Medical Terminology Respiratory Flashcards

Medical Terminology: Respiratory System

Alveol/o: Refers to alveolus (air sac), essential for gas exchange.
Bronch/o, Bronchi/o: Pertains to bronchus (airway), plays a crucial role in directing air into the lungs.
Bronchiol/o: Denotes bronchiole (little airway), smaller branches of the bronchus.
Capn/o, Carb/o: Represents carbon dioxide, a waste product of respiration.
Laryng/o: Represents the larynx (voice box), involved in sound production and airway protection.
Lob/o: Indicates lobe (a portion), lungs are divided into lobes for structural organization.
Nas/o, Rhin/o: Related to the nose, which acts as the entry point for air and filters out particles.
Or/o: Denotes the mouth, secondary route for air intake.
Ox/o: Relates to oxygen, vital for cellular metabolism.
Palat/o: Refers to palate, separates oral and nasal cavities.
Pharyng/o: Indicates the pharynx (throat), acts as a pathway for both air and food.
Phren/o: Refers to diaphragm, key muscle for respiration.
Pleur/o: Pertains to pleura, membrane surrounding the lungs.
Pneum/o, Pneumon/o: Signifies air or lung, foundational for pulmonary terminology.
Pulmon/o: Relates to lung, primary organ for gas exchange.
Sinus/o: Refers to sinus (cavity), air-filled spaces in the skull.
Spir/o: Indicates breathing, fundamental to respiratory function.
Thorac/o, Pector/o, Steth/o: Signifies chest, the area containing the lungs.
Tonsil/o: Refers to tonsil (almond), involved in immune response.
Trache/o: Denotes trachea (windpipe), connects throat and lungs.

Breathing Terms

Pnea: Suffix meaning breathing.
Eupnea: Normal, healthy breathing.
Bradypnea: Slow breathing rate, can indicate respiratory distress.
Tachypnea: Fast breathing, often a response to anxiety or hypoxia.
Hypopnea: Shallow breathing, can affect oxygen intake.
Hyperpnea: Deep breathing, often observed during exertion.
Dyspnea: Difficulty breathing, a common symptom of various conditions.
Apnea: Inability to breathe, can occur during sleep.
Orthopnea: Difficulty breathing except in an upright position.
Cheyne-Stokes respiration: Breathing pattern with cycles of deep and shallow breaths, leading to apnea.
Crackles, Rales: Abnormal lung sounds indicating fluid in the alveoli.
Wheezes, Rhonchi: High-pitched sounds suggesting narrowed airways.
Stridor: A high-pitched sound indicating upper airway obstruction.

Pathological Terms

Caseous necrosis: Tissue death with a cheese-like appearance, typical in tuberculosis.
Dysphonia: Hoarseness, often due to laryngeal issues.
Epistaxis: Nosebleed, indicates vascular fragility or trauma.
Expectoration: Coughing up material from the lungs.
Sputum: Mucus expelled from the lungs during coughing.
Hemoptysis: Coughing up blood, a serious indicator of pulmonary issues.
Hypercapnia, Hypercarbia: Excess carbon dioxide in the blood.
Hyperventilation: Excessive air movement, often leads to low carbon dioxide.
Hypoventilation: Insufficient air movement, causing elevated carbon dioxide.
Hypoxemia: Low levels of oxygen in the blood.
Hypoxia: Low oxygen levels in tissue cells.

Respiratory Disorders

Obstructive lung disorder: Conditions that block airflow, such as asthma.
Restrictive lung disorder: Limits air inflow, e.g., pulmonary fibrosis.
Pulmonary edema: Fluid accumulation around alveoli, often due to heart failure.
Pulmonary infiltrate: Density in lung x-rays indicating lung disease.
Rhinorrhea: Watery nasal discharge, symptomatic of infections or allergies.
Asthma: Inflammatory condition with wheezing and difficulty breathing.
Atelectasis: Collapsed lung due to inadequate air.
Bronchiectasis: Abnormal dilation of bronchi with mucus buildup.
Bronchitis: Inflammation of the bronchi, can be acute or chronic.
Emphysema: Destructive disease leading to loss of elasticity in lungs.
COPD: Chronic bronchitis and emphysema combination.
Cystic fibrosis: Genetic disorder leading to thick mucus production.