Health Science 1101
Medical Terminology
Module 4
The Respiratory
System
The Respiratory System
Basic Terms
Pulmon/o: relating to the lung(s)
Pulmonologist:
Pulmonology:
Pneumo/o or pneumon/o: relating to air or the lung(s)
Functions of the Respiratory System
Provides for gas exchange
brings O2 into body
excretes CO2 from body
Helps regulate blood pH
Contains smell receptors
Filters incoming air
Produces vocal sounds
Excretes water and heat
Upper and Lower Respiratory Tract
Upper respiratory tract
includes nasal cavity,
oral cavity, pharynx,
and larynx
Lower respiratory tract
includes trachea and
lungs (bronchi,
bronchioles and
alveoli)
Structures of the Respiratory
System
Trachea divides into two primary
(1o) bronchi
Primary bronchi divide into two or
three secondary (2o) bronchi
and tertiary bronchi and so forth…
The Bronchial Tree and Breathing
Upper Respiratory Tract
Structure Terms
adenoid/o:
laryng/o:
nas/o or rhin/o:
pharyng/o:
tonsill/o:
trache/o:
epiglott/o
Lower Respiratory Tract
Structure Terms
alveol/o:
bronchi/o:
bronch/o:
bronchiol/o:
pleur/o:
Respiratory Prefixes
abrady-
If -pnea means breathing:
dys-
Apnea:
eu-
Bradypnea:
macro-
Dyspnea:
microtachy-
Eupnea:
Tachypnea:
Respiratory Suffixes
-algia
-dynia
-centesis
-ectasis
-stenosis
-osmia
-pnea
-scope
-oxia
-spasm
Respiratory
Abbreviations
Page 131 in
your text
book.
Conditions and Procedures
Basic Breathing Terms
Inhalation or inspiration:
Exhalation or expiration:
Respire:
External:
Internal:
Breathing Conditions
Hyperventilate:
Hypoventilate:
Hypoxia:
Hypoxemia:
Acidosis:
Alkalosis:
Breathing Sounds
crackles:
Lung Sounds (crackles,
wheezes and rhonchi)
Friction rub:
Croup
rhonchi
stridor:
wheezes:
Friction rub
Stridor
Respiratory Conditions
Lung Issues
Atelectasis: Collapse of lung
tissue, preventing exchange
of O2 and CO2.
Lung cancer: pulmonary
malignancy often attributed
to cigarette smoking
ARDS: Acute respiratory distress
syndrome. Respiratory
insufficiency with progressive
hypoxia.
Tuberculosis: Infectious disease
that causes small lesions,
called tubercles in the lungs.
Respiratory Conditions
Lung Issues
Empyema: Pus in a body
cavity, especially in the
pleural cavity
Pleural Effusion: Abnormal
presence of fluid in the
pleural cavity
blood: hemothorax
pus: pyothorax
Pneumothorax: collection of air
in the pleural cavity, can
cause atelectasis.
Other Respiratory Conditions
COPD: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary
Disease
Asthma: Chronic lung disease
characterized by inflammation and
narrowing of the airways
Sweet Brown’s Bronchitis
Bronchitis: Inflammation of the bronchi
Emphysema: Chronic disease
characterized by destruction of alveoli.
Other Respiratory Conditions
Coryza: A cold.
Inflammation of the
nasal passages with
nasal discharge.
Epistaxis: Hemorrhage
from the nose, or a
nosebleed.
Influenza: Acute,
contagious respiratory
infection characterized
by sudden onset of
fever, chills, headache
and muscle pain.
Childhood Respiratory Disorders
Pertussis: Acute
infectious disease
characterized by
distinct whoop
sounding cough.
AKA Whooping
cough.
Croup: Acute
respiratory
syndrome occurring
in children and
infants.
Characterized by
laryngeal
obstruction, barking
cough and stridor.
Childhood Respiratory Disorders
Cystic fibrosis (CF): genetic
disease of the exocrine
glands characterized by
excessive secretion of
mucus causing
obstruction of airways.
SIDS: Sudden infant death
syndrome. Sudden,
unexpected and
unexplained death of an
apparently well infant.
Also called crib death.
Respiratory Testing and Treatment
Respiratory Testing
Arterial Blood Gas (ABG):
Measurement of arterial O2
and CO2.
MRI
CT
CXR
Respiratory Testing
Pulmonary function tests (PFT): Tests
the ability of the lungs to efficiently
exchange O2 and CO2.
Forced vital capacity (FVC):
Measurement of the amount of air
that can be expelled after deep
inhalation.
Forced expiratory volume in 1
second (FEV1): The measurement of
the volume of air that can be
forcefully exhaled during the first
second of FCV measuring.
Spirometry: Measurement of FVC
and FEV1 that produces a tracing
on a graph.
Respiratory Treatments
Bronchodilators: Drugs used to
increase airflow by dilating
constricted airways
Corticosteroids: Hormonal agents
used to reduce swelling and
inflammation associated with
chronic lung disease
Nebulized mist treatment:
Treatment using a device that
sprays a fine mist that delivers
medication directly into the
lungs.
Respiratory Treatments
Continuous positive airway
pressure (CPAP): The use
of mild air pressure to keep
airways open.
Postural drainage: The use of
body positioning to assist in
the removal of secretions
lobes of the lungs, the
bronchi or the pleural
cavity.