Chapter 7 Medical
Terminology
and
Chapter 17 Body
Structures
THE RESPIRATORY
SYSTEM
Functions of the Respiratory System
Deliver oxygen-rich air to the blood
cells
 Expel waste products
(CO2 and water)
 Produce air flow through the larynx
that makes speech possible

Structures of the Respiratory System
– divided into upper and lower tracts

Upper Respiratory Tract
– Nose
– Mouth
– Pharynx
– Epiglottis
– Larynx
– Trachea
• Lower Respiratory Tract
• Bronchial tree
• Lungs
www.sirinet.net/~jgjohnso/ respiratory.html
The Nose
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Nasal Cavity: air enters nose and
passes through the nasal cavity
Nasal Septum: wall of cartilage
that divides the nose into two
equal sections
Mucous membrane: epithelial
tissue that lines the nose and
respiratory system
Mucus: helps moisten, warm, and
filter the air as it enters the nose
Cilia: thin hair inside nostrils, filter
incoming air to remove debris
Olfactory receptors: receptors
for the sense of smell
The Tonsils


Function to protect the
body from invading
organisms
Form a protective circle
around the entrance to
the respiratory system
The Sinuses - Air-filled cavities within a bone
that is lined with mucous membrane

Functions
–
–
–
To make the bones of
the skull lighter
To help produce sound
by giving resonance to
the voice
To produce mucus that
drains into the nasal
cavity
Paranasal Sinuses – named for the bones in
which they are located
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Maxillary: largest of the
paranasal sinuses
Frontal: in the frontal bone just
above the eyebrows
Ethmoid: irregularly shaped
air cells, separated from the
orbital cavity by a thin layer of
bone
Sphenoid: close to the optic
nerves, infection here can
damage vision
The Pharynx - throat

Three divisions:
–
–
–
Nasopharynx: posterior to
the nasal cavity and continues
downward to behind the
mouth
Oropharynx: the portion that
is visible when looking into the
mouth, shared by both the
respiratory and digestive
systems
Laryngopharynx: continues
downward to the openings of
the esophagus and trachea

Protective Swallowing
Mechanisms:
–
–
Soft palate: moves up and
backward to close off the
nasopharynx, prevents food
from going up into the nose
Epiglottis: lid-like structure
at the base of the tongue,
swings down and closes off
the laryngopharynx so food
does not enter the trachea
and the lungs –
The Larynx – voice box



Located between the pharynx
and the trachea
Thyroid cartilage: largest of
nine cartilages that hold open
and protects larynx
(Adam’s Apple)
Vocal cords: during breathing,
separated to allow air
passage, during speech,
together and sound is
produced as air is expelled
from the lungs- the cords
vibrate against each other
The Trachea - windpipe

Anterior to the
esophagus, passes
from the neck into the
chest, flexible for
movement due to
elastic wall between Cshaped cartilage rings
Lower Respiratory Tract
The Bronchial Tree

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Trachea divides into 2
branches called
bronchii, one branch
into each lung
Once inside the lung,
bronchii divide into
smaller bronchioles
Alveoli: grapelike
clusters of air sacs
found at the end of
bronchioles
The Lungs

Lobes: division of lungs
–
RT Lung: 3 lobes
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–
LT Lung: 2 lobes
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Superior
Middle
Inferior
Superior
inferior
Mediastinum: between the
lungs
–
–
–
–
–
–
Heart
Aorta
Esophagus
Trachea
Bronchial tubes
Thymus gland
MEDIASTINUM:
1. Superior Vena Cava
2. Rt Atrium
3. Inferior Vena Cava
4. Arch of the Aorta
5. Lt Pulmonary trunk
6. Lt Pulmonary artery
7. Auricle of Lt atrium
8. Left Ventricle
9. Left Cardiophrenic
angle
The Pleura – multilayered membrane surrounding
each lung

Parietal Pleura: outer layer of
the pleura
–

Visceral Pleura: inner layer of
pleura
–

Lines the thoracic cavity and
forms the sac containing each
lung
Closely surrounds the lung
tissue
Pleural space: between the
folds of the pleural
membranes, contains
lubricating fluid to prevent
friction during respiration
The Diaphragm


Muscle that separates
the thoracic cavity from
the abdomen,
contraction/relaxation
makes breathing
possible
Phrenic nerve:
stimulates diaphragm to
contract during
respiration
Respiration

External Respiration
–
–
Inhalation: taking in air as the
diaphragm contracts and pulls
downward, causing the
thoracic cavity to expand
Expiration: breathing out as
the diaphragm relaxes and
moves upward causing the
thoracic cavity to become
narrower

The Exchange of Gases
within the Lungs
–
–
Air inhaled into the alveoli
forces Oxygen (O2) to pass
into the surrounding
capillaries and is carried by
the erythrocytes to all body
cells
CO2 is produced and
passes from the capillaries
into the airspaces of the
lungs to be exhaled

Internal Respiration
• Exchange of gases
within the cells of all the
body organs and
tissues
• Oxygen passes from
the bloodstream into
the tissue cells as
carbon dioxide passes
from the tissue cells in
the blood stream
Medical Specialties Related to the
Respiratory System




Otorhinolaryngologist
Pulmonologist
Respiratory Therapist
Allergist
Pathology of the Respiratory System

COPD: general term used to
describe a group of respiratory
conditions characterized by
chronic airflow limitations
Asthma

Chronic allergic disorder
characterized by episodes of
severe breathing difficulty,
coughing, and wheezing

Breathing difficulties during an
attack is caused by:
–
–
–
Swelling and inflammation of
the lining of the airways
Production of thick mucus
Tightening of the muscles that
surround the airways
Bronchiectasis

Chronic dilation of bronchi or
bronchioles resulting from
an earlier lung infection that
was not cured
Emphysema

Progressive loss of lung
function due to:
–
–
–
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Decrease in the total # of
alveoli
The enlargement of the
remaining alveoli
Progressive destruction of
their walls
Breathing becomes rapid,
shallow, and difficult
Lungs expand, barrel shape
chest
Upper Respiratory Diseases

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Allergic rhinitis
Croup
Diphtheria
Epistaxis
Influenza
Pertussis
Rhinorrhea
Sinusitis
Upper Respiratory infection
Pharynx and Larynx

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Pharyngitis
Laryngoplegia
Laryngospasm
Voice disorders:
–
–
–
Aphonia: loss of the ability to produce normal
speech sounds
Dysphonia: any voice impairment
Laryngitis: inflammation of the larynx
Pleural Cavity
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Pleurisy: inflammation of pleura
Pneumothorax: accumulation of air or gas in the pleural space
causing the lung to collapse (stab wound, perforation in the pleura
surrounding the lung, etc.)
Pleural Effusion: abnormal escape of fluid into the pleural cavity
that prevents the lung from fully expanding
Empyema: accumulation of pus in the pleural cavity
Hemothorax: accumulation of blood in the pleural cavity
Hemoptysis: spitting of blood or blood-stained sputum
Lungs
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ARDS: lung failure resulting from many different
disorders that cause pulmonary edema
Pulmonary edema: accumulation of fluid in the lung
tissue
Atelectasis: collapsed lung, lung fails to expand
because air cannot pass beyond the bronchioles that
are blocked by secretions
TB: tuberculosis – making a come back
Pneumonia: infection of the lung
Aspiration Pneumonia: infection of the lung caused
by breathing something into the lungs
Breathing Disorders

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Tachypnea: abnormally rapid rate of respiration >20
bpm
Bradypnea: abnormally slow rate of respiration <10
bpm
Apnea:absence of spontaneous respiration AKA SAS (sleep apnea)
Dyspnea: SOB, difficult breathing or labored
breathing
Hyperventilation: abnormally rapid deep breathing,
resulting in decreased levels of CO2 at cellular level
Lack of Oxygen
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Airway obstruction: foreign object blocks the
airway and prevents air from entering or leaving
lungs
Anoxia
Asphyxia
Cyanosis: bluish discoloration of the skin caused by
a lack of adequate oxygen
Hypoxia
Respiratory failure: the level of oxygen in the blood
becomes dangerously low or the level of CO2
becomes dangerously high
Diagnostic Procedures of the
Respiratory System

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Respiratory Rate: # respirations/min –
normal range = 15-20 rpm
PFT’s: measures capacity of the lungs and
ability to move air in/out and to exchange O2
and CO2
Bronchoscopy
Laryngoscope
Chest Imaging
Treatment Procedures of the
Respiratory System

Medications
–
–
–
Bronchodilator is a medication that can be
aerosolized to relax the airways.
MDI is also called a rescue inhaler, it delivers a
puff of medication that is inhaled.
Nebulizer dispenses a larger dose of the
bronchodilator over a longer duration in the form
of a mist that is breathed in.
bronchoscopy
intubation
Lung transplant
Chest tubes
ventilator
tracheostomy