Respiratory System

• Lobes:

  • Distinct sections or divisions of an organ, particularly used in reference to the lungs or brain.

• Asymmetrical:

  • Lack of symmetry or balance between two sides.

• Alveoli:

  • Tiny air sacs in the lungs where gas exchange (oxygen and carbon dioxide) takes place.

• Capillaries:

  • Tiny blood vessels that connect arteries and veins, facilitating the exchange of nutrients, oxygen, and waste products with tissues.

• Diffusion:

  • The movement of molecules from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration, leading to equal distribution.

• Trachea:

  • The windpipe, a tube connecting the larynx (voice box) to the bronchi, allowing the passage of air to and from the lungs.

• Rings of Cartilage:

  • Circular structures made of cartilage that provide support and prevent the collapse of tubular organs, such as the trachea.

• Asphyxiation:

  • The condition of being deprived of oxygen, leading to unconsciousness or death.

• Choking:

  • A blockage of the airway that prevents normal breathing, often caused by a foreign object.

• Pharynx:

  • The throat, a muscular tube that connects the nasal and oral cavities to the larynx.

• Larynx:

  • The voice box, located in the neck, containing the vocal cords.

• Bronchi:

  • The large air passages that branch off from the trachea, leading to the lungs.

• Bronchioles:

  • Small, branching tubes within the lungs that connect the bronchi to the alveoli.

• Diaphragm:

  • A muscular sheet separating the chest cavity from the abdominal cavity, essential for breathing.

• Boyle’s Law (P1V1 = P2V2):

  • A gas law stating that, at a constant temperature, the pressure and volume of a gas are inversely proportional.

• Pleural Membrane:

  • A double-layered membrane surrounding the lungs, creating a pleural cavity filled with pleural fluid that reduces friction during breathing.

• Pleurisy:

  • Inflammation of the pleura (lining around the lungs), causing pain during breathing.

• Bronchitis:

  • Inflammation of the bronchial tubes, often causing coughing and difficulty breathing.

• Asthma:

  • A chronic respiratory condition characterized by inflammation and narrowing of the airways, leading to difficulty breathing.

• Bronchodilator:

  • Medication that dilates and relaxes the bronchial tubes, easing airflow and alleviating symptoms of conditions like asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

• Corticosteroids:

  • Synthetic drugs that mimic the effects of hormones produced by the adrenal glands, often used to reduce inflammation in conditions such as asthma or autoimmune diseases

• Pneumonia:

  • An inflammatory condition of the lungs affecting the air sacs, leading to symptoms such as cough, fever, and difficulty breathing.

• Protection:

  • Measures taken to prevent harm, damage, or illness; safeguarding against potential threats.

• Snot:

  • Informal term for nasal mucus, a secretion produced by the nasal mucosa.

• Nose Hair:

  • Fine hairs inside the nostrils that help filter and trap particles from the air, preventing them from entering the respiratory system.

• Nares:

  • The nostrils, the openings through which air enters the nasal cavity.

• Cilia:

  • Tiny hair-like structures on the surface of cells, often found in the respiratory tract, that move in coordinated waves to help move mucus and trapped particles out of the airways.

• Smoking - 1st and 2nd (3rd) hand, e-cigarettes, popcorn lung, etc.:

  • Smoking: Inhaling and exhaling the smoke produced by burning tobacco or other substances

  • 1st Hand Smoke: Inhaled directly by the smoker

  • 2nd Hand Smoke: Inhaled by non-smokers exposed to the smoke

  • 3rd Hand Smoke: Residual chemicals left on surfaces after smoking

  • E-cigarettes: Electronic devices that simulate smoking by producing an aerosol, often containing nicotine

  • Popcorn Lung (Bronchiolitis Obliterans): A condition linked to inhaling certain chemicals, often associated with microwave popcorn production but also linked to some e-cigarette liquids

• Addiction - Nicotine:

  • A complex condition characterized by compulsive drug-seeking, use, and dependence. In the context of smoking, nicotine is the addictive substance found in tobacco

• Diffusion Definition:

  • The movement of molecules from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration, resulting in the equal distribution of the substance