Medical Terminology Quiz: Respiratory

Respiratory Anatomy Terms

• rhin/o: Refers to the nose; used in various medical terms involving nasal conditions or treatments.
• nas/o: Another prefix for nose, highlighting common terminology in medical vocabulary that describes nasal anatomy or functions.
• sin(us)/o: Denotes sinus; relevant for conditions involving the sinus cavities.
• sept/o: Indicates septum, the structure that divides the nasal cavity into two nostrils.
• antr/o: Refers to antrum, a cavity or chamber within the body, often linked to the sinus area.
• pharyng/o: Stands for pharynx; crucial in describing conditions related to the throat.
• nas/o/pharyngo/o & rhin/o/pharyngo/o: Combined terms for pharynx, illustrating connections between nasal passages and the throat.
• epi/glott(id)/o: Pertains to the epiglottis, a flap that prevents food from entering the trachea during swallowing.
• laryng/o: Refers to the larynx; significant for discussions about voice and airway issues.
• trach/e/o: Represents the trachea, the windpipe that connects the throat and lungs.
• bronch/o & bronch/i: Terms for bronchus, the main air passages into the lungs.
• pne/um(on)/o: Relates to lung or air; foundational in respiratory system terminology.
• pulm(on)/o: Specifically denotes lung; often used in discussions regarding respiratory health.
• pleur/o: Indicates pleura, the membrane surrounding the lungs.
• phren/o: Refers to diaphragm, the primary muscle involved in breathing.
• dia/phragm(at)/o: Another term for diaphragm, highlighting its importance in respiratory mechanics.
• medi/ast/in/o: Pertains to mediastinum, the central compartment of the thoracic cavity that houses major organs.
• spir/o: Represents breathing; included in terms related to respiratory rate and effort.
• pne/o: Another term for breathing, emphasizing its role in respiratory documentation.
• pne/um(at)/o: Denotes air or lung, often used in medical conditions relating to both.

Pluralization Rules in Medical Terminology

• Plural of x-us: Transformed to i; common in anatomical terms (e.g., fungus to fungi).
• Plural of x-ae: Changes to a; used in various terms to denote multiple structures (e.g., vertebra to vertebrae).
• Plural of x-a: Pluralized to um/on; frequently found in biological classifications (e.g., larva to larvae).
• Plural of x-es: Converts to s/is; examples include crisis to crises.
• Plural of x-ia: Pluralizes to e; relevant in many medical terms (e.g., bacteria to bacteria).