a blood-borne clot or foreign material that plugs the vessel

apnea

• the absence of breathing (respiration)

• This term means a brief or prolonged absence of spontaneous respirations:

dyspnea

• difficult or labored breathing ; shortness of breath

• is a sign of serious disease of the airway , lungs or heart

anthracosis

an-thrah-cosis

• an occupational lung disease

• change takes place in lungs + bronchial glands of coal miners and others who inhale coal dust constantly

• AKA coal miners lung / black lung disease

asbestosis

• scarring of the lungs caused by inhalation of asbestos fibers

• when asbestos fibers lodge in lungs they promote cancer develop

bronchiectasis

brong-key-ectasis

• permanent abnormal widening of the bronchi

• - can cause recurrent lung infections, disabling cough, shortness of breath, coughing up blood

atelectasis

ad-uh-lect-uh-sis

• failure of full expansion of the lung at birth, or lung collapse thereafter

• AKA collapsed lung

• This term means incomplete expansion or collapse of part of all of a lung due to mucus, tumor, trauma, or a foreign body that blocks the bronchus. (AKA: Collapsed lung.)

cyanosis

• bluish color of the skin and the mucous membranes due to insufficient oxy in the blood

hemoptysis

hem-opp-tih-sis

• spitting up blood or blood tinged sputum from the resp tract

• occurs when tiny BVs that line that lung airways are broken

• can be harmless like from irritated bronchial tubes in bronchitis or be srs cuz from cancer of lung

pneumoconiosis

noo-mOH-coney-oh-sis

• inflamm + irritation caused by deposition of dust + other particulate matter in the lungs

• usually occurs in workers w/ certain jobs + ppl living in areas that got lot of particulate matter in air

TB

tuberculosis

tuberculosis (TB)

• highly contagious infection caused by bacterium Mycobacterium tuberulosis

• tubercles (tiny lumps) = sign

• disease spread from a person w/ active TB who cough + sneeze tiny doplets into air that are inhaled by someone else

• diagnose w/ skin test and/or x ray

• treat: antibiotics + vits for 6 months

CF

cystic fibrosis

cystic fibrosis (CF)

• common grave genetic disease that affects exocrine glandds + is characterized by prod of abnormal secretions

• —> leading to mucus buildup that impairs pancreas + intestine

• mucus buildup in lungs can impair resp

bronchitis

• inflamm + swelling of the bronchi

• can be acute or chronic

• Acute or chronic inflammation or infection of the bronchi:

pneumonia

• inflamm of one or both lungs w/ dense areas of lung inflamm

• freq due to infection - bacterial, fungal , viral, parisitic

• symp: fever, chills, cough w/ sputum prod, chest pain, shortness of breath

• is suggested by symps + confirmed by chest x ray

Inflammation or infection of some or all of the lobes of the lungs and the bronchi:

aspiration pneumonia

• inflamm of the lungs due to aspiration

• This diagnosis is caused by foreign matter such as vomit that is inhaled into the lungs.

bacterial pneumonia

• inflamm of the lungs caused by certain bact e.g. streptococcus

bronchopneumonia

• a form of pneumonia centering on the bronchial passages (the bronchi, bronchioles, adjacent lung tissues, alveoli)

bradypnea

bray-DIP-nia

• abnormally slow breathing

• a respiratory rate that is too slow

orthopnea

or-THOP-nia

• the inability to breathe easily except when sitting up straight or standing erect

tachypnea

tuh-KIP-nia

• abnormally fast breathing

bronchospasm

• temporary narrowing of the airways in the lung

• causes breathing difficulties seen in asthma

asthma

• common lung disorder in which inflamm causes the bronchi to swell + narrow the airways, creating breathing difficulties that may range from mild to life threatening

status asthmaticus

status az-mad-ih-cuss

• acute severe asthma

• A prolonged, extremely severe, life-threatening asthma attack is known as:

• this is prolonged period of wheezing + shortness of breath with little or no respite between spasms

• usually lasts more than 24 hrs

• patient = seriously distressed + untreated

• can lead to hypoxia + exhaustion

• treat: continuous / very freq use of nebulized bronchodilators, intravenous corticosteroid treat, other skilled medical care urgently need , incl. availability of assisted or artificial lung ventilation

anaphylaxis / anaphylactic shock

ana-phil-axis

• widespread + extremely serious allergic reac that can result in death

• symps: dizziness, loss of consciousness , labored brreathing, swelling of tongue + breathing tubes, cyanosis, low BP, cardiovascular collapse

emphysema

em-fih-see-muh

• lung condition w/ abmormal accumulation of air in alveoli of lings.

• as air continues to collect in these sacs, they become enlarged + may break or be damaged + form scar tissue

empyema

em-PIE-ee-muh

• pus in the pleural space between the outer surface of the lung + the chest wall

• is typically a result of a serious bacterial infection

• is a type of pleural effusion, one that is grossly infected

• A localized collection of pus in the outer surface of the lung and chest wall is:

hemothorax

hemorrhage within the pleural cavity

pneumothorax

free air in the chest outside the lung

can occur spontaneously, follow a fractured rib or other trauma, occur in the wake of chest surgery, or be deliberately induced in order to collapse lung

influenza

• acute illness (virral infection) caused by viruses that infect the upper + lower resp tracts

• 3 types: A, B, C

• symps of influenza: fever, appetite loss, achy feeling throughout body, weakness

• An acute viral infection of the upper and lower respiratory tracts is known a

pleurisy

• inflamm of the pleurae : membs surrounding lungs

• symps: pain in chest, chest tenderness, cough, shortness of breath

• can hear the friction generated by rubbing of 2 inflamed layers of pleurae with each breath

purulent

pyur-uh-lent

• pertaining to pus

• containing or composed of pus

malignant

• term applied in several ways to srs disorders

• tumor = malignant when grows rapidly , tending to inflitrate surrounding healthy tissues + spread to distant parts of the body

• → in this case, tumor is cancerous, often lead to death eventually

lung cancer

• malignant tumor of the lung

• symps: persistent cough + bloody sputum

• kills more men + women than any other form of cancer

• 8 out of 10 lung cancers due to damage caused by tobacco smoke

abnormal breath sounds +

• the sounds of breathing transmitted to a stethoscope applied to the chest

• normal breath sounds = vesicular

• abnormal sounds may be heard when there is inc fluid in the lungs/fibrosis, when there is bronchospasm, or when lung is airless

pleural effusion

• presence of excess fluid in the pleural cavity

• is the build-up of excess fluid between the layers of pleura outside the lungs

• sound is desc as leather rubbing tgt

• is sign of disease; not a diagnosis

rales

• abnormal lung sound that can be heard through stethoscope

• may be sibilant (whistling), dry (crackling), or wet (sloshy/bubbling)

• sound depends on amount + density of fluid refluxing back + forth in the air passages

rhonchi

• desc of the harsh cooing, hissing, or whistling sounds (wheezing) heard by auscultation over the bronchial tubes when they are inflamed or obstructed

• sng: rhonchus

stridor

strider pronounce

• noise associated with inspiration due to narrowing of upper airway, in particular the larynx

• is typical for childhood viral illness called acute laryngo-tracheo-bronchitis (croup)

wheezes

• high pitched whistling or squeaking during inspiration or expiration

SOB

shortness of breath

URI

upper respiratory infection

TB

tuberculosis

bronchoscopy

• the use of a bronchoscope to visualize the interior of bronchial tubes

• bronk-o-scop-ee

thoracentesis

• the withdrawal of air or fluid from the pleural cavity

• invasive procedure using a cannula (hollow needle) that is carefully introduced into the thorax to remove fluid

• thor-uh-centesis

is a surgical procedure that uses a needle and syringe to remove pleural fluid from the pleural space.