| Term | Definition |
| Inspiration | Air goes into the lungs when the diaphragm and intercostal muscles contract. |
| Expiration | Air is forced out of the lungs when the diaphragm and intercostal muscles relax. |
| Mucous | membrane A thin layer of tissue that produces mucus. |
| Mucus | A sticky substance that traps particulates and prevents them from traveling through the respiratory system. |
| Cilia | Microscopic hairs that move particulates trapped in mucus out of the respiratory system. |
| Pharynx | More commonly known as the throat. |
| Larynx | More commonly known as the voice box or glottis. |
| Trachea | More commonly known as the windpipe. |
| Bronchi | Small air passages that are lined with mucous membranes and lead to the lungs. |
| Bronchioles | Very small airways that lead to the alveoli. |
| Alveoli | Air sacs at the end of the bronchioles that exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood. |
| COPD | Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease |
| RSV | Respiratory Syncytial Virus |
| SARS | Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome |
| Axial skeleton | The trunk of the body (excluding arms and legs) |
| Cervical | Uppermost area of spine (top seven vertebrae) |
| Coccyx | Lower tip of the spine |
| Diaphysis | The shaft part of a long bone |
| Distal skeleton | Bones farthest from the axial skeleton (lower arms, lower legs, hands, feet) |
| Epiphysis | The knob end of a long bone |
| Intervertebral disc | A cartilage cushion between vertebrae in the spine |
| Lumbar | Spine of the lower back (five vertebrae below thoracic) |
| Metaphysis | Where the diaphysis joins the epiphysis |
| Proximal skeleton | Bones closest to the axial skeleton (upper arms and legs) |
| Sacrum | Vertebrae within the pelvic girdle, which fuse in late teen years |
| Thoracic | Spine of the upper body (middle 12 vertebrae) |
| Vertebra | A cylindrical bone of the spinal column, enclosing the spinal cord |
| Flexors | Muscles that contract or bend at the joint |
| Extensors | Muscles that extend at the joint (opposite of flexors) |
| Abductors | Muscles that move body parts away from the trunk |
| Adductors | Muscles that move body parts toward the trunk |
| Greenstick | Incomplete fracture (think of breaking a tree branch that's still green) |
| Closed | Simple, complete |
| Open | Compound |
| Impacted | Telescoped |
| Spiral | The break encircles the bone in a spiral shape |
| Comminuted | The bone is broken, splintered or crushed in several pieces |
