cilia
microscopic hairlike structures in the respiratory system
diffuse
to move or spread out at random, rather than by chemical reaction or application of external force
mucous membrane
moist tissue layer lining hollow organs and cavities of the body that open to the environment, sometimes called mucosa
septum
a wall dividing two cavities
serous membrane
thin layer of tissue that covers internal body cavities and secretes a fluid that keeps the membrane moist; sometimes called serosa
olfactory neurons
receptors for the sense of smell
pharynx
the throat
nasopharynx
one of the three divisions of the pharynx; sits in the posterior of the nose
oropharynx
one of the three divisions of the pharynx, sits in the posterior of the mouth
laryngopharynx
one of the three divisions of the pharynx, sits just above the larynx
adenoids
the pharyngeal tonsils
palantine tonsils
what we commonly know as tonsils; sits in the oropharynx
larynx
sometimes called the voice box, contains the structures that make vocal sound possible.
epiglottis
leaf-shaped cartilage and flesh portion of the throat that covers the passage to the lungs while swallowing
bronchi
the two immediate tubes descending from the trachea and into the lungs
bronchioles
bronchi divide into smaller and smaller tubes, eventually becoming these structures
alveoli
tiny air sacs that sit at the end of the bronchioles, expanding and contracting with the flow of air
pulmonary capillaries
tiny blood vessels that lie next to the thin tissue membranes of the alveoli
mediastinum
the space between the right and left lungs, containing the heart, aorta, esophagus, and bronchi
pleura
the serous membrane that covers the lobes of the lungs and folds over to line the walls of the thoracic cavity
visceral pleura
the serous membrane lying closest to the lungs and organs
parietal pleura
the serous membrane lining the thoracic cavity
inspiration
a fancy word for “breathing in”
pulmonary ventilation
a fancy word for breathing
external respiration
exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the alveoli and the blood in the pulmonary capilaries
internal respiration
exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between body cells and the blood cells in systematic capiliaries
nas/o
combining form of “nose”
rhin/o
combining form of “nose”
sept/o
combining form of “septum”
sinus/o
combining form of “sinus”
adenoid/o
combining form of “adenoids”
tonsill/o
combining form of “tonsils”
pharyng/o
combining form of “pharynx”
epiglott/o
combining form of “epiglottis”
laryng/o
combining form of “larynx”
trache/o
combining form of “trachea”
bronchi/o
combining form of “bronchi”
bronchiol/o
combining form of “bronchiole”
alveol/o
combining form of “alveoli”
pleur/o
combining form of “pleura”
pneum/o
combining form of “lung”
pneumon/o
combining form of “lung”
pulmon/o
combining form of “lung”
anthrac/o
combining form of “coal” and “coal dust”
anthracosis
medical term for “black lung”
atel/o
combining form of “incomplete” or “imperfect”
atelectasis
collapsed lung
coni/o
combining form of “dust”
pneumoconiosis
condition of having dust in the lungs
cyan/o
combining form of “blue”
lob/o
combining form of “lobe”
orth/o
combining form of “straight”
ox/i or ox/o
combining form of “oxygen”
pector/o
combining form of “chest”
steth/o
combining form of “chest”
thorac/o
combining form of “chest”
phren/o
combining form of “diaphram” though also “mind”
spir/o
combining form of “breathe”
-capnia
suffix for “carbon dioxide”
hypercapnia
term for excessive or above normal carbon dioxide levels
-osmia
suffix for “smell”
anosmia
condition where a person cannot smell
-phonia
suffix for “voice”
-pnea
suffix for “breathing”
-ptysis
suffix for “spitting”
hemoptysis
term for spitting up blood
-thorax
suffix for “chest”
pulmonology
the medical study of disorders of the respiratory system
chronic obstructive pulmonary disorders
any of a range of disorders that cause obstruction to the air passages
COPD
The general classification for any of a range of disorders that cause obstruction to the air passages
chronic bronchitis
inflammation of the bronchi caused mainly by smoking and air pollution, but can be caused by infection
emphysema
condition with decreased elasticity of the alveoli, often causing a characteristic “barrel chested” appearance
influenza type A
one of three forms of acute respiratory disease; often associated with worldwide epidemics. Extremely contagious
influenza type B
one of three forms of acute respiratory disease; contagious but often geographically limited
influenza type C
one of three forms of acute respiratory disease; very mild and not associated with epidemics
pleural effusion
Any abnormal amount of fluid in the pleural cavity
transudate
one of two types of effusions; a noninflammatory fluid that resembles serum but with less protein that results from an imbalance in venous-arterial pressure
exudate
one of two types of effusions; has high protein and commonly contains blood and immune cells; common causes include tumors, infections, and inflammation
thoracocentesis
surgical puncture of the chest, often used to repair a collapsed lung
tuberculosis
a communicable disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberulosis.
tubercles
inflammatory nodules that grow as a side effect of tuberculosis infection
penumonia
inflammatory disease of the lungs; can come from many different causes
cystic fibrosis
a hereditary disorder of the exocrine glands that causes the body to secrete extremely thick mucus; clogs ducts of the pancreas and digestive tract, clogs the lungs and sweat glands
sweat test
test given to measure the amount of salt excreted in sweat; used to diagnose cystic fibrosis
ARDS
acute respiratory distress syndrome; a condition in which the lungs no longer function effectively because the individual alveoli have filled with fluid
HMD, Hyaline membrane disease
also called infant respiratory distress syndrome, often seen in children born to diabetic mothers. Occurs when insufficient surfectant, a phospholipid that keeps alveoli open, causing labored breathing and sometimes death
bronchogenic carcinoma
cancerous masses forming on the bronchial tree that block air passages
acidosis
condition caused by extreme acidity of body fluids
anosmia
absence of the sense of smell
apnea
temporary loss of breathing
asphyxia
condition caused by insufficient intake of oxygen
atelectasis
collapsed or airless condition of the lung
Cheyne-Stokes respiration
Repeated breathing pattern characterized by fluctuation in the depth of respiration; first deeply, then shallow
coryza
condition caused by acute inflammation of the membranes in the nose, sometimes called upper respiratory infection
croup
common childhood condition involving inflammation of the larynx, trachea, bronchial passages, and lungs
epistaxis
nasal hemorrhage, also called a nosebleed
finger clubbing
enlargement of the terminal phalanges commonly associated with pulmonary disease
hypoxemia
oxygen deficiency in arterial blood
hypoxia
oxygen deficiency in body tissues
pertussis
acute infectious disease also called “whooping cough”
pleurisy
inflammation of the pleural membrane characterized by stabbing pain that is intensified by coughing or heavy breathing
pneumoconiosis
disease caused by inhaling dust particles
anthracosis
disease caused by inhaling coal dust particles
chalicosis
disease caused by inhaling stone dust particles
asbestosis
disease caused by inhaling asbestos particles
pulmonary adema
fluid in the lungs, commonly caused by heart failure
pulmonary embolism
blockage in an artery of the lungs caused by a mass of undissolved matter (a blood clot, tissue, air bubbles, etc)
rhonchus
the abnormal breathing heard through osculation of an obstructed airway
stridor
high pitched, harsh breathing sound caused by a spasm, swelling of the larynx, or obstruction in the upper airway
aerosol therapy
lung treatment using various techniques to deliver medication in a mist form directly to the lungs
antral lavage
washing or irrigating of the paranasal sinuses to remove mucopurulent material (i.e. a netti pot)
oximetry
noninvasive method of monitoring the percentage of hemoglobin (Hb) saturated with oxygen. It’s the little plastic probe attached to a patient’s finger
polysomnography
test of sleep cycles and stages using continuous recordings of brain waves, eye movement, respiratory rate, blood pressure, blood oxygen saturation, and other methods
postural drainage
method of positioning a patient such that gravity aids the drainage of secretions from the bronchi and lobes of the lungs
pulmonary function tests
variety of tests used to evaluate respiratory function (running on the treadmill, etc)
spirometry
test to measure the capacity of the lungs, including time necessary for exhaling the total volume of inhaled air
endotracheal intubation
procedure in which a plastic tube is inserted into the trachea to maintain an open airway
pleurectomy
removal of part of the pleura, usually the parietal pleura
pneumectomy
removal of a lung or part of a lung
septoplasty
surgical repair of a deviated nasal septum
thoracentesis
surgical puncture and drainage of the pleural cavity
tracheostomy
surgical procedure in which an opening is made in the neck and into the trachea into which a breathing tube may be inserted
Mantoux test
a fancier name for a TB (tuberculosis) test
bronchoscopy
visual examination of the bronchi using an endoscope
mediastinoscopy
visual examination of the mediastinal structures, inclduing the heart, trachea, esophagus, bronchus, thymus, and lymph nodes
ABG (arterial blood gas) test
test that measures dissolved carbon dioxide and oxygen in arterial blood
CTPA
minimally invasive imaging that combines computed tomography scanning and angiography to produce images of pulmonary arteries
computed tomography pulmonary angiography
minimally invasive imaging that combines computed tomography scanning and angiography to produce images of pulmonary arteries
antitussives
cough suppressant medicine
corticosteroids
act on the immune system by blocking the production of substances that trigger allergic and inflammatory actions
ABG
arterial blood gas
AFB
acid-fast bacillus (TB organism)
ARDS
acute respiratory distress syndrome
CA
cancer
COPD
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
CPAP
continuous positive airway pressure
CT
computed tomography
CTPA
computed tomography pulmonary angiography
CXR
chest x-ray
DPI
dry powder inhaler
DPT
diptheria, pertussus, tetanus shot
HB
hemoglobin
HMD
hyaline membrane disease
IRDS
infant respiratory distress syndrome
MDI
metered-dose inhaler
NMT
nebulized mist treatment
PA
postanterior, or possibly pernicious anemia
PCP
pneumocystis carinii pneumonia
PFT
pulmonary function test
PND
paroxymal nocturnal dyspnea
RD
respiratory distress
RDS
respiratory distress syndrome
SOB
shortness of breath
T&A
tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy
URI
upper respiratory infection
