Term | Definition |
Anthrac/o | coal or coal dust |
Asbest/o | asbestos |
Atel/o | incomplete or imperfect |
Bronch/o | bronchi |
Capn/o | carbon dioxide |
Coni/o | dust |
Cyan/o | blue |
Hem/o | blood |
Laryng/o | larynx |
Ot/o | ear |
Ox/i | oxygen |
Pharyng/o | pharynx |
Phon/o | voice or sound |
Pneum/o or Pneumon/o | lung |
Pulmon/o | lung |
Py/o | pus |
Rhin/o | nose |
Sept/o | septum |
Sinus/o | sinus |
Spir/o | to breathe |
Thorac/o and –thorax | chest |
Trache/o | trachea |
Turbercul/o | little knot |
-centesis | surgical puncture to remove fluid |
-ectasis | stretching |
-ectomy | surgical removal |
-emia | abnormal blood condition |
-ia | abnormal condition |
-itis | inflammation |
-meter | means to measure |
-ologist | specialist |
-osis | abnormal condition |
-otomy | surgical incision |
-ostomy | surgical creation of an opening |
-plasty | surgical repair |
-plegia | paralysis |
-pnea | breathing |
-ptysis | spitting |
-rrhagia | excessive bleeding |
-rrhea | abnormal flow or discharge |
-scopy | visual examination |
-spasm | involuntary contraction |
A or An- | without |
Brady- | abnormally slow |
Dys- | bad/difficult/painful/abnormal |
Hyper- | excessive |
Hypo- | deficient/decreased |
Tachy- | abnormally rapid |
Otorhinolaryngologist | specialist in the ear/nose/throat |
Pulmonologist | specialist in the lungs |
Sinusitis | inflammation of the sinuses |
Rhinitis | inflammation of the nose (due to allergies) |
Rhinorrhea | abnormal discharge of the nose (runny nose) |
Pharyngitis | inflammation of the pharynx |
Laryngitis | inflammation of the larynx |
Laryngoplegia | paralysis of the larynx |
Laryngospasm | contraction (tightening) of the larynx |
Aphonia | abnormal condition without voice |
Dysphonia | abnormal condition of a bad voice |
Bronchitis | inflammation of the bronchi |
Bronchorrhea | abnormal discharge (of mucus) from the bronchi |
Asthma | chronic allergic disease characterized by episodes of breathing difficulty/coughing/wheezing |
Bronchospasm | contraction (tightening) of the bronchi |
Pneumonia | Abnormal condition of the lung (serious lung infection and/or inflammation) |
Aspiration Pneumonia | type of pneumonia that occurs when a foreign substance is inhaled into the lungs |
Hemoptysis | spitting (up) blood |
Pneumothorax | “lung chest” (a condition where an accumulation of air or gas in the chest causes the lung to collapse) |
Hemothorax | “blood chest” (a condition in which there is blood in the chest cavity) |
Pyothorax | “pus chest” (a condition in which there is pus in the chest cavity) |
Atelectasis | incomplete stretching (of the lung due to shallow breathing) |
Anthracosis | Abnormal condition of coal or coal dust (in the lungs; also called black lung disease) |
Asbestosis | Abnormal condition of asbestos (in the lungs) |
Pneumoconiosis | Abnormal condition of lung dust (lung tissues become fibrous after prolonged exposure) |
Tuberculosis | Abnormal condition of knots (in the lungs; caused by the an infectious disease that mainly affects individuals who also have an immunodeficiency disorder) |
Cystic Fibrosis | genetic disorder in which the lungs and pancreas are clogged with mucus |
Eupnea | good or normal breathing |
Apnea | without (spontaneous) breathing |
Bradypnea | (abnormally) slow breathing |
Tachypnea | (abnormally) rapid breathing |
Dyspnea | bad or difficult breathing |
Hyperpnea | excessive breathing (faster and deeper) |
Hypopnea | decreased breathing (slower and shallower) |
Hypercapnia | abnormal condition of excessive carbon dioxide |
Anoxia | abnormal condition without oxygen |
Cyanosis | abnormal condition of blue (from lack of oxygen) |
Hypoxia | abnormal condition of decreased oxygen (in the tissues) |
Hypoxemia | abnormal blood condition of decreased oxygen |
Bronchoscopy | visual examination of the bronchi |
Laryngoscopy | visual examination of the larynx |
Oximeter | means to measure oxygen |
Spirometer | means to measure breathing (air volume) |
Septoplasty | surgical repair of the septum |
Pharyngoplasty | surgical repair of the pharynx |
Tracheotomy | surgical incision into the trachea |
Tracheostomy | surgical creation of an opening into the trachea |
Laryngectomy | surgical removal of the larynx |
Laryngoplasty | surgical repair of the larynx |
Pneumonectomy | surgical removal of the lung |
Thoracentesis | surgical puncture to remove fluid from the chest |
Br | Bronchitis |
bronch | bronchoscopy |
CSB | Cheyne-Stokes breathing |
CF | Cystic Fibrosis |
diph | diphtheria |
PCP | Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia |
Pno | pneumothorax |
PPV | Positive Pressure Ventilation |
SAS | Sleep Apnea Syndrome |
URI | Upper Respiratory Infection |