Med Term Chapter 13: The Respiratory System

adenoid/o

adenoid

alveol/o

alveolus

bronch/o, bronchi/o

bronchus

bronchiol/o

bronchiole

capn/o

carbon dioxide

epiglott/o

epiglottis

laryng/o

larynx

lob/o

lobe of the lung

mediastin/o

mediastinum

nas/o, rhin/o

nose

or/o

mouth

ox/o, oxi-, oxy-

oxygen

pharyng/o

pharynx

phon/o

voice, sound

phren/o

diaphragm

pleur/o

pleura

pneum/o, pneumon/o

air, lung

spir/o

breathing

steth/o

chest

thorac/o

thorax, chest

tonsill/o

tonsils

trache/o

trachea

external respiration

breathing or exchanging air between the body and the outside environment

internal respiration

bringing of oxygen to the cells and removing carbon dioxide from them

lungs

organs where oxygenation of blood takes place

respiratory tract

passageways through which air moves in and out of the lungs

inspiration (inhalation)

breathing in

nasal septum

strip of cartilage that divide the two halves of the external nose

cilia

hairs in the nasal cavity that filter out foreign bodies

pharynx

throat; passageway for air and food

soft palate

flexible muscular sheet that separates the nasopharynx from the rest of the pharynx

nasopharynx

connects the nose to the respiratory system; contains the pharyngeal tonsils

pharyngeal tonsils (adenoids)

aid in the body’s immune defense

oropharynx

back portion of the mouth; part of the mechanism that triggers swallowing

palatine tonsils

lymphatic tissue that works as part of the immune system

laryngopharynx

divides the respiratory tract into the esophagus and the larynx

larynx

voice box

trachea

windpipe; cartilaginous and membranous tube that connects the larynx to the right and left bronchi

epiglottis

movable flap of cartilage that covers the glottis

glottis

opening to the larynx

vocal chords

strips of epithelial tissue that vibrate when muscular tension is applied

thyroid cartilage (Adam’s apple)

two disks joined at an angle that support the larynx

bronchi

tubular branches into which larynx divides

mediastinum

point at which trachea divides

septum

cartilaginous division

expiration (exhalation)

breathing out

bronchioles

smaller branches that further divide bronchi

alveoli

air sacs at the end of bronchioles

thorax

reaches from collarbone to diaphragm

pleura

moist double layered membrane on the outside of lungs

parietal pleura

outer layer of pleura that lines the thoracic cavity inside the ribs

visceral pleura

inner layer of the pleura that covers the surface of the lungs

pleural cavity

fluid-filled space between two plurae

apex

topmost section of the lung

hilum (hilus)

middle section of the lung

base

lower section of the lung

diaphragm

lowers upon contraction allowing more space in the thoracic cavity

intercostal muscles

pull ribs upward and outward when they contract, enlarging the thoracic cavity

auscultation

when physician listens to lungs with the stethescope

percussion

tapping over the lung area

peak flow test

measuring device to check breathing capacity; mostly used in asthmatics

spirometer

machine that tests pulmonary function by measuring the lungs’ volume and capacity

bronchgraphy

radiological picture of the trachea and bronchi

bronchoscope

endoscopy of bronchi

nasopharyngoscopy

endoscopy of nasal passages and pharynx

laryngoscopy

endoscopy of the mouth and larynx

mediastinoscopy

endoscopy of the mediastinum area and organs within it

throat cultures

swab passed over portion of throat and swab is put in contact with a culture

arterial blood gases (ABGs)

measures levels of pressure of O₂ and CO₂ dissolved in the plasma of arterial blood

sweat test

measures the amount of salt in sweat and is used to confirm cystic fibrosis

pharyngitis

inflammation of the pharynx; sore throat

rhinitis

nasal inflammation

laryngotracheobronchitis

inflammation of the larynx, trachea and bronchi

adenoiditis

inflammation of the adenoids

pneumonitis

inflammation of the lungs

bronchitis

inflammation of the bronchi

chronic bronchitis

recurring or long-lasting bouts of bronchitis

tonsillitis

inflammation of the tonsils

pleurisy (pleuritis)

inflammation of the pleura

epiglottitis

inflammation of the epiglottis

tracheitis

inflammation of the trachea

laryngitis

inflammation of the larynx

nasopharyngitis

inflammation of the nose and pharynx

sinusitis

inflammation of the sinuses

eupnea

normal breathing

apnea

absence of breathing

tachypnea

fast breathing

hyperpnea

abnormally deep breathing

orthopnea

difficulty breathing especially while lying down

bradypnea

slow breathing

dyspnea

difficult breathing

hypopnea

shallow breathing

Cheyne-Stokes respiration

irregular breathing pattern with a period of apnea followed by deep labored breathing that becomes shallow then apneic

crackles (rales)

popping sounds heard in lung collapse and other congestive heart failure and pneumonia

wheezing (rhonchi)

occur during asthma attacks or emphysema

stridor

high-pitched crowing sound

dysphonia

hoarseness often associated with laryngitis

hyperventilation

excessive breathing in and out

hypoventilation

abnormally low movement of air in and out of the lungs

hypercapnia

excessive buildup of CO₂ in the lungs