Question | Answer |
Carbon dioxide | tasteless, colorless, odorless gas produced by body cells during the metabolic process |
Cartilage | tough, elastic connective tissue that is more rigid than ligaments but less dense than bone |
Cilia | any hairlike structure |
Diffuse | moving or spreading out of a substance at random, rather than by chemical reaction or application of external forces |
Mucous membrane | moist tissue layer lining hollow organs and cavities of the body that open to the environment, also called mucosa |
Oxygen | tastless, colorless, odorless gas essential for human respiration |
Septum | wall dividing two cavities, such as the nasal septum, which separates the two nostrils |
Serous membrane | thin layer of tissue that covers internal body cavities, the cells of which secrete a fluid that keeps the membrane moist, also called serosa |
Nas/o | nose |
Rhin/o | nose |
Sept/o | septum |
Sinus/o | sinus, cavity |
Adenoid/o | adenoids |
Tonsil/o | tonsils |
Epiglott/o | epiglottis |
Laryng/o | larynx (voice box) |
Trache/o | trachea (windpipe) |
Bronchi/o | bronchus (bronchi) |
Bronch/o | bronchus, bronchi |
Bronchiol/o | bronchiole |
Alveol/o | alveolus, air sac |
Pleur/o | pleura |
Pneum/o | air, lung |
Pneumon/o | air, lung |
Pulmon/o | lung |
Anthrac/o | coal, coal dust |
Atel/o | incomplete, imperfect |
Coni/o | dust |
Cyan/o | blue |
Lob/o | lobe |
Orth/o | straight |
Ox/I | oxygen |
Ox/o | oxygen |
Pector/o | chest |
Steth/o | chest |
Thorac/o | chest |
Phren/o | diaphragm, mind |
Spir/o | breathe |
Capnia | carbon dioxide |
Osmia | smell |
Phonia | voice |
Pnea | breathing |
Ptysis | spitting |
Thorax | chest |
Brady | slow |
Dys | bad, painful, difficult |
Eu | good, normal |
Tachy | rapid |
Acidosis | excessive acidity of body fluids |
Anosmia | absence of the sense of smell |
Apnea | temporary loss of breathing, |
Sleep apnea | sleeping disorder in which breathing stops repeatedly for more than 10 seconds, causing measurable blood deoxygenation |
Obstructive apnea | caused by englarged tonsils and adenoids |
Central apnea | caused by failure of the brain to transmit impulses for breathing |
Mixed apnea | combination of obstructive and central |
Asphyxia | condition caused by insufficient intake of oxygen |
Atelectasis | collapsed or airless state o the lung, which may be acute or chronic and affect all or part of a lung – surgical complication, in fetal atelectasis the lungs fail to expand normally at birth |
cheyne-Stokes respiration | repeated breathing pattern characterized by fluctuation in the depth of respiration, first deeply, then shallow, then not at all. (heart failure, brain damage) |
compliance | ease with which lung tissue can be stretched |
coryza | head cold, upper resp. infection (URI) |
crackle | abnormal respiratory sound heard on auscultation, caused by exudates, spasms, hyperplasia, or when air enters moisture-filled alveoli, aka rale |
croup | common childhood condition involving inflammation of the larynx, trachea, bronchial passages, and sometimes lungs. |
Deviated nasal septum | displacement of cartilage dividing the nostrils |
Epiglottitis | severe, life-threatening infection of the epiglottis and supraglottic structures that occurs most commonly in children between 2 and 12 years of age. |
Epistaxis | nosebleed, nasal hemorrhage |
Finger clubbing | enlargement of the terminal phalanges of the fingers and toes, commonly associated with pulmonary disease |
Hypoxemia | deficiency of oxygen in the blood |
Hypoxia | deficiency of oxygen in tissues |
Pertussis | acute infectious disease characterized by a cough that has a “whoop” sound, also called whooping cough |
Pleurisy | inflammation of the pleural membrane characterized by a stabbing pain that is intensified by coughing or deep breathing, also called pleuritis |
Pneumoconiosis | disease caused by inhaling dust particles, including coal dust (anthracosis), stone dust (chalicosis), iron dust (siderosis) and asbestos particles (asbestosis) |
Pulmonary edema | accumulation of extravascular fluid in lung tissues and alveoli, caused most commonly by heart failure |
Pulmonary embolus | blockage in an artery of the lungs caused by a mass of undissolved matter (such as a blood clot, tissue, air bubbles, and bacteria) |
Rhonchus | abnormal breath sounds heard on auscultation |
Stridor | high-pitched, harsh, advenatitious breath sound caused by a spasm or swelling of the larynx or an obstruction in the upper airway |
Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) | completely unexpected and unexplained death of an apparently normal, healthy infant, usually less than 12 months of age, also called crib death |
Wheeze | whistling or sighing sound heard on auscultation that results from narrowing of the lumen of the respiratory passageway |
Mantoux test | intradermal test to determine tuberculin sensitivity based on a positive reaction where the area around the test site becomes red and swollen (doesn’t differentiate between active and inactive infection) |
Oximetry | noninvasive method of monitoring the percentage of Hb saturated with oxygen, also called pulse oximetry |
Polysomnography | test of sleep cycles and stages using EEGs, electrical activity of muscles, eye movement, resp. rate, BP, Blood ox.sat, heart rhythm and sometimes direct observation using a video camera |
Pulmonary function tests (PFTs) | multiple tests used to evaluate the ability of the lungs to take in and expel air as well as perform gas exchange across the alveolocapillary membrane |
Spirometry | measurement of ventilatory ability by assessing lung capacity and flow, including the time necessary for exhaling the total volume of inhaled air |
Bronchoscopy | visual exam of the bronchi using an endoscope – attachments can be used to suction mucus, remove foreign bodies, collect sputum, or perform biopsy |
Laryngoscopy | visual exam of the larynx to detect tumors, foreign bodies, nerve or structural injury or other abnormalities |
Mediastinoscopy | visual exam of the mediastinal structures including the heart, trachea, esophagus, bronchus, thymus and lymph nodes |
Arterial blood gas (ABG) | test that measures partial pressure of Oxygen, CO, pH and bicarbonate level of an arterial blood sample |
Sputum culture | microbial test used to identify disease-causing organisms of the lower respiratory tract, especially those that cause pneumonias |
Sweat test | measurement of the amount of salt in sweat (used in kids to confirm CF) |
Throat culture | test used to identify pathogens, especially group A strep |
Lung scan | nuclear scanning test primarily used to detect pulmonary emboli |
Aerosol therapy | lung treatment using various techniques to deliver medication in mist form directly to the lungs or air passageways. Techniques include nebulizers, metered-dose inhalers (MDIs) and dry powder inhalers (DPIs) |
Lavage | irrigating or washing out of an organ, stomach, bladder, bowel or body cavity with a stream of water or other fluid |
Antral lavage | irrigation of the antrum (maxillary sinus) in chronic or nonresponsive sinusitis. |
Postural drainage | positioning a patient so that gravity aids in the drainage of secretions from the bronchi and lobes of lungs |
Pleurectomy | excision of part of the pleura, usually parietal |
Pneumectomy | excision of a lung (removal of lobe is lobectomy) |
Rhinoplasty | reconstructive surgery of the nose to correct deformities or for cosmetic purposes |
Septoplasty | surgical repair of a deviated nasal septum usually performed when the septum is encroaching on the breathing passages or nasal structures |
Thoracentesis | surgical puncture and drainage of the pleural cavity; also called pleurocentesis or thoracocentesis |
Tracheostomy | surgical procedure in which an opening is made in the neck and into the trachea into which a breathing tube may be inserted |
AFB | acid-fast bacillus |
ARDS | acute respiratory distress syndrome |
CPAP | continuous positive airway pressure |
CXR | chest x-ray |
DPI | dry powder inhaler |
DPT | diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus |
FVC | forced vital capacity |
HMD | hyaline membrane disease |
IPPD | intermittent positive-pressure breathing |
IRDS | infant respiratory distress syndrome |
MDI | metered dose inhaler |
NMT | nebulized mist treatment |
PA | posteroanterior, pernicious anemia |
PCP | Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, primary care physician, phencyclidine (hallucinogen) |
PFT | pulmonary function test |
PND | paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea |
RD | respiratory distress |
RDS | respiratory distress syndrome |
SOB | shortness of breath |
T | tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy |
TB | tuberculosis |
TPR | temperature, pulse and respiration |
URI | upper respiratory infection |
VC | vital capacity |