Chapter 12. Respiratory System - Medical Terms Flashcards
adenoidectomy
removal of the adenoids
adenoid hypertrophy
increased development of the adenoids
adenoids
lymphatic tissue in the nasopharynx
alveolar
pertaining to an alveolus
alveolus, alveoli
an individualized section of an air sac in the lung
anosmia
loss of the sense of smell
apex of the lung
uppermost portion of the lung
apical
pertaining to the tip of an organ
apnea
stoppage of breathing
asphyxia
deficient oxygen and increased carbon dioxide in the bloodstream
Atelectasis
collapsed lung
base of the lung
the lower portion of the lung
bronchiectasis
abnormal widening of bronchial tubes
bronchioles
small bronchial tubes
bronchiolitis
inflammation of a bronchiole
bronchodilator
an agent that opens bronchial tubes
bronchospasm
involuntary muscular contractions in bronchial tubes leading to narrowing of the bronchi
bronchus, bronchi
branch of the trachea that leads toward the air sacs of the lung
carbon dioxide
gas produced in tissue cells when oxygen and food combine
cilia
thin hairs that line the nasal passageways and tubes of the respiratory tract
cyanosis
abnormal condition of bluish coloration of the skin
diaphragm
muscle that separates the chest and abdomen; aids breathing
dysphonia
abnormal voice or sound produced by speaking
dyspnea
abnormal breathing
emphyema
pus in the pleural space (cavity) surrounding the lungs
epiglottis
thin piece of cartilage that covers the entrance to the voice box and windpipe when a person is swallowing
epiglottitis
inflammation of the epiglottis
expectoration
coughing up of mucus or sputum from the throat and respiratory tract
expiration
process of breathing out; exhalation
glottis
slit-like opening between the vocal folds of the larynx
hemoptysis
spitting up blood from the respiratory tract
hemothorax
blood in the chest (pleural cavity) surrounding the lungs
hilum of the lung
midline region where the bronchi, blood vessels, and nerves enter and exit the lungs
hilar
pertaining to the hilum
hypercapnia
increased levels of carbon dioxide in the bloodstream
hyperpnea
increase in breathing rate
hypoxia
deficiency of oxygen in tissues
inspiration
act of breathing in or inhalation
laryngeal
pertaining to the larynx or voice box
laryngospasm
involuntary contraction of muscles surrounding the voice box
laryngitis
inflammation of the larynx or voice box
larynx
voice box, located at the upper region of the trachea
lobectomy
removal of a lobe or section of an organ, such as the lung
mediastinoscopy
endoscopic visual examination of the mediastinum
mediastinum
region between the lungs in the chest cavity
nasogastric intubation
placement of a tube through the nose into the stomach
orthopnea
breathing is only comfortable when a patient is in an upright position
oxygen
gas inhaled and entering the bloodstream through the lungs
palatine tonsil
one of a pair of collections of lymphatic tissue in the oropharynx at the back of the mouth near the soft palate
paranasal sinus
one of a pair of air cavities in the bones near the nose
parietal pleura
outer layer of the pleura lying closest to the chest wall
pharyngeal
pertaining to the throat or pharynx
phrenic nerve
carries impulses to the diaphragm from the brain
pleura
double-folded membrane surrounding each lung
pleural cavity
space between the pleura surrounding each lung
pleurodynia
pain in the chest wall muscles that is aggravated by breathing
pneumonectomy
removal of a lung
pneumothorax
collection of air or gas in the pleural cavity between the pleura and surrounding the lungs
pulmonary
pertaining to the lungs
pulmonary parenchyma
essential parts of the lungs responsible for respiration; bronchioles and alveoli
pyothorax
pus collection in the pleural cavity
respiration
exchange of gases (oxygen and carbon dioxide) at the lung capillaries (external respiration) and at the tissue capillaries (internal respiration)
rhinoplasty
surgical repair of the nose
rhinorrhea
discharge of mucus from the nose
sinusitis
inflammation of paranasal sinuses
spirometer
an instrument to measure breathing
tachypnea
rapid breathing
thoracic
pertaining to the chest
thoracoscopy
endoscopic visualization of the chest
thoracotomy
incision of the chest
tonsillectomy
removal of tonsils
trachea
windpipe
tracheal stenosis
narrowing of the trachea
tracheotomy
incision of the trachea
visceral pleura
innermost membrane of the pleura, lying closest to the lung tissue itself
anthracosis
abnormal condition of cola dust in the lungs; black lung disease
asbestosis
abnormal condition of asbestos fiber particles in the lungs
asthma
chronic inflammation disorder, characterized by airway obstruction and caused by bronchial edema, bronchoconstriction, and increased mucus production
atelectasis
collapsed lung
ascultation
listening for sounds in the chest and abdomen using a stethoscope
bacilli
rod-shaped bacteria that are the cause of tuberculosis
bronchioalveolar lavage
irrigation or washing of a brochus by injecting fluid through a bronchoscope and then reviewing it to analyze the contents
bronchiectasis
chronic dilate of bronchial tubes caused by infection of the lower lobes of the lungs
bronchoscopy
visual examination of the bronchial tubes using an endoscope or bronchoscope
chest tomograms
series of x-ray images that show an organ in depth
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
lung and bronchial tube conditions that block and damage airways and persist over a long period of time; examples are chronic bronchitis and emphysema
computed tomography
computer generated x-ray images showing thoracic structures in cross-section
cor pulmonale
enlargement of the right side of the heart due to lung disease
croup
acute viral infection in children and infants marked by obstruction of the larynx and barking cough
cystic fibrosis
inherited disorder of exocrine glands resulting in mucous secretions that do not drain normally
diptheria
acute infection of the throat caused by diptheria bacteria; characterized by formation of a thick membrane that destructs the throat and breathing
emphysema
hyperinflation of air sacs with destruction of alveolar walls
endotracheal intubation
tube is placed through the mouth and throat into the trachea to establish an airway
epistaxis
nosebleed
exudate
fluid cells or other substances that slowly leave cells or capillaries through pores or breaks in cell membranes
hydrothorax
water or fluid that accumulates in the pleural space surrounding the lungs
infiltrate
fluid-filled area within the lungs as seen on a chest x-ray or CT scan
laryngoscopy
endoscopic visual examination of the larynx
lung biopsy
surgical removal of lung tissue followed by microscopic examination of cells
lung cancer
malignant tumor arising from the lungs and bronchial tubes
magnetic resonance imaging of the chest
magnetic waves create images of the chest in all three planes of the body
mediastinoscopy
endoscopic visual examination of the mediastinum
mesothelioma
rare malignant tumor arising in the pleura and associated with asbestos exposure
obstructive lung disease
narrowed airways result in resistance to airflow during breathing; examples are asthma, bronchiectasis, COPD, and cyctic fibrosis
pallitive
relieving, but not curing an illness
paroxysmal
pertaining to sudden occurrence
percussion
tapping on the surface to determine the underlying structure
pertussis
whooping cough; bacterial infection of the throat, larynx, and trachea
pleural effusion
collection of fluid in the pleural cavity
pleural rub
scratch sound produced by inflamed or irritated pleural surfaces rubbing against each other
pleurisy
inflammation of the pleura; pleuritis
pneumoconiosis
abnormal condition caused by dust in the lungs, with chronic inflammation, infection, and bronchitis
pneumonia
acute inflammation and infection of the alveoli, which fill with pus, and produces inflammation
pneumothorax
presence of air or gas in the pleural cavity causing the lung to collapse
positron emission tomography
radioactive substance is injected into a patient and the images reveal the metabolic activity in the lung for diagnosis of malignant tumors
pulmonary abscess
collection of pus in the lungs
pulmonary edema
collection of fluid in the air sacs and bronchioles of the lung
pulmonary fibrosis
formation of scar tissue in the connective tissue of the lung
pulmonary function tests
tests that measure the ventilation (breathing) mechanics of the lung
pulmonary infarction
lung tissue that is damaged or dies as a result of blood vessel occlusion and tissue ischemia
purulent
pus-filled
rales
abnormal, fine, crackling sound heard on auscultation when there is fluid in the alveoli
restrictive lung disease
a condition in which lung expansion is limited by diseases that affect the chest wall pleural or lung tissue itself
rhonchi
loud, rumbling sounds heard on auscultation of bronchi that are obstructed by sputum
sarcoidosis
chronic inflammatory disease of unknown cause in which small nodules or tubercles develop in lungs, lymph nodes, and other organs
silicosis
silica glass dust collects in the lungs; a type on pneumonia
sputum
material expelled from the chest by coughing or by clearing the throat; phlegm
sputum culture
sputum is collected and placed on a growth medium to analyze the type of microorganisms that may be prevented
stridor
strained, high-pitched noisy breathing associated with obstruction of the larynx or trachea
thoracentesis
surgical puncture to remove fluid from the pleural space
thorascopy
visual examination of the chest using small incisions and an endoscope
thoracotomy
large surgical incision of the chest
tracheostomy
new opening of the trachea to the outside of the body
tuberculin test
determines past or present exposure to tuberculosis based on a positive skin test
tuberculosis
infectious disease caused by mycobacterium tuberculosis; lungs are usually involved but other organs may be affected
tube thoracostomy
chest tube is passed through an opening in the skin of the chest to continuously drain a pleural effusion
ventilation-perfusion scan
a detection device records radioactivity after an injection of a radioisotope or inhalation of a small amount of radioactive gas
wheeze
continuous high-pitched whistling sound heard when air is forced through a narrow space during inspiration or expiration
