The Respiratory System : Key Terms Flashcards

1
Q

alveoli

A

the tiny air sacs in the lungs through which gases are exchanged between the atmosphere and the blood in respiration. An alveolus is a small hollow or cavity

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

bronchiole

A

one of the smaller subdivisions of the bronchial tubes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

bronchus

A

one of the larger air passageways in the lungs. The bronchi begin as two branches of the trachea and then subdivide within the lungs

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

carbon dioxide

A

CO2 : a gas produced by energy metabolism in cells and eliminated through the lungs

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

carbonic acid

A

an acid formed when CO2 dissolves in water - H2CO3

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

compliance

A

a measure of how easily the lungs expand under pressure. Compliance is reduced in many typed of respiratory disorders

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

diaphragm

A

the dome shaped muscle under the lungs that flattens during inspiration

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

epiglottis

A

a leaf shaped cartilage that covers the larynx during swallowing to prevent food from entering the trachea

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

expectoration

A

the act of coughing up material from the respiratory tract; also the material released; sputum

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

glottis

A

the opening between the vocal cords

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

hemoglobin

A

the iron containing pigment in RBC’s that transports O2

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

inspiration

A

the act of drawing air into the lungs; inhalation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

larynx

A

the enlarged, superior portion of the trachea that contains the vocal cords

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

lung

A

a cone shaped, spongy respiratory organ contained within the thorax

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

mediastinum

A

the space between the lungs together with the organs contained in this space

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

nose

A

the organ of the face used for breathing and for housing receptors for the sense of smell; includes an external portion and an internal nasal cavity

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

oxygen (O2)

A

the gas needed by cells to release energy from food during metabolism

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

palatine tonsils

A

the paired masses of lymphoid tissue located on either side of the oropharynx; usually meant

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

pharynx

A

the throat; a common passageway for food entering the esophagus and air entering the larynx

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

phrenic nerve

A

the nerve that activates the diaphragm

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

pleura

A

a double-layered membrane that lines the thoracic cavity (parietal pleura) and covers the lungs (visceral pleura)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

pleural space

A

the thin, fluid-filled space between the two layers of the pleura; pleural cavity

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

pulmonary ventilation

A

the movement of air into and out of the lungs

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

sinus

A

a cavity or channel; the paranasal sinuses are located near the nose and drain into the nasal cavity

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

sputum

A

the substance released by coughing or clearing the throat; expectoration. It may contain a variety of material from the respiratory tract.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

surfactant

A

a substance that decreases surface tension within the alveoli and eases lung expansion

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

trachea

A

the air passageway that extends from the larynx to the bronchi

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

turbinate bones

A

the bony projections in the nasal cavity that contain receptors for the sense of smell; aka conchae

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

vocal cords

A

membranous folds on either side of the larynx that are important in speech production. Also called vocal folds.

30
Q

adenoids

A

lymphoid tissue located in the nasopharynx; the pharyngeal tonsils

31
Q

acidosis

A

abnormal acidity of body fluids. Respiratory acidosis is caused by abnormally high carbon dioxide levels

32
Q

ARDS

A

Acute respiratory distress syndrome: pulmonary edema that can lead rapidly to fatal respiratory failure; causes include trauma, aspiration into the lungs, viral pneumonia, and drug reactions; shock lung

33
Q

acute rhinitis

A

inflammation of the nasal mucosa with sneezing, tearing, and profuse secretion of watery mucus, as seen in the common cold.

34
Q

alkalosis

A

abnormal alkalinity of body fluids. Respiratory alkalosis is caused by abnormally low carbon dioxide levels

35
Q

aspiration

A

the accidental inhalation of food or other foreign material into the lungs. Also means the withdrawal of fluid from a cavity by suction

36
Q

asthma

A

a disease characterized by dyspnea and wheezing caused by spasm of the bronchial tubes or swelling of their mucous membrane

37
Q

atelectasis

A

incomplete expansion of a lung or part of a lung; lung collapse. May be present at birth (as in respiratory distress syndrome) or be caused by bronchial obstruction or compression of lung tissue

38
Q

bronchiectasis

A

chronic dilatation of a bronchus or bronchi

39
Q

bronchitis

A

inflammation of a bronchus

40
Q

COPD

A

chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: any of a group of chronic, progressive, and debilitating respiratory diseases, which includes emphysema, asthma, bronchitis, and bronchiectasis

41
Q

cyanosis

A

bluish discoloration of the skin caused by lack of oxygen in the blood

42
Q

CF

A

Cystic Fibrosis: an inherited disease that affects the pancreas, respiratory system, and sweat glands. Characterized by mucus accumulation in the bronchi causing obstruction and leading to infection

43
Q

diphtheria

A

acute infectious disease, usually limited to the upper respiratory tract, characterized by the formation of a surface pseudomembrane composed of cells and coagulated material

44
Q

dyspnea

A

difficult or labored breathing, sometimes with pain; “air hunger”

45
Q

emphysema

A

a chronic pulmonary disease characterized by enlargement and destruction of the alveoli

46
Q

empyema

A

accumulation of pus in a body cavity, especially the pleural space; pyothorax

47
Q

hemoptysis

A

the spitting of blood from the mouth or respiratory tract (ptysis: spitting)

48
Q

hemothorax

A

presence of blood in the pleural space

49
Q

hydrothorax

A

presence of fluid in the pleural space

50
Q

hyperventilation

A

increased rate and depth of breathing; increase in the amount of air entering the alveoli

51
Q

hypoventilation

A

decreased rate and depth of breathing; decrease in the amount of air entering the alveoli

52
Q

influenza

A

an acute, contagious respiratory infection causing fever, chills, headache, and muscle pain; “flu”

53
Q

pertussis

A

an acute, infectious disease characterized by a cough ending in a whooping inspiration; whooping cough

54
Q

pleural effusion

A

accumulation of fluid in the pleural space. The fluid may contain blood (hemothorax) or pus (pyothorax or empyema)

55
Q

pleurisy

A

inflammation of the pleura; pleuritis. A symptom of pleurisy is sharp pain on breathing

56
Q

pneumoconiosis

A

disease of the respiratory tract caused by inhalation of dust particles. Named more specifically by the type of dust inhaled, such as silicosis, anthracosis, asbestosis

57
Q

pneumonia

A

inflammation of the lungs generally caused by infection. May involve the bronchioles and alveoli (bronchopneumonia) or one or more lobes of the lung (lobar pneumonia)

58
Q

pneumonitis

A

inflammation of the lungs; may be caused by infection, asthma, allergy, or inhalation of irritants

59
Q

pneumothorax

A

accumulation of air or gas in the pleural space. May result from injury or disease or may be produced artificially to collapse a lung

60
Q

pyothorax

A

accumulation of pus in the pleural space; empyema

61
Q

RDS

A

respiratory distress syndrome: a respiratory disorder that affects premature infants born without enough surfactant in the lungs. It is treated with respiratory support and surfactant administration

62
Q

SIDS

A

sudden infant death syndrome: the sudden and unexplained death of an apparently healthy infant; crib death

63
Q

tuberculosis

A

an infectious disease caused by the tubercle bacillus, Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Often involves the lungs but may involve other parts of the body as well. Miliary tuberculosis is an acute generalized form of the disease with formation of minute tubercles that resemble millet seeds

64
Q

ABGs

A

arterial blood gases: the concentration of gases, specifically oxygen and carbon dioxide, in arterial blood. Reported as the partial pressure (P) of the gas in arterial (a) blood, such as PaO2 or PaCO2. These measurements are important in measuring acid-base balance

65
Q

bronchoscope

A

an endoscope used to examine the tracheobronchial passageways. Also allows access for tissue biopsy or removal of a foreign object

66
Q

lung scan

A

study based on the accumulation of radioactive isotopes in lung tissue.

67
Q

pulse oximetry

A

determination of the oxygen saturation of arterial blood by means of a photoelectric apparatus (oximeter), usually placed on the finger or the ear; reported as SpO2, in percent

68
Q

pulmonary function tests

A

tests done to assess breathing, usually by spirometry

69
Q

spirometer

A

an apparatus used to measure breathing volumes and capacities; record of test is a spriogram

70
Q

thoracentesis

A

surgical puncture of the chest for removal of air or fluids, such as may accumulate after surgery or as a result of injury, infection, or cardiovascular problems. AKA thoracocentesis.

71
Q

tuberculin test

A

a skin test for tuberculosis. Tuberculin (PPD), the test material made from products of the tuberculosis organism, is injected below the skin. A hard, raised lump appearing within 48-72 hours indicates an active or inactive TB infection. AKA Mantoux