Chapter 11
Respiratory System
Chapter Objectives
Upon completion of the chapter the participant will be able to:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Label the component parts of the respiratory system on a provided diagram.
List the component parts of the respiratory system.
Discuss the functions of the respiratory system.
Describe the normal breathing process.
Discuss the relationship between the respiratory system and the cardiovascular
system.
Analyze, define and spell the medical terms related to the respiratory system.
Successfully complete the exercises at the end of chapter.
As was discussed in the chapter on the cardiovascular system, the many cells of the
body require oxygen for life as well as the elimination of CO 2 from the cell. The
respiratory system allows for this gas exchange to occur. The capillaries, which are the
vessels that connect the arteries to the veins, have very thin walls that allow O 2 and CO2
to move back and forth through their walls. This exchange of gases between tissue cells
and the capillaries is known as internal respiration.
Functions of the Respiratory System
 bring oxygen from the air outside our body into the body for delivery to body cells
where it is needed.
 after the oxygen is used by the cells the respiratory system is then responsible for
expelling the waste products, (carbon dioxide) from the body.
Structures of the Respiratory System
 Nose: (nas/o) The external nares or nostrils of the nose allow air to enter
(inspiration) and leave (expiration) the body. Inside the nose are fine hairs called
cilia that filter out dust particles from the air. The nasal cavity extends from the
outside nares down to the pharynx. The nose is divided into two cavities by a
partition (sept/o) called the nasal septum. One of the more common problems
that people experience with the nose is a nosebleed. The medical term for
nosebleed is epistaxis.
 Sinuses (sinus/o): Air filled spaces in the facial bones that have a mucous
membrane lining. They have no real function as part of the respiratory system
but the mucous they produce plays a role in production of sound.
 Pharynx: (pharyng/o) This area is often referred to as the throat and consists of:
Revised 2005-09-13
-117-
o Nasopharynx (nas/o) that is posterior to the nasal cavity. The Eustachian
tube from the ear opens into this area.
o Oropharynx (or/o) is posterior to the oral cavity and contains the tonsils.
o Laryngopharynx (laryng/o) opens into the larynx and esophagus
 Larynx (laryng/o) Often referred to as the voice box. Consists of cartilage that
connects the pharynx and the trachea. The movement of air over this cartilage
produces sound and the length and tension of the cords produces the pitch of our
voice.
Nasopharynx
Oropharynx
Nasal cavity
Laryngopharynx
Epiglottis
Esophagus
Right Lung
Larynx
Trachea
Right Bronchus
Left Lung
Mediastinum
Diaphragm
Alveoli
 Trachea (trache/o) “windpipe”. Connects the larynx to the lungs via the bronchi.
It is composed mostly of muscle fibers that are lined with mucous membranes
and cilia.
 Thoracic Cavity (thorac/o, -thorax): The lungs are located in this cavity. As
well as the lungs the cavity contains the heart, aorta, esophagus, trachea,
bronchial tube and thymus.
Revised 2005-09-13
-118-
 Bronchi (bronchi/o, bronch/o) There are two main bronchi, each leading into a
lung. These main bronchi then split into smaller bronchi and into further smaller
tubes called bronchioles (bronchiol/o).
 Alveoli (alveol/o): “Air sacs” that are found at the ends of the bronchioles.The
walls of these sacs are very thin and because they are surrounded by small
capillaries gas exchange occurs here.
 Epiglottis (epiglott/o) A flap of tissue that is connected to the cartilage around
the larynx. This flap covers the opening into the trachea when we are eating or
drinking. It prevents food from entering the lungs and instead it is directed down
into the esophagus.
 Lungs (pneum/o, pneumon/o, pulmon/o, pulm/o) Found in the thoracic cavity.
The right lung has three lobes (lob/o) and the left has two. Inside each lung are
about 300 million small alveoli (alveol/o) that are surrounded by pulmonary
capillaries. It is here that O2 moves from the lung into the blood and CO2 moves
from the blood into the alveoli to be eliminated from the body. Because the chest
consists of two separate lungs there is a space that exists between the two. The
space between the lungs is called the mediastinum.
 Pleura (pleur/o) Each lung is enclosed in a multi-layered membrane called the
pleura. There are two layers to the pleura, the parietal (outside layer) and the
visceral (inside layer) and the space between these layers is called the pleural
space. There normally is nothing in this space except a lubricating substance that
prevents friction occurring as the lungs expand and contract.
 Diaphragm is the muscle that separates the chest cavity from the abdominal
cavity. Breathing action is caused primarily by the contracting and relaxing of this
muscle.
Process of Breathing
Respiration is the exchange of gases that is essential for life. Breathing begins with air
entering though the mouth or the nose. Air that enters through the nose is warmed and
cleaned by the cilia and mucous membranes of the nose. The mouth is also lined with
mucous membranes but it doesn’t have the cilia present to clean the small dirt particles
from the air. The mouth also provides a means of expelling any mucous that is
produced by the respiratory system. Expelled mucous from the mouth is referred to as
phlegm or sputum. This process of breathing consists of an external and an internal
component.
External respiration is the exchange of gases in the lungs themselves. Air is inhaled into
the alveoli and the oxygen passes into tiny surrounding capillaries and is carried to all
body cells. At the same time carbon dioxide, the waste product of metabolism, passes
from the blood into the alveoli to be removed as we expire air.
Revised 2005-09-13
-119-
Internal respiration is the exchange of gases within the body cell itself. In this process
the oxygen moves from the bloodstream into the cell and vice versa the carbon dioxide
moves out.
Most of the health problems that occur to the respiratory system are the result of a lack
of oxygen or a dysfunction in the gas exchange process. When there is not enough
oxygen the skin will take on a bluish color referred to as cyanosis. One of the most
common conditions that people experience involving the respiratory system is a
nosebleed. The medical term for a nosebleed is epistaxis.
Word Parts for the Respiratory System
Roots

























adenoid/o
alveol/o
atel/o
bronch/i, bronch/o
bronchiol/o
cyan/o
laryng/o
lob/o
muc/o
nas/o, rhin/o
olfact/o
or/o
ox/o, ox/i, ox/y
pector/o, steth/o, thorac/o
pharyng/o
phren/o
phon/o
pleur/a, pleur/o
pneumon/o, pulmon/o,
pneumat/o, pneum/o
sept/o
sinus/o
spir/o
thorac/o
tonsill/o
trache/o
adenoids
alveolus, air sacs
incomplete
bronchus
bronchioles, little bronchi
blue
larynx, voice box
lobe
mucus
nose
smell
mouth
oxygen
chest
pharynx, throat
diaphragm
sound, voice
pleura, pleural cavity
lungs, air, respiration
partition
sinuses
breathing
pleural cavity, chest
tonsils
trachea, windpipe
Prefixes
 eu pneu-
Revised 2005-09-13
well, good
lungs, air
-120-
Suffixes










-capnia
-ectasis
-graphy
-meter
-oxia
-phonia
-plegia
-pnea
-ptysis
-thorax
level of carbon dioxide
stretch, dilate, enlargement
process of recording, producing images
measure
level of oxygen
voice
paralysis
breathing
spitting
pleural cavity, chest
Term Analysis and Definition
Word Part
Term
adenoid/o
adenoidectomy
adenoid = adenoids
-ectomy = surgical
removal
Surgical removal of the
adenoids.
alveol/o
alveolar
alveol = air sac,
alveolus
-ar = pertaining to
Pertaining to the air sacs
alveolitis
-itis = inflammation
Inflammation of the alveolus
bronchitis
bronch = bronchus
-itis = inflammation
Inflammation of the bronchus
bronchiectasis
-ectasis = dilation,
stretching
Dilation of the bronchus
bronchoscopy
-scopy = process of
visual examination
Process of visually examining
the bronchus
bronchiol/o
bronchiolitis
Inflammation of the small
bronchial tubes
cyan/o
cyanosis
bronchiol = little
bronchi
-itis = inflammation
cyan = blue
-osis= condition
cyanotic
-ic
Pertaining to bluish skin color
laryngeal
laryng = voice box,
larynx
-eal = pertaining to
Pertaining to the voice box
bronch/i,
bronch/o
laryng/o
Revised 2005-09-13
Term Analysis
-121-
Definition
Condition where the skin takes
on a bluish color because of a
lack of oxygen
Word Part
Term
lob/o
lobar
lob = lobe
-ar = pertaining to
Pertaining to the lobe (of the
lung)
lobectomy
-ectomy = surgical
removal
Surgical removal of a lobe (of
the lung).
muc/o
mucolytic
muc = mucus
-lytic = breakdown
Breakdown of mucus.
nas/o
rhin/o
nasolacrimal
nas = nose
lacrim = lacrimal
apparatus
-al = pertaining to
Pertaining to the nose and
lacrimal apparatus
nasopharyngeal
pharyng = pharynx
-eal = pertaining to
Pertaining to the nose and
pharynx
rhinoplasty
rhin = nose
-plasty = surgical
repair
Surgical repair of the nose
rhinorrhea
-rrhea = discharge
Discharge from the nose
rhinitis
-itis = inflammation
Inflammation of the lining of
the nose
anoxia
a = no, lack of
ox = oxygen
-ia = condition
Condition where there is a lack
of oxygen
hypoxia
hypo = deficiency
Deficiency in oxygen
pector/o
pectoral
pector = chest
-al = pertaining to
Pertaining to the chest
pharyng/o
oropharyngeal
or = mouth
pharyng = throat,
pharynx
-eal = pertaining to
Pertaining to the mouth and
throat
pharyngoglossal
-gloss = tongue
-al = pertaining to
Pertaining to the tongue and
throat
phrenic
phren = diaphragm
-ic = pertaining to
Pertaining to the diaphragm
phrenoplegia
-plegia = paralysis
Paralysis of the diaphragm
ox/o, ox/i,
ox/y
phren/o
Revised 2005-09-13
Term Analysis
-122-
Definition
Word Part
Term
pleur/a,
pleur/o
pleuracentesis
pleur = pleura
-centesis = surgical
puncture to remove
fluid
Surgical puncture into the
pleura to remove fluid
pleuralgia
-algia = pain
Pain in the pleura
pneumonectomy
pneumon = lungs
-ectomy = surgical
excision
Surgical removal of the lungs
pneumonia
-ia = condition
Abnormal condition of the lung
pulmonary
-ary = pertaining to
Pertaining to the lungs
pneumatic
pneumat = air, lungs,
respiration
-ic = pertaining to
Pertaining to air or respiration.
pneumopleuritis
pleur = pleura
-itis = inflammation
Inflammation of the pleura and
the lungs
pneumorrhagia
-rrhagia = bursting
forth
Bleeding from the lungs
pansinusitis
pan = all
sinus = sinuses
-itis = inflammation
Inflammation of all the sinus.
sinusotomy
-tomy = Surgical
incision
Surgical incision into the sinus.
spir/o
spirometer
spir = breathing
-meter = meter for
measuring
Instrument used to measure
breathing
steth/o
stethoscope
steth = chest
-scope = instrument
used to examine
Instrument used to listen to the
chest.
thorac/o
thoracoplasty
thorac = chest
-plasty = surgical
repair
Surgical repair of the chest.
thoracotomy
-otomy = opening into
Process of cutting into the
chest
pneumon/o,
pulmon/o
pneumat/o
pneum/o
sinus/o
Revised 2005-09-13
Term Analysis
-123-
Definition
Word Part
tonsill/o
trache/o
Term
Term Analysis
Definition
thoracodynia
dynia = pain
Chest pain.
tonsillar
tonsill = tonsils
-ar = pertaining to
Pertaining to the tonsils
tonsillitis
-itis = inflammation
Inflammation of the tonsils
tonsillectomy
-ectomy = surgical
removal
Surgical removal of the tonsils
endotracheal
endo = within
trache = trachea
-eal = pertaining to
Pertaining to within the
trachea.
laryngotracheobronchitis
laryng = larynx
bronch = bronchus
-itis = inflammation
Inflammation of the larynx,
trachea and bronchus.
tracheostomy
-stomy = Create a
permanent opening
Creation a permanent opening
into the trachea
tracheotomy
-tomy = Surgical
incision
bronch = bronchus
-ectasis = dilation
Surgical incision into the
trachea
Dilation of the bronchus.
-ectasis
bronchiectasis
-phonia
aphonia
a = no, lack of
phonia = voice
Loss of voice
dysphonia
dys = difficult, painful
Difficulty speaking
apnea
a = no, lack of
-pnea = breathing
No breathing
bradypnea
brady = slow
Slow breathing
dyspnea
dys = difficult, painful
Painful breathing
eupnea
eu = normal
Normal breathing
hyperpnea
hyper = abnormal
increase, excessive
Abnormal increase in breathing
oligopnea
oligo = scanty, few
Scanty breathing
orthopnea
ortho = straight
Breathing only when sitting up
or standing straight
-pnea
Revised 2005-09-13
-124-
Word Part
Term
Term Analysis
Definition
tachypnea
tachy = fast
Fast breathing
hypercapnia
hyper = excessive
-capnia = level of
carbon dioxide
Excessive amount of carbon
dioxide in the blood
hypocapnia
hypo = decrease
Decrease in the carbon dioxide
in the blood
-graphy
bronchography
bronch = bronchus
-graphy = process of
recording
Process of recording the lungs
using X-Ray
-ptysis
hemoptysis
hem = blood
-ptysis = spitting
Spitting up blood
-thorax
hemothorax
hem = blood
-thorax = chest
Blood in the chest
pneumothorax
pneum = air
Air in the chest
pyothorax
py = pus
Pus in the chest
-capnia
Vocabulary Words
Aspiration:
The process of taking substances in or out by means of suction.
Asthma:
A disease of the bronchi characterized by wheezing, dyspnea and a feeling
of constriction in the chest.
Croup:
A respiratory disease characterized by a “barking” cough, dyspnea,
hoarseness and laryngeal spasm.
Epistaxis:
Nosebleed.
Heimlich maneuver:
A technique for removing a foreign body (usually a bolus of food) that is
blocking the trachea.
Nares:
The nostrils.
Pertussis:
Whooping cough.
Pneumonia: Inflammation of the lung caused by bacteria, viruses or chemical irritants.
Revised 2005-09-13
-125-
Rale:
An abnormal sound heard on auscultation of the chest, a crackling, rattling
or bubbling sound.
Sputum:
Spit.
Abbreviations:
CF:
Cystic Fibrosis
CO2
Carbon dioxide
COLD
Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease
O2
Oxygen
SIDS
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
SOB
Shortness of Breath
T and A
Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy
TB
Tuberculosis
Revised 2005-09-13
-126-