Respiratory System

Question 1

What is the medical term for a nasal calculus? This condition is a concretion that is formed by salts deposited on an intranasal foreign body such as an ectopic tooth or fruit seeds or beads. Hint: Think of the word parts for nose and stone.

Answer 1

Rhinolith

Question 2

What is a turbinectomy?

Answer 2

Excision of a turbinate bone (concha)

Question 3

What is an antrotomy?

Answer 3

Incision of an antrum such as the paranasal sinuses. Antrum can be defined as: a natural chamber or cavity in a bone or other anatomical structure.

Question 4

Name this condition: A condition caused by increased pressure in the pulmonary artery. Normally, the pressure in the pulmonary arteries is significantly lower than the pressure in the systemic circulation. However, if the pulmonary artery becomes obstructed or narrowed, the pressure in the pulmonary circulation becomes abnormally elevated due to trying to maintain the same flow rate. Resulting in breathlessness, fatigue and dizziness with signs of right heart failure.

Answer 4

Pulmonary hypertension

Question 5

Explain this procedure: Thoracostomy

Answer 5

Also knows as ‘tube thoracostomy’. An incision is made into the chest wall, between two ribs, with maintenance of the opening to drain air, blood, bile, pus, or other fluids from the pleural cavity. A hollow plastic tube is placed into the pleural cavity and is often connected to a suction machine to help drainage. The tube is left in for as long as required, usually a few days, until all or most of the air, blood or pus has drained out.

Question 6

A benign lesion that may cause obstruction of the nasal airway:

Answer 6

Nasal polyp

Question 7

A procedure that involves washing out a sinus for removal of purulent material:

Answer 7

Lavage of sinus

Question 8

Instrumental stretching of the larynx (not a medical word, just a procedure in laymans terms (4 words)

Answer 8

Dilatation of the larynx

Question 9

Communication of trachea with the pleura that may be caused by post operative injury or from a tracheostomy tube:

Answer 9

Tracheopleural fistula

Question 10

Incision into the mediastinum in the neck region to obtain a lymph node biopsy:

Answer 10

Cervical mediastinotomy

Question 11

Dye is injected into a blood vessel and x-rays are taken of the arteries or veins in the lungs:

Answer 11

Pulmonary angiography

Question 12

Creation of an opening into the trachea through the neck and insertion of a tube to facilitate passage of air or removal of secretions:

Answer 12

Tracheostomy

Question 13

Swelling and collection of fluid in the lungs (alveoli and bronchioles):

Answer 13

Pulmonary oedema

Question 14

Floating clot or other material blocking the blood vessels of the lung:

Answer 14

Pulmonary embolism

Question 15

Name the open spaces in the nose? (2 words and it’s not nostrils)

Answer 15

Nasal passages

Question 16

Name the muscle that controls the breathing process?

Answer 16

Diaphragm

Question 17

Name the small tube that leads from a bronchus?

Answer 17

Bronchiole

Question 18

Name the membranous covering for the lungs?

Answer 18

Pleura

Question 19

Name the tiny air sacs at the end of the bronchioles?

Answer 19

Alveoli

Question 20

Name the windpipe?

Answer 20

Trachea

Question 21

Name the air-filled cavities in the facial and cranial bones?

Answer 21

Paranasal sinuses

Question 22

Name the voice box?

Answer 22

Larynx

Question 23

The bronchial tubes enter these at the hilum?

Answer 23

Lungs

Question 24

The trachea divides into two of these?

Answer 24

Bronchi