Comprehensive Medical Terminology Ch. 11

Kussmaul respirations

Are a very deep, gasping type of respirations associated with severe diabetic acidosis.

Laryngopharynx

Lower portion of the larynx that extends from the vestibule of the larynx (the portion just above the vocal cords) to the lowermost cartilage of the larynx.

Adenoids

Lymphatic tissue forming a prominence on the wall of the recess of the nasopharynx.

Palatine tonsils

Lymphatic tissue located in the depression of the mucous membrane of fauces ( the constricted opening leading from the mouth and the oral pharynx) and the pharynx.

Nares

External nostrils.

Pleural rub

Friction rub caused by inflammation of the pleural space.

Stridor

Harsh sound during respiration; high-pitched and resembling the blowing of wind, due to obstruction of air passages.

Epistaxis

Hemorrhage from the nose; nosebleed.

Paranasal sinuses

Hollow areas or cavities within the skull that communicate with the nasal cavity.

Hypercapnia

Increased amount of carbon dioxide in the blood.

Sinusitis

Inflammation of a sinus, especially of a paranasal sinus.

Pleuritis (pleurisy)

Inflammation of both visceral and parietal pleura.

Laryngitis

Inflammation of the larynx, usually resulting in dysphonia (hoarseness), cough, and difficulty swallowing.

Bronchitis

Inflammation of the mucous membrane of the bronchial tubes. Infection is often preceded by the common cold.

Rhinitis

Inflammation of the mucous membranes of the nose, usually resulting in obstruction of the nasal passages, rhinorrhea, sneezing, and facial pressure or pain, also known as coryza.

Tonsillitis

Inflammation of the palatine tonsils, located in the area of the oropharynx.

Pharyngitis

Inflammation of the pharynx, usually resulting in sore throat.

Hypoxemia

Insufficient oxygenation of arterial blood.

Viscer/o

Internal organs

Hemoptysis

Is expectoration of blood arising from the oral cavity, larynx, trachea, bronchi, or lungs.

Coryza

Is inflammation of the respiratory mucous membranes, known as rhinitis or the common cold.

Palpation

Is the process of examining by application of the hands or fingers the external surface of the body to detect evidence of disease or abnormalities on the various organs.

Rhinorrhea

Is thin, watery discharge from the nose.

Bronchiole

One of the smaller subdivisions of the bronchial tubes.

Laryngalgia

Pain in the larynx.

Asthma

Paroxysmal dyspnea accompanied by wheezing caused by a spasm of the bronchial tubes or by swelling of their mucous membrane.

Nasopharynx

Part of the pharynx located above the soft palate (postnasal space).

Pharynx

Passageway for air from nasal cavity to larynx and food from mouth to esophagus. Serves both the respiratory and digestive systems; the throat.

Visceral pleura

Portion of the pleura that is closest to the internal organs.

Parietal pleural

Portion of the pleura that is closest to the ribs.

Auscultation

Process of listening for sounds within the body, usually to sounds of thoracic or abdominal viscera, to detect some abnormal condition or to detect fetal heart sounds.

Empyema

Pus in a body cavity, especially in the pleural cavity (pyothorax); usually the result of a primary infection in the lungs.

Rhonchi

Rales or rattlings in the throat, especially when it resembles snoring.

Orthopnea

Respiratory condition in which there is a discomfort in breathing in any but erect, sitting, or standing position.

Diphtheria

Serious infectious disease affecting the nose, pharynx, or larynx, usually resulting in sore throat, dysphonia, and fever.

Cyanosis

Slightly bluish, grayish, slatelike, or dark discoloration of the skin due to presence of abnormal amounts or reduced hemoglobin in the blood.

Sneeze

To expel air forcibly through the nose and mouth by spasmodic contraction of muscles of expiration due to irritation of nasal mucosa.

Percussion

Use of the fingertips to tap the body lightly but sharply to determine position, size, and consistency of an underlying structure and the presence of fluid or pus in a cavity.

Inspection

Visual examination of the external surface of the body as well as of its movements and posture.

alveol/o

alveolus

scope

an instrument used to view

pne/o

breathing

bronch/o

bronchus

bronchiol/o

bronchus

pector/o

chest

thor/a

chest

thorac/o

chest

epiglotto

epiglottis

laryng/o

larynx

pulmon/o

lungs

pneum/o

lungs; air

pneumon/o

lungs; air

phren/o

mind; also refers to diaphragm

nas/o

nose

rhin/o

nose

pharyng/o

pharynx

pleur/o

pleura

sinus/o

sinus

orth/o

straight

ectasis

stretching or dilatation

trache/o

trachea

Croup

A childhood disease characterized by a barking cough, hoarseness, tachypnea, inspiratory stridor, and laryngeal spasm.

Emphysema

A chronic pulmonary disease characterized by increase beyond the normal in the size of air spaces distal to the terminal bronchiole, either from dilation of the alveoli or from destruction of their walls.

Trachea

A cylinder shaped tube lined with rings of cartilage (to keep it open) that is 4.5 inches long from the larynx to the bronchial tubes; the windpipe.

Cough

A forceful and sometimes violent expiratory effort preceded by a preliminary inspiration.

Influenza

A highly contagious viral infection of the respiratory tract transmitted by airborne droplet infection.

Lung abscess

A localized collection of pus formed by the destruction of lung tissue and microorganisms by white blood cells that have migrated to the areas to fight infection.

Bronchogenic carcinoma

A malignant lung tumor that originates in the bronchi, lung cancer.

Apnea

A temporary cessation of breathing; without breathing.

Epiglottis

A thin, leaf-shaped structure located immediately posterior to the root of the tongue; covers the entrance of the larynx when the individuals swallows.

Septum

A wall dividing two cavities.

Wheeze

A whistling sound of sighing sound resulting from narrowing of the lumen of a respiratory passageway.

Tachypnea

Abnormal rapidity of breathing.

Bradypnea

Abnormally slow breathing.

Pleural effusion

Accumulation of fluid in the pleural space, resulting in compression of the underlying portion of the lung, with resultant dyspnea.

Alveoli

Air cells of the lungs; known as the pulmonary parenchyma (functional units of the lungs).

Dyspnea

Air hunger resulting in labored or difficulty breathing, sometimes accompanied by pain.

Hyaline membrane disease

Also known as respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) of the premature infant.

Rales

An abnormal sound heard on auscultation of the chest, produced by passage of air through bronchi that contain secretion or exudate or that are constricted by spasm or thickening of their walls, also known as crackle.

Pertussis

An acute upper respiratory infectious disease caused by the Bordatella pertussis bacterium; "whooping cough."

Capillaries

Any of the minute (tiny) blood vessels. The _______connect the ends of the smallest arteries (arterioles) with the beginnings of the smallest veins ( venules).

Oropharynx

Central portion of the pharynx lying between the soft palate and upper portion of the epiglottis.

Bronchiecstasis

Chronic dilatation of a bronchus or bronchi, with secondary of infection that usually involves the lower portion of the lung.

Hypoxia

Deficiency of oxygen.

Dysphonia

Difficulty in speaking; hoarseness.

Aymptomatic

Without symptoms.

Bronchi

The two main branches leading from the trachea to the lungs, providing the passageway for air movement.

Apex

The upper portion of the lung, rising about 2.5 to 5 cm above the collarbone.

Sputum

Substance coughed up from the lungs, bronchi, and trachea that is expelled through the mouth.

Expectoration

The act of spitting out saliva or coughing up materials from the air passageways leading to the lungs.

Thorax

The chest; that part of the body between the base of the neck and the diaphragm.

Pleura

The double-folded membrane that lines the thoracic cavity.

Larynx

The enlarged upper end of the trachea below the root of the tongue; the voice box.

Pulmonary parenchyma

The functional units of the lungs ( ex. the alveoli) which have very thin walls that allow for the exchange of gases between the lungs and the blood.

Base

The lowest part of the lung, resting on the diaphragm.

Mediastinum

The mass of organs and tissues separating the lungs. It contains the heart, aorta, trachea, esophagus, and bronchi.

Diaphragm

The musculomembranous wall separating the abdomen from the thoracic cavity.

Phrenic nerve

The nerve known as the motor nerve to the diaphragm.

Glottis

The sound-producing apparatus of the larynx, consisting of the two vocal folds and the intervening space ( the epiglottis protects the opening).

Pleural space

The space that separates the visceral and parietal pleurae, which contains a small amount of fluid that acts as a lubricant to the pleural surfaces during respiration.