Respiratory System Diseases

Question 1

Pneumoconiosis

Answer 1

• Literally “an abnormal condition of dust in the lungs”
• A generic name for conditions where toxic particles become trapped in the lungs and cause symptoms and disability such as a “black lung” or “miner’s lung” disease
• Terms specific to the particulate matter may be given such as asbestosis

Question 2

Epistaxis

Answer 2

Nosebleed

Question 3

Cystic fibrosis

Answer 3

• Inheritable disease that affects not only the lungs but other systems producing mucous such as the digestive system
• Patients suffer frequent lung infections that are hard to treat because mucous is thick and sluggish and result in increased scarring (fibrosis) of the lungs
• They also take multiple enzyme pills because of digestive abnormalities related to abnormal mucous production

Question 4

Emphysema (COPD)

Answer 4

• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, of which emphysema is one of, results in progressive destruction of the air sacs in the lungs and loss of respiratory membrane for oxygen exchange
• The bane of long term smokers

Question 5

Atelectasis

Answer 5

• Collapsed lung
• Literally “an imperfect expansion” in Greek