Chapter 8 - Respiratory System

Nares/Nostrils

Two external openings of the nose that conduct air into the nasal cavity.

Nasal Septum

A partition that divides the nose and nasal cavity into right/left sides

Septum

A dividing wall/membrane

Paranasal Sinuses

Four pairs of hollow air-filled cavities within the facial bones beside the nose

Sinus

Cavity/hollow space in bone or another tissue

Olfaction

Sense of smell

Pharynx

Throat; muscular tube from the back of the nose to the larynx

Larynx

Voice box; the structure that produces sound

Epiglottis

A leaf-shaped, lid-like structure above the glottis; it drops down over the
glottis during swallowing, so food does not enter the trachea, and it remains
open during respiration and speech

trachea

Windpipe; passageway for air from the larynx to the primary bronchi

hilum

A structural indention/depression on the inner border of an organ where blood vessels, lymphatic vessels and nerves enter or leave the organ; area where the bronchi enter the lung.

bronchioles

The smallest of the lung’s passageways; they branch off from the tertiary
bronchi

alveoli

Tiny, air-filled sacs at the end of the bronchioles where the exchange of
oxygen and carbon dioxide occurs

pleura

A double-layered membrane that wraps around each lung

expectorate

Cough up; the act of coughing up mucus
from the respiratory tract

phlegm

Thicker and more than normal mucus produced in the respiratory passages

pulmonology

Study of the lung and lung disease

sputum

Mucus or phlegm that is coughed up from the respiratory tract/lungs. Another term for phlegm

viscous

Sticky fluid that is resistant to flow

eupnea

Breathing at a normal rate/rhythm

respiration

defines the physiological process of exchanging oxygen and carbon dioxide

ventilation

The movement of gases - into and out of the lungs. This action can be done externally by a bagging device when a
patient is apneic or hyperventilating or by a machine in extended
circumstances

cellular respiration

The process within the cell that converts oxygen into usable energy and creates the byproduct carbon dioxide

diaphragm

Muscle that is the primary muscle for ventilation; a partition between the
thoracic and abdominal cavities

croup

Inflammation of the larynx and trachea caused by various viral infections;
breathing may include stridor, and cough resembles a barking seal or dog

epistaxis

Nosebleed

laryngitis

Inflammation of the larynx; hoarseness, loss of voice and throat discomfort

pharyngitis

Inflammation/infection of the pharynx

rhinorrhea

Runny nose

rhinitis

Inflammation/infection of the mucosa in the nose and nasal cavity

asthma

Wheezing and breathing difficulty due to inflammation and constriction of the bronchial airways

atelectasis

The alveoli in a portion of the lung collapse

bronchiectasis

Chronic dilation of the bronchi

epiglottitis

Inflammation of the epiglottis

hemoptysis

Coughing up blood or blood-stained sputum

pneumonia

A lung infection/inflammation that causes the alveoli to fill up with fluid
and/or pus

tracheomalacia

Abnormal softening of the trachea

tracheostenosis

Abnormal narrowing of the trachea

hemothorax

Blood in the pleural cavity/space

pneumothorax

The abnormal presence of air/gas in the pleural space/cavity

apnea

Absence of spontaneous respiration

bradypnea

Slower than normal breathing

dyspnea

Difficult breathing; shortness of breath(SOB)

hyperventilation

Breathing both too fast (tachypnea) and too deep (hyperpnea)

respiratory failure

The inability of the lungs to compensate for abnormal oxygenation. The lungs no longer maintain adequate ventilation or perfusion to keep O2 saturation above 90%. Symptoms may include hypercapnia, cyanosis, hypoxia and possibly decreased level of consciousness. If not corrected this condition will lead to cardiac arrest.

tachypnea

Fast/rapid breathing

hypoxia

Insufficient oxygen in body tissues

hypoxemia

Decreased or low oxygen level in the circulating blood

hypercapnia

Condition of having excessive carbon dioxide in the blood

crackles

Snapping, crackling or popping sounds heard in the lungs due to mucus/liquid in the alveoli

rhonchi

Snoring/continuous rumbling sound

stridor

High-pitched, harsh crowing sound caused by obstruction of the larynx or
trachea; commonly heard with croup

wheezes

A whistling sound produced in the lungs due to narrowing within the airways because of inflammation or obstruction

aspiration

Inhalation of liquids or a foreign object into the airway

auscultation

Diagnostic method of listening to body sounds with a stethoscope

endotracheal intubation

Insertion of a tube into the trachea for ventilation of the patient; allows a non-breathing patient to be placed on a ventilator

spirometer

An instrument used to measure lung capacity/volume by having a patient
inhale or exhale through this device

nebulizer

Device used to deliver liquid medicine in a fine mist

pulse oximeter

A diagnostic device that measures pulse rate and blood’s oxygen saturation (percentage of oxygen); placed on a finger, toe or earlobe

thoracentesis

Insertion of a needle into the pleural cavity to allow the evacuation of fluid or air, as in evacuating a pneumothorax, hemothorax, hydrothorax

endoscopy

The process of viewing within a structure

stoma

A surgically created opening (hole) in an organ that leads to the body surface

tracheostomy

Surgical opening (hole) into the trachea to assist breathing

antitussive

A medication that suppresses or reduces coughing

Bronchodilator

Relaxes the smooth muscles in the bronchial tubes, increasing their diameter and capacity to draw in air

Decongestant

Causes vasoconstriction of the nasal membranes and sinuses to eliminate or reduce the swelling that causes congestion

expectorant

Improves the ability to cough up mucus by lubricating the airway thru making secretions thinner

mucolytic

Agent capable of dissolving, break up or
liquefying thick mucus secretions

S.O.B

shortness of breath

nas/o

nose

-ity

condition, state of

Para-

beside

or/o

mouth

Laryng/o

voice box

-oid

resembling

trache/o

windpipe

Bronch-(s), Broch/i(C/F)

brachial tube

viscer/o

organ

Pariet/o

wall

eu-

normal, good

-atory

pertaining to

-osmia

condition of smell

spir/o

to breathe

atel/o

incomplete

-ectasis

dilation

bronchiol/o

little bronchi

-spasm

involuntary muscle twitching

-ptysis

spitting

py/o

pus

-pnea

breath

orth/o

straight

dis-

apart, absence of

-stress

strain, tension

-osis

abnormal condition

-oxia

oxygen condition

aspirat/o

to breath in

-meter

instrument for measuring

-metry

PROCESS of measuring

-centesis

to puncture

-ator

one that does