Chapter 12 - Respiratory System Vocabulary Flashcards

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering the key terms and concepts from the respiratory system lecture notes.

External respiration

Gas exchange between alveolar air and blood in pulmonary capillaries (oxygen in, carbon dioxide out).

Internal respiration

Tissue respiration; oxygen diffuses from blood to tissues and carbon dioxide diffuses from tissues to blood, driven by partial pressure differences.

Partial pressure

The pressure contributed by a single gas in a mixture; differences in partial pressures drive gas diffusion.

Inspiration (inhalation)

Breathing in; diaphragm and intercostal muscles contract, chest cavity expands, air flows into the lungs.

Expiration (exhalation)

Breathing out; diaphragm and intercostal muscles relax, chest cavity decreases, air exits the lungs.

Diaphragm

Primary muscle of respiration; when contracted, it flattens to increase thoracic volume.

Intercostal muscles

Muscles between the ribs that contract to expand the chest cavity during inspiration.

Nasal cavity

Air-filled space inside the nose; warms, humidifies, and filters inhaled air; houses olfactory receptors.

Nasal septum

Wall that divides the nasal cavity into two passages; influences airflow and airflow distribution.

Nasal turbinates

Three pairs of bony shelves in the nasal cavity that warm, humidify, and filter air; increase surface area.

Cilia

Microscopic hair-like structures that propel mucus (mucociliary clearance) toward the throat.

Nasal hairs (terminal hairs) growth cycle

Nose hairs grow during the antigen/anagen phase and rest during the telogen phase; growth promoted by testosterone; can increase with age.

Turbinate hypertrophy

Swelling of the nasal turbinates leading to nasal obstruction; caused by allergies, irritants, colds, pregnancy.

Oxymetazoline

Vasoconstrictive decongestant (0.05%); reduces nasal mucosa blood flow to shrink turbinates.

Paranasal sinuses

Air-filled cavities (frontal, maxillary, ethmoid, sphenoid) that humidify air and contribute to voice resonance.

Walrus view (occipitomental view)

Special X-ray projection to view nasal septum and maxillary sinuses.

Nasopharynx

Upper part of the pharynx behind the nasal cavity; adenoids located here; primarily involved in breathing.

Oropharynx

Midsection of the pharynx behind the mouth; passage for air and food.

Laryngopharynx (hypopharynx)

Lowest part of the pharynx; directs food to the esophagus and air to the larynx.

Adenoids

Lymphoid tissue in the nasopharynx; part of immune system; trap germs and pathogens; contains B cells.

Endoscope

Thin camera-tube used to visualize nasal/pharyngeal structures (e.g., adenoids).

Tonsils

Palatine tonsils and lingual tonsils; part of the immune system; filter pathogens entering through nose or mouth.

Uvula

Small fleshy extension from the soft palate; involved in speech, swallowing, and defense against germs.

Epiglottis

Cartilaginous flap that covers the larynx during swallowing to prevent food/liquids from entering the trachea.

Glottis

Opening within the larynx that allows air passage; closes to protect the airway during swallowing.

True vocal cords (vocal folds)

Vibrating folds in the larynx that produce sound.

False vocal cords

Upper folds in the larynx that protect the true vocal cords.

Trachea

Windpipe; reinforced by C-shaped hyaline cartilage rings; lines with ciliated mucosa to trap particles.

Carina

Bifurcation point of the trachea into the right and left main bronchi.

Right main bronchus vs. left main bronchus

Right is wider, shorter, and more vertical; left is narrower, longer, and more horizontal.

Bronchioles

Smaller airways branching from the bronchi leading to alveoli; site of gas exchange readiness.

Alveoli

Gas-exchange air sacs at the ends of the bronchioles; surrounded by capillaries.

Apex of the lung

Top/uppermost part of the lung.

Base of the lung

Lower part of the lung near the diaphragm.

Hilum

Medial area where bronchi, vessels, nerves, and lymphatics enter/exit the lungs.

Lobes and fissures

Right lung has three lobes (superior, middle, inferior) separated by horizontal and oblique fissures; left has two (superior, inferior) separated by the oblique fissure.

Pleura

Two-layer serous membranes surrounding the lungs: visceral pleura (covers lungs) and parietal pleura (lines chest wall).

Pleural cavity

Fluid-filled space between visceral and parietal pleura that allows smooth lung movement.

Diaphragm (as a muscle)

Major inspiratory muscle; dome-shaped and separates thoracic from abdominal cavities.

Apex beat and respiration mechanics

Inspiration increases thoracic volume and decreases intrapulmonary pressure; expiration reverses this process.

Respiratory rate

Breaths per minute; normal resting range 12–20; tachypnea is rapid breathing; dyspnea is difficulty breathing.

Oxygen therapy

Supplemental oxygen; treated as a drug; risks include oxygen toxicity; target SpO2 about 94–98%.

Ventilation (in notes)

Rapid and deep breathing; lowers carbon dioxide in blood; may occur in hyperventilation or panic.

Hyperventilation syndrome

Excessive breathing with no clear cause, leading to symptoms like dizziness and tingling.

Hemoptysis

Coughing up blood or blood-tinged sputum from lower respiratory tract infections or disease.

Pneumothorax

Air in the pleural space causing lung collapse; tension pneumothorax is life-threatening.

Atelectasis

Collapse of all or part of a lung; common after surgery; treated with breathing and coughing exercises.

Sleep apnea (types)

Sleep disorder with breathing pauses; obstructive (airway collapse), central (brain signals stop), complex (treatment-emergent).

CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure)

Common treatment for obstructive sleep apnea; keeps airways open during sleep.

Oral appliance (mouth guard) for sleep apnea

Custom-fit device that advances the jaw to keep the airway open during sleep.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

Umbrella term for obstructive lung diseases (e.g., chronic bronchitis, emphysema); usually due to smoking.

Bronchitis

Inflammation of the airways; common in smokers; productive cough and wheeze.

Emphysema

Destruction of alveoli leading to enlarged air spaces and reduced gas exchange; patients may sit forward to breathe.

Pneumonia

Infection/inflammation of lung tissue; can be bacterial, viral (e.g., COVID-19), or mycoplasma; causes cough, dyspnea, fever.

Ground-glass opacity

Hazy areas on CT indicating inflammation or infection around alveoli; not specific to one condition.

Mycoplasma pneumonia

Atypical pneumonia common in children/young adults; patchy hazy infiltrates and ground-glass appearance.

COVID-19 pneumonia

Bilateral interstitial pneumonia from SARS-CoV-2; inflammation with diffuse alveolar involvement; distinct CT findings.

Tuberculosis (TB) and Mantoux test

Infection by Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Mantoux test (PPD) measures skin induration after 48–72 hours to indicate exposure.

Induration thresholds (TB)

Positive TB skin test: ≥15 mm in low-risk individuals; ≥5–10 mm in high-risk groups depending on criteria.

Isoniazid (INH)

Antibiotic used to prevent progression from latent TB infection to active TB disease.

Sputum test for TB

Gold standard for TB diagnosis; microbiological confirmation from expectorated sputum.

Thoracentesis

Procedural removal of pleural fluid via needle or catheter; ultrasound guidance improves safety.

Pleural effusion fluid appearance

Fluid color/clarity helps differentiate transudative (low protein) vs. exudative (high protein, inflammatory) effusions.

Pulmonary angiography

Imaging test using contrast to visualize pulmonary arteries for blockages or abnormalities.

Mantoux test (TB skin test)

Intracutaneous TB test using purified protein derivative (PPD) to detect exposure; read by induration.

Adenoid hypertrophy

Enlarged adenoids in the nasopharynx; can cause breathing obstruction; diagnosed via endoscopy or imaging.

Mesothelioma

Malignant tumor associated with asbestos exposure; typically difficult to treat and prognosis is poor.

Radon gas

Radioactive gas from uranium decay; penetrates homes and is a leading cause of lung cancer after smoking; EPA-guided mitigation.