Respiratory System Flashcards
nas/o; rhino
nose
sinu/o
sinus
pharyngl/o
pharynx
laryng/o
larynx
trache/o
trachea
bronch/o; bronchi/o
bronchi
pneum/o; pneumono; pulmon/o
lung
cillia
thin hairs in nose
mucous membranes
specialized tissues that line the nose
olfactory respectors
sense of smell
Functions of these sinuses
- Make the bones of the skull lighter
- Help produce sound by giving resonance to the voice
- Produce mucus to provide lubrication for the tissues of the nasal cavity
Frontal sinuses
located in the frontal bone
just above the eyebrow
Sphenoid sinuses
located in the sphenoid bone behind the eye
Maxillary sinuses
located in the maxillary bones under the eyes
Ethmoid sinuses
located in the ethmoid
bones between the nose and eyes
Pharynx
throat
Nasopharynx
- Posterior to nasal cavity; continues downward toward the
mouth - Transports air only
- Opens into the oropharyn
Oropharynx
- Visible when looking into the mouth
- Shared by respiratory and digestive systems
- Transports air, food, and fluids to the laryngopharyn
- Laryngopharynx
- Shared by respiratory and digestive systems
- Air, food, and fluids continue to the opening of esophagus and trachea; air enters trachea; food and fluids enter esophagus
Larynx
voice box
9 separate cartilage
Soft palate
prevents food or liquid from going up into
the nose
Epiglottis
prevents food from entering the trachea
and lungs
Trachea
windpipe; transports air to and from lungs
Bronchi
large tubes that funnel air into lung tissues
Alveoli
air sacs, at the end of each bronchi, location of the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide
Right lung
larger of the 2; has 3 lobes
left lung
has 2 lobes; upper and lower
Pleura
thin, moist, slippery membrane; covers the outer surface of the lungs and lines the inner surfaces of the thoracic cavity
Diaphragm
*Dome-shaped sheet of muscle
*Separates the thoracic cavity from the
abdomen
*Contraction and relaxation
Makes breathing possible
phrenic nerves
cause diaphragm to contract
Inhalation
breathing in air
exhalation
breathing out
Chronic obstructive Pulmonary disease
COPD; bronchial airflow is obstructed, making it difficult to breathe out
generally caused by smoking
Chronic bronchitis:
disease in which
the airways have become inflamed
Emphysema
progressive, long-term
loss of lung function
Asthma
Chronic inflammatory disease of the bronchial tubes
*Often triggered by an allergic reaction
Asthma attack
Characterized by episodes of severe breathing difficulty,
coughing, and wheezing
Wheezing is a breath sound caused by a partially
obstructed airwa
Bronchospasm
Contraction of the smooth muscle in the walls of the
bronchi and bronchioles
exercise-induced bronchoconstriction
Narrowing of the airways that develops after 5 to 15
minutes of physical exertion
Upper Respiratory Virus/Acute
Nasopharyngitis
- Common Cold
- Caused by any of 200+ different viruses
Allergic Rhinitis
- Allergic reaction to airborne allergens that causes
an increased flow of mucus
Croup
- Acute respiratory infection in children and infants
- Obstruction of the larynx, hoarseness, and
swelling around the vocal cords resulting in a
barking cough and stridor
Influenza
*Acute, highly contagious viral infection
* Most commonly in epidemics during the
colder months
Pertussis (Whooping Cough)
- Contagious bacterial infection of the upper
respiratory tract
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)
- Common, highly contagious viral infection
spread by respiratory droplets - Can cause bronchiolitis in younger children
and infants; may require hospitalization
Epistaxis
(nosebleed); Bleeding from the nose that may be
caused by dry air, injury, medication
to prevent blood clotting, or high
blood pressure
Rhinorrhea
Rhinorrhea (runny nose) watery flow of mucus from the nose
sinusitis
inflammation of the sinuses
Pharyngitis
sore throat; Inflammation of the pharynx; often a
symptom of a cold, flu, or sinus infection
* When caused by the bacteria Streptococcus,
commonly referred to as strep throat
Laryngospasm
- Sudden spasmodic closure of the larynx
- Sometimes associated with
gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
Aphonia
- loss of the ability of the larynx to
*produce normal speech sounds
Dysphonia
- any impairment in vocal quality;
hoarseness, weakness, cracking of
a boy’s voice during puberty
Laryngitis
inflammation of the larynx;
commonly used to describe voice
loss caused by this inflammation
Acute Bronchitis
(Chest Cold)
*Inflammation of the bronchi usually caused by a viral
infection
*Characterized by a productive cough (brings up mucus
or phlegm), shortness of breath, and often wheezing
and a low‐grade fever
Bronchiectasis
*Permanent thickening of the walls of the bronchi
*Caused by chronic infection and inflammation
Bronchorrhea
*Excessive discharge of watery mucus from the bronchi
*Often caused by chronic bronchitis or asthma
Pleurisy (pleuritis)
- Inflammation of pleura (membranes that
cover the lungs and line the pleural cavity)
Pleurodynia
- Sharp chest pain
- Occurs when 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 because
it prevents the lung from fully expanding
Pyothorax (pleural empyema)
Presence of pus in the pleural cavity
resulting from a bacterial infection
Empyema
Collection of pus in any body cavity
Hemothorax
- Collection of blood in the
pleural cavity - Results from chest trauma or
caused by disease or surgery
Pneumothorax
*Accumulation of air in the
pleural space
* Causes full or partial lung
collapse
Acute respiratory distress syndrome
(ARDS)
*Caused by trauma, pneumonia, smoke or fumes,
inhaled vomit, or sepsis
*Inflammation in the lungs and fluid in the alveoli
lead to low levels of oxygen in the blood
Atelectasis
(collapsed lung)
*Incomplete expansion of part or all of a lung
*Blockage of the air passages or pneumothorax
Pulmonary edema
- Accumulation of fluid in lung tissue
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 (TB)
- Infectious disease caused by
Mycobacterium tuberculosis - Most commonly in individuals with
immune systems weakened by another
condition - Drug‐resistant tuberculosis: occurs when
prescribed drug regimen is not strictly
followed
Bronchopneumonia
localized form of pneumonia; often affects
the bronchioles
Lobar pneumonia
*Often includes one or more sections, or
lobes
*Double pneumonia: lobar pneumonia
involving both lung
Aspiration pneumonia
Due to inhaling foreign substance into lungs
Community‐acquired
pneumonia
- Results from contagious infection outside hospital/clinic
- Hospital‐acquired pneumonia
Acquired during a stay in hospital
- Mycoplasma pneumoni
*Milder, longer lasting form
caused by Mycoplasma
pneumoniae
* Also known as walking
pneumonia since the patient is
often not bedridde
Pneumocystis pneumonia
Opportunistic infection caused
by Pneumocystis carinii
Viral pneumonia
Caused by viruses
Interstitial
Lung Disease
Group of almost 200 disorders that cause inflammation and
scarring of the alveoli
Pneumoconiosis
fibrosis
caused by prolonged environmental or
occupational contact
Cystic fibrosis (CF)
*Genetic disorder: lungs and pancreas clogged with
abnormally thick mucus
* Results in damage to the lungs, poor growth, and nutritional
deficiencies
* Common symptoms include wheezing and a persistent cough
Lung cancer
- Cancer cells form in the tissues of the lung
- Important risk factors: smoking and inhaling secondhand
smoke
Eupnea
Easy or normal breathing
Apnea
Temporary absence of spontaneous respiration
Bradypnea
Less than 10 breaths/minute
Cheyne‐Stokes respiration
- Irregular pattern of alternating rapid or shallow
respiration followed by slower respiration or
apnea
Tachypnea
More than 20 breaths/minute
Dyspnea
Difficult or labored breathing
Hyperpnea
- Deeper and more rapid than normal
breathing, commonly associated with
exertion
Hypopnea
Shallow or slow respiration
Hyperventilation
- Rapid rate of deep respiration, commonly
associated with anxiety
sleep apnea
- Breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep
enough to cause a measurable decrease in blood
oxygen levels
Snoring
noisy breathing; can be a symptom of
sleep apnea
Expectoration
- Coughing up and spitting out saliva,
mucus, or other body fluid
Hemoptysis
- Expectoration of blood or blood‐
stained sputum; result of a
pulmonary or bronchial hemorrhage
- Anoxia
- Absence of oxygen from body tissues/organs even though the flow of blood is adequate
Hypoxia
*Deficient oxygen levels in body tissues/organs
* Less severe than anoxia
Altitude hypoxia
- Due to decreased oxygen in the air at higher altitudes, especially above 8,000 feet
Asphyxia
- Lack of oxygen leading to loss of
consciousness
Cyanosis
- Bluish discoloration of
skin/mucous membranes due to inadequate oxygen supply
Hypercapnia
- Buildup of carbon dioxide in the blood
Hypoxemia
- Decreased oxygen levels in the blood
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
SIDS; Sudden and unexplainable death of an
apparently healthy sleeping infant
* Occurs between the ages of 1 month and 1 year
* Cause still unknown
Respiratory rate
count of the
number of breaths per minute
Respiratory sounds such as rales, rhonchi, and stridor provide
information about the condition of
the lungs and pleura
Bronchoscopy
- visual examination of the bronchi
Chest x‐ray (CXR)
used to diagnose lung infections,
diseases, and disorders
Laryngoscopy
- examination of the larynx and
vocal cords with a laryngoscope
Pulmonary Function Test
- measures air flow out of lungs
Polysomnography
(sleep study)
* measures physiological activity
during sleep
Spirometer
measures the amount of air
inhaled or exhaled (volume)
Pulse oximeter
- measures the oxygen
saturation level in the blood
Sputum cytology
examination of coughed‐up
mucus
Phlegm
thick mucus secreted by the tissues
lining the respiratory passages
Sputum
- Phlegm ejected through mouth
- Sputum cytology examines the
phlegm to detect cancer cells
Antitussive
(Cough Medicine)
* prevents or relieves coughing
Decongestant
- relieves nasal congestion
Expectorant
- thins and reduces mucus; makes it easier to cough up mucus
Bronchodilator
relaxes and expands the bronchial
passages into the lungs
Controller medicines
*long‐acting daily medications; prevent
asthma attacks
Nebulizer
*electronic device
* Pumps air or oxygen through a liquid
medicine to turn it into a mist
*Inhaled by the patient via a face mask
or mouthpiece
Endotracheal intubation
- Passing a tube through the mouth into the
trachea - Establishes or maintains an open airway
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; used to correct a deviated septum
Tracheostomy
*Surgical creation of a stoma (surgically created
opening on a body surface) into the trachea below
the vocal cords
*Insertion of a temporary or permanent tube to
facilitate breathing
Emergency tracheotomy
*Incision made into the trachea to gain access to the
airway below a blockage
Pneumonectomy
removal of all or part of a lung
Lobectomy
- removal of a lobe of an organ,
usually the lung, brain, liver, or thyroid gland
Wedge resection
removal of a small wedge‐shaped
piece of cancerous lung tissue
Thoracentesis
- needle puncture of the chest wall to obtain
fluid from the pleural cavity
Thoracotomy
incision in 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
* Similar to CPAP but at a higher pressure
Ambu® bag, or BVM
(Bag Valve Mask)
* Emergency resuscitator used to assist
ventilation
Ventilator
- Forces air into the lungs; exhalation takes place passively as the lungs contract
Supplemental Oxygen Therapy
- Maintains adequate blood oxygen saturation
- Uses a compressor; flows into a hood or tent
- Nasal cannula: divides into two nasal prongs
- Rebreather mask: exhaled breath is partially
reused
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy
(HBOT)
* Breathing pure oxygen in a special chamber
* Raises air pressure; up to three times higher
than norma
