RESPIRATORY Vocabulary Flashcards
adenoids
Lymphatic tissue in the nasopharynx; pharyngeal tonsils.
alveolus (alveoli)
Air sac in the lung.
apex of the lung
Tip of the lung (uppermost). Apex means the tip of a structure but it need not be at the top; it can be at the bottom.
apical
pertaining to the apex
base of the lung
Lower portion of the lunch; from the Greek word basis, which means foundation.
basilar
located at or in the base
bronchioles
Smallest branches of the bronchi.
bronchus (bronchi)
Branch of the trachea (windpipe) that forms the passageway into the lung.
carbon dioxide (CO2)
Gas produced by cells when oxygen and carbon atoms from food combine. Gas is exhaled from the lungs.
cilia
Thin hairs attached to the mucous membrane epithelium lining the respiratory tract. They clear bacteria and foreign substances from the lung.
diaphragm
Muscle separating the chest and abdomen. It contracts to pull air into the lungs and relaxes to push air out.
epiglottis
Cartilage that covers the larynx. Prevents food from entering the larynx and trachea during swallowing.
expiration
Breathe out (exhale).
glottis
Opening to the larynx; slit.
hilum of the lung
Midline region where the bronchi, blood vessels, and nerves enter and exit the lungs. HILAR means at the hilum.
inspiration
Breathe in (inhale)
larynx
Voice box; contains the vocal cords.
lobe
A division of the lungs.
mediastinum
Region between the lungs in the chest cavity. Contains the trachea, heart, lymph nodes, aorta, esophagus, and bronchial tubes.
nares
Openings through the nose carrying air into the nasal cavities.
oxygen (O2)
Gas that makes up 21% of air. It passes into the bloodstream at the lungs and travels to all body cells.
palatine tonsil
One of a pair of almond-shaped masses of lymphatic tissue in the oropharynx.
paranasal sinus
One of the air cavities in the bones near the nose.
parietal pleura
Outer layer of the pleura lying closer to the ribs and chest wall.
