Chapter 7 Primary Terms Flashcards
Respiratory System
Supplies the blood with oxygen for transportation to the cells in all parts of the body
Upper Respiratory Tract
Consists of nose, mouth, pharynx, epiglottis, larynx, and the trachea
Lower Respiratory Tract
Consists of the bronchial tree and lungs, located within the thoracic cavity or rib cage
Nasal Septum
Wall of cartilage that divides the nose into two equal sections
Cilia
Thin hairs located inside the nostrils, filter incoming air to remove debris
Mucous Membranes
Line the nose, specialized tissue
Mucus
Slippery secretion produced by the mucous membranes that protects and lubricates these tissues
Olfactory Receptors
Nerve endings that act as the receptors for the sense of smell, important for sense of taste
Tonsils
Part of the lymphatic system, located in the back of the mouth
Adenoids
Part of the lymphatic system, behind the nose and the roof of the mouth
Paranasal Sinuses
Air-filled cavities lined with mucous membrane, located in the bones of the skull
Para means near, nas means nose, al means pertaining to
Frontal Sinuses
Located just above the eyebrows
Sphenoid Sinuses
Located in sphenoid bone behind the eyes
Maxillary Sinuses
Largest of the paranasal sinuses, located under the eyes
Ethmoid Sinuses
Located between the nose and eyes
Pharynx
Throat
Receives the air after it passes through the nose or mouth
Nasopharynx
Posterior to the nasal cavity, continues downward behind mouth, unsed only to transport air
Oropharynx
Portion that is visible when looking into the mouth,transports air, food, and fluids
Laryngopharynx
Shared by both respiratory and digestive systems, air, food, and fluids continue down
Epiglottis
Lid like structure located at the base of the tongue, closes off the laryngopharynx so food can’t enter the trachea or the lungs
Trachea
Transport air to and from the lungs
Bronchi
Two large tubes that branch out from the trachea and convey air into the lungs
Bronchioles
Smallest branches of the bronchi
Alveoli
Very small, grape like clusters found at the end of each bronchiole, exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide
Surfactant
Produced by alveoli, detergent like substance that reduces the surface tension of the fluid in the lungs
Right Lung
Larger, three lobes: upper or superior, middle, and lower or inferior
Left Lung
Only two lobes: upper and lower due to space restrictions from the heart
Mediastinum
(mee-dee-as-TYE-num)
Middle section of the chest cavity, located between the lungs, contains: the heart, esophagus, trachea, bronchi, thymus gland, and lymph nodes
Pleura
Thin, moist and slippery membrane that covers the outer surfce of the lungs and lines the inner cavity of the thoracic cavity
Parietal Pleura
Outer layer of thhe pleura, lines the thoracic cavity, covers the diaphragm, and forms the sac containing each lung
Parietal means relating to the walls of a cavity
Visceral Pleura
Inner layer of pleura that covers each lung, attaches directly to the lungs
Visceral means relating to the internal organs
Pleural Cavity
Thin, fluid filled space between the parietal and visceral pleural membranes, acts as a lubricant
Diaphragm
Thoracic Diaphragm
Dome shaped sheet of muscle that seperates the thoracic cavity from the abdomen
Phrenic Nerves
Simulate the diaphragm and cause it to contract
Respiration
Breathing
Exchange of oxygen for carbon dioxide
Inhalation
Act of taking in air as the diaphragm contracts and pulls downward
Exhalation
Act of breathing out, as the diaphragm relaxes it moves upwards
External Respiration
The act of bringing air in and out of the lungs from the outside environment and exchanging oxygen for carbon dioxide
Internal Respiration
Cellular Respiration
The exchange of gases within the cells of the blood and tissues
Otolaryngologist (ENT)
A physician with specialized training in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases and disorders of the head and neck
Oto means ear, laryng means larynx
ologist means specialist
Pulmonologist
Physician who specializes in diagnosing and treating diseases and disorders of the respiratory system
Pulmon means lung, ologist means specialist
Respiratory Therapist (RT)
Licensed medical professional who specializes in treating patients who are having difficulty breathing
Thoracic Surgeon
Performs operations on the organs inside the thorax, or chest including the heart, lungs, and esophagus
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Group of lung diseases in which the bronchial airflow is obstructed, making it difficult to breathe out, generally caused by smoking and is permanent
Chronic Bronchitis
Disease in which the airways have become inflamed due to recurrent exposure to an inhaled irritant
Bronch means bronchus, itis means inflammation
Emphysema
Progressive long term loss of lung function, usually due to smoking, alveoli are destroyed making breathing rapid, shallow, and difficult
Asthma
Chronic inflammatory disease of the bronchial tubes, often triggered by an allergic reaction
Airway Inflammation
Swelling and clogging of the bronchial tubes with mucus
Bronchospasm
The contraction of the smooth muscle in the walls of the bronchi and bronchioles, tightening and squeezing the airway shut
Exercise Induced Bronchoconstriction
Narrowing of the airways that develops 5-15 minutes afer physical exertion
Upper Respiratory Infections (URI)
Describes a common cold
Allergic Rhinitis
Comonly referred to as an allergy, an allergic reaction to airborne allergens that cause increased flow of mucus
Rhin means nose, itis means inflammation
Croup
Acute respiratory infection in children and infants characterized by obstruction of the larynx, hoarseness, and swelling around the vocal cords
Epistaxis
Nosebleed
Bleeding from the nose caused by fry air, injury medication to prevent blood clotting, or high blood pressure
Influenza
Flu
Acute, highly contagious viral infection charazcterized by respiratory inflammation, fever, chills, and muscle pain
Pertussis
Whooping Cough
Contagious acterial infection of te upper respiratory tract that is characterized by recurrent bouts of a paroxysmal cough
Paroxysmal means sudden or spasm-like
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)
Common, highly contagious viral infection, mild and similar to the common cold
Bronchiolitis
Inflammation of the bronchioles
Bronchiol means bronchioles, itis means inflammation
Rinorrhea
Runny Nose
Watery flow of mucus from the nose
Rhin/o means nose, rrhea means abnormal discharge
Sinusitis
Inflammation of the sinuses
Sinus means sinus, itis means inflammation
Pharyngitis
Sore Throat
Inflammation of the pharynx
Pharyng means pharynx, itis means inflammation
Laryngospasm
Sudden spasmodic closure of the larynx
Laryng/o means larynx, spasm means a sudden involuntary contract
Aphonia
Loss of the ability of the larynx to produce normal speech sounds
A means without, phon means voice, ia means abnormal conditi
Dysphonia
Difficulty in speaking which may include any impairment n vocal quality
Dys means bad, phon means voice, ia means abnormal condition
Laryngitis
Inflammation of the larynx, commonly used to describe voice loss caused by this inflamation
Laryng means larynx, itis means inflammation
Acute Bronchitis
Chest Cold
Inflammation of the bronchi usually caused by a viral infection
Bronchiectasis
Permanent thickening of the walls of the bronchi, caused by chronic infection and inflammation
Bronch/i means bronchus, ectasis means stretching or enlargement
Bronchorrea
Excessive discharge of watery mucus from the bronchi
Bronch/o means Bronchus, rrhea means abnormal flow
Pleurisy
Pleuritis
Inflammation of the pleura, the membranes that cover the lungs and line the pleural cavity
Pleur means pleura, isy is a noun ending
Pleurodynia
Sharp chest pain that occurs when the inflamed pleural membranes rub against each other with each inhalation
Pleural Effusion
Excess accumulation of fluid in the pleural space, produces a feeling of breathlessness
Effusion is the escape of fluid from blood vessels into the tissues
Pyothorax
Pleural Empyema
Presence of pus in the pleural cavity between the layers of the pleural membrane resulting from a bacterial infection
Py/o means pus, thorax means chest
Empyema
Refers to a collection of pus in any body cavity
Hemothorax
Collection of blood in the pleural cavity, results from chest trauma such as a stab wound
Hem/o means blood, thorax means chest
Pneumothorax
The accumulation of air in the pleural space resulting in a pressure imbalance that causes the lung to fully or partially collapse
Pneum/o means lung or air, thorax means chest
Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS)
Lung condition caused by trauma, pneumonia, smoke or fumes, inhaled vomit, or sepsis
Atelectasis
Collapsed Lung
The incomplete expansion of part or all of a lung due to a blockage of the air passages
Atel means incomplete, ectasis means stretching or enlargement
Granuloma
General term used to describe a localized area of inflammation, usually in the lungs
Granul means granular, oma means tumor
Pulmonary Edema
Accumulation of fluid in lung tissues, especially the alveoli
Edema means swelling
Pulmonary Embolism
Sudden blockage of a pulmonary artery by foreign matter or by an embolus that has formed in the leg or pelvic region
Tuberculosis
Infectious disease, attacks the lungs
Pneumonia
Serious inflammation of the lungs in which the alveoli and air passages fill with pus and other fluids
Pneumon means lung, ia means abnormal condition
Bronchopneumonia
Localized form of pneumonia that often affects the bronchioles
bronch/o means bronchial tubes, pneumon means lung
Lobar Pneumonia
Affects larger areas of the lungs, often including one or more sections or lobes of a lung
Aspiration Pneumonia
Can occur when a foreign substance, such as vomit, is inhaled into the lungs
Community-acquired Pneumonia (CAP)
Any pneumonia that results from contagious infection outside of a hospital or clinic
Bacterial Pneumonia
Most commonly caused by Streptococcus Pneumoniae
Hospital-acquired Pneumonia
Nosocomial Pneumonia
Type of pneumonia contracted during a stay in the hospital when a patient’s defenses are impaired
Mycoplasma Pneumonia
Milder but longer lasting form of the disease caused by the bacteria Mycoplasma pneumoniae
Pneumocystis Pneumonia
Oppurtunistic infection caused by the yeast like fungus Pneumocystis jirovecii
Viral Pneumonia
Can be caused by several different types of viruses
Intersitial Lung Disease
Refers to a group of almost 200 disorders that cause inflammation and scarring of the alveoli
Pulmonary Fibrosis
Progressive formation of scar tissue in the lung, resulting in decreased lung capacity and increased difficulty breathing
Fibros means fibrous connective tissue
Pneumoconiosis
Any fibrosis of the lung tissues caused by mineral dust in the lungs after prolonged environmental or occupational contact
Pneumo/o means lung, coni means dust, osis means abnormal
Asbestosis
Caused by asbestos particles in the lungs and usually occurs after working with asbestos
Asbest means asbestos, osis means abnormal condition
Silicosis
Caused by inhaling silica dust in the lungs
Silic means glass, osis means abnormal condition
Cystic Fibrosis
Life threatening genetic disorder in which the lungs and pancreas are clogged with large quanities of abnormally thick mucus
Lung Cancer
Leading cause of death in the US, condition in which cancer cells form in the tissues of the lung
Eupnea
Easy or normal breathing
Eu means good, pnea means breathing
Apnea
Temporary absence of spontaneous respiration
A means without, pnea means breathing
Bradypnea
Abnormally slow rate of respiration
Brady means slow, pnea means breathing
Dyspnea
Shortness of breath (SOB)
Difficult or labored breathing
Dys means painful, pnea means breathing
Cheyne-Stokes Respiration
Irregular pattern of breathing characterized by alternating rapid or shallow respiration followed by slower respiration or apnea
Tachypnea
Abnormally rapid rate of repiration
Tachy means fast, pnea means breathing
Hyperpnea
Commonly associated with exertion, breathing that is deeper or more rapid than is normal at rest
Hyper means excessive, pnea means breathing
Hypopnea
Shallow or slow respiration
Hypo means decreased, pnea means breathing
Hyperventilation
Abnormally rapid rate of deep repiration that is usually associated with anxiety
Hyper means excessive, ventilation means breathing
Sleep Apnea
Potentially serious disorder in which breathing repeatdly stops and starts during sleep for periods long enough to cause a measurable decrease in blood oxygen levels
Expectoration
Act of coughing up and spitting out saliva, mucus, or other body fluid
Expector means to cough up, ation means state or action
Hemoptysis
Expectoration of blood or blood stained sputum derived from the lungs or bronchial tubes as the result of a pulmoary or bronchial hemorrhage
Hem/o means blood, ptysis means spitting
Airway Obstruction
Choking
Food or a foreign object partially or completely blocks the airway and prevents air from entering or leaving the lungs
Anoxia
Absence of oxygen from the body’s tissues and organs even though there is an adequate flow of blood
An means without, ox means oxygen
Hypoxia
Condition of having defiecent oxygen levels in the body’s tissues and organs, less severe than anoxia
Hyp means deficient, ox means oxygen
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Exposure to CO interferes with the body’s ability to utilize oxygen
Asphyxia
Loss of consciousness that occurs when the body cannot get the oxygen it needs to function
Cyanosis
Bluish discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes caused by a lack of adequate oxygen in the blood
Cyan means blue
Hypercapnia
Abnormal buildup of carbon dioxide in the blood
Hyper means excessive, capn means carbon dioxide
Hypoxemia
Condition of having low oxygen levels in the blood
Hyp means deficent, ox means oxygen, emia means blood
Respiratory Failure
The level of oxygen in the blood becomes dangerously low or carbon dioxide levels are too high
Smoke Inhalation
Chemical damage and burns to the lungs caused by breathing in hot smoke containing products of combustion
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
Sudden and unexplainable dath of a healthy sleeping infant, cause of death is unknown
Bronchoscopy
Visual examination of the bronchi using a bronchoscope
Bronch/o means bronchus, -scopy means direct visual examnination
Chest X-Ray
Valuable tool for diagnosing pneumonia, lung cancer, pnuemothorax, pleural effusion, tuberculosis, and emphysema
Laryngoscopy
Visual examnination of the larynx and vocal cords using a flexible laryngoscope inserted through the mouth
Laryng/o means larynx, scopy means visual examinantion
Peak Flow Meter
Inexpensive handheld device used by asthma patients to meausre air flow out of the lungs
Polysomnography
Sleep Study
Measures physiological activity during sleep and is often performed to detect nocturnal defects in breathing associated with sleep apnea
Poly means many, somn/o means sleep, graphy means recording
Pulmonary Function Tests (PFTs)
Group of tests that measure volume and flow of air by using a spirometer
Spirometer
Recording device that measures the amount of air inhaled or exhaled and the length of time required for each breath
Pulse Oximeter
External monitor olaced on the patients fingertip or earlobe to measure the oxygen saturation level in the blood
Sputum Cytology
Procedure in which a sample of mucus is coughed up from the lungs and then examined under a microscope to detect cancer cells
Sputum Culture & Sensitivity
Test in which a sample of mucus in coughed up from the lungs and monitored for bacterial growth
Sputum
Phlegm ejected through the mouth that can be examined for diagnostic purposes
Phlegm
Thick mucus secreted by the tissues lining the respiratory passages
Tuberculin skin testing
Screening test for tuberculosis in which a small amount of tuberculin Purified Protein Derivative is injected just under the top layer of the skin
Antitussive
Cough Medicine
Administered to prevent or relieve coughing
Anti means against, tuss means cough, ive means perform
Decongestant
Nasal Decongestant
Administered orally or intranasally to relieve nasal congestion from allergies or illness
Expectorant
Oral medication that makes it easier to cough up mucus by making it thinner and less viscous
Bronchodilator
Inhaled medicarion that relaxes and expands the bronchial passages into the lungs
Metered-dose Inhaler
administers a specific amount of medication such as a bronchodilator in aerosal form
Nebulizer
lectronic device that pumps air or oxygen through a liquid medicine to turn it into a mist, then inhaled by the patient via a face mask or mouthpiece
Endotracheal Intubation
Passage of a tube through the mouth into the trachea to establish or maintain an open airway
Functional Endoscopic Sinus SUrgery (FESS)
Procedure performed using an endoscope in which chronic sinusitis is trated by enlarging the opening between the nose and sinus
Laryngotomy
Surgical incision into the larynx, performed when the upper part of the airway is obstructed
Septoplasty
Surgical repair of parts of the nasal septum
Sept/o means septum, plasty means surgical repair
Tracheotomy
Procedure in which an incision is made into the trachea to gain access to the airway below a blockage
Trache means trachea, otomy means surgical incision
Tracheostomy
Surgical creation of a stoma into the trachea below the vocal cords to insert a temporary or permanant tube to facilitate breathing
Trache means trachea, ostomy means surgical creation
Pneumonectomy
Surgical removal of all or part of a lung
Pneumon means lung, ectomy means surgical removal
Lobectomy
Surgical removal of a lobe of an organ, usually the lung, brain, liver, or thyroid gland
Thoracentisis
Surgical puncture of the chest wall with a needle to obtain fluid from the pleural cavity
Thor/a means thorax, centisis means surgical puncture
Wedge Resection
Surgery in which a small wedge shaped piece of cancerous lung tissue is removed, along with a margin of healthy tissue around the cancer
Video-assisted Thoracic Surgery (VATS)
Use of a thorascope to view the inside of the pleural cavity through very small incisions
Thoracotomy
Surgical incision into the chest wall to open the pleural cavity for biopsy or treatment
CPAP Machine (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure)
Noninvasive ventilation device used in the treatment of sleep apnea
BIPAP Machine (Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure)
Can be set at a higher pressure for inhaling and a lower pressure for exhaling
Ventilator
Mechanical device for artificial repiration that is used to replace or supplement the patient’s natural breathing function
Supplemental Oxygen
Administered when the patient is unable to maintain an adequate blood oxygen saturation level from breathing normal air
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
Involves breathing pure oxygen in a special chamber that allows air pressure to be raised up to three times higher than normal
Ambubag or BVM (Bag Valve Mask)
Emergency resuscitator used to assist ventilation