Respiratory System

Week 8
 Learning Outcomes
• Describe basic anatomy and physiology of the Respiratory
system
• Identify the combining forms, prefixes and suffixes of the
respiratory system
• Build respiratory system medical terms
• Define respiratory system medical terms
• Identify common diseases of the respiratory system.
• Identify basic medical, surgical and Diagnostic procedures.
• Describe basic pharmacological terms
• Identify common Abbreviations
 Respiratory System

• Functions of the Respiratory System

• Inhale fresh air into lungs
• Exchange oxygen for carbon dioxide
• Exhale air
 Anatomy of the Respiratory System

• Organs
• Nasal cavity
• Pharynx
• Larynx
• Trachea
• Bronchial tubes
• Lungs

Medical terminology: A living language, 4th edition

The upper respiratory system
Conduction Zone
Larynx, Trachea, Bronchi
Respiratory Zone
 Combining Forms
aer/o air carcin/o cancer
alveol/o alveolus cardi/o heart
angi/o vessel coni/o dust
anthrac/o coal cortic/o outer layer
arteri/o artery cyan/o blue
bi/o life cyst/o sac
bronch/o bronchus diaphragmat/o diaphragm
bronchiol/o bronchiole embol/o plug
epiglott/o epiglottis hem/o blood
fibr/o fibres hist/o tissue
laryng/o larynx lob/o lobe
nas/o nose orth/o straight
 Combining Forms
ot/o ear
ox/i oxygen
ox/o oxygen
pharyng/o pharynx
pleur/o pleura
pneum/o air
pneumon/o lung
pulmon/o lung
py/o pus
rhin/o nose
sept/o wall
sinus/o sinus
 Prefixes

A- without dys- difficult, abnormal

An- without Endo- within
Anti- against Eu- normal
Brady- slow Hyper- excessive
De- without Hypo- insufficient
Pan- all Poly- many
Para- beside Tachy- fast
Re- against
 Suffixes
-capnia carbon dioxide -ptysis spitting
-dynia pain -thorax chest
-ectasis dilation -tic pertaining to
-genic produced by
-lytic destruction
-meter instrument to measure
-metry process of measuring
-ory pertaining to
-osmia smell
-phonia voice
-plasm formation
-plegia paralysis
-pnea breathing
 Defining Medical Terms
prefix and
Pathology suffix and meaning word root Definition of medical terms
meaning
an-= Ox/o=
anoxia -ia= condition without oxygen A condition without oxygen
a-=
aphonia -phonia= voice without Without voice
Brady-=
bradypnea slow
-pnea= Breathing Breathing slowly
Bronchi/o=
bronchiectasis bronchus
-ectasis= Dilation Dilated bronchus
-spasm= Bronchi/o=
bronchospasm involuntary bronchus
muscle Involuntary muscle contraction of
bronchus
-osis= abnormal Cyan/o= bluish tint of skin that is due to
cyanosis condition blue insufficient amount of oxygen
Dys-=
dysphonia difficult
-phonia= voice Difficulty in producing sounds
Eu-=
eupnea Normal
-pnea= breathing Normal breathing
Hem/o=
hemoptysis blood
-ptysis= spitting Spitting of blood
Hem/o=
hemothorax blood
hyperventilation Hyper-= Ventil/o= breathing
Ion= act of excessive Act of excessive breathing

hypocapnia -capnia= Hypo=

carbondioxid insufficient An insufficient level of carbon
e dioxide

hypopnea Hypo=
-pnea= breathing insufficient Insufficient breathing

hypoxemia -emia= blood Hypo= Oxi/o= oxygen

condition insufficient insufficient amount of oxygen
in the blood
pyothorax
-thorax= Py/o= pus Pus in thorax
chest
rhinitis
-it is= Rhin/o= nose Inflammation of nasal
inflammation passage
tachypnea
-pnea= Tachy-= Breathing fast
breathing fast
Bronchi/o=
Bronchitis -itis= bronchus Inflammation of a
inflammation bronchus
Sleep apnea
-pnea= A= without Without breathing
breathing (during sleep)
Pleurisy /pleuritis Pleur/o=
-itis= pleura Inflammation of pleura
inflammation
 Common Procedures of
the Respiratory System
• Aerosol therapy- Lung treatment using various techniques to deliver medication in
mist form directly to the lungs or airways
• Oximetry/pulse oximetry- a procedure for monitoring the percent oxygen saturation
of hemoglobin
• Spirometry- Lung Function Test that measures breathing capacity and lung volumes.
• endotracheal intubation- insertion of a tube into the trachea to maintain open
airway usually in unconscious patients
• Tracheostomy- involves a surgical opening in the neck, into which a tube is inserted
to aid breathing.
• Bronchoscopy- the use of a bronchoscope to visually examine the bronchi
• Sputum Culture
• Arterial Blood Gas (ABG)- a test for the amount of dissolved oxygen and carbon
dioxide in arterial blood.
Pulmonary Function Tests (Spirometry)

• It is important to measure actual volume of air flowing in and

out of lungs
• Can then determine lung capacity
• Measures lung volumes
 Lung Volumes

Tidal volume (TV) Volume of air moving in and out of lungs in a single
relaxed breath

Inspiratory reserve Volume of air that can be forcefully inhaled after a

volume (IRV) normal inhale

Expiratory reserve Volume of air that can be forcefully exhaled after a

volume (ERV) normal exhale

Residual volume (RV) Volume of air remaining in lungs after a forced

exhale
 Lung Capacities
Inspiratory capacity (IC) Tidal volume + inspiratory reserve volume

Functional residual Expiratory reserve volume + residual volume

capacity (FRC)
Vital capacity (VC) Inspiratory reserve volume + tidal volume +
expiratory reserve volume
Total lung capacity Inspiratory reserve volume + tidal volume +
(TLC) expiratory reserve volume + residual volume
 Respiratory Rate

• One of the vital signs (VS), along with heart rate, temperature,
and blood pressure
• Respiratory rate dependent on level of CO2 in blood
• When CO2 level is high, we breathe more rapidly to expel excess
• If CO2 levels drop, respiratory rate will also drop until CO2 builds up
in the bloodstream
Respiratory Rates by Age Group

Age Respirations per Minute

Newborn 30–60
1-year-old 18–30
16-year-old 16–20
Adult 12–20
 Respiratory System Vocabulary
asphyxia lack of oxygen; can lead to unconsciousness and death

withdrawing fluid using suction; removing phlegm from

aspiration
patient’s airway; inhaling food or liquid into trachea

abnormal widening and thickening of fingers due to chronic

clubbing
oxygen deficiency
Respiratory System Vocabulary
cyanosis blue skin caused by low oxygen in blood
epistaxis a nosebleed
hemoptysis cough up blood or blood-stained sputum
hyperventilation breathing too fast and too deep
hypoventilation breathing too slow and too shallow
 Lung Pathology

difficulty breathing caused by

asthma bronchospasms, dyspnea, coughing,
and wheezing
enlarged bronchi due to destruction of
bronchiectasis
bronchial wall; result of infections
bronchogenic
cancerous tumor originating in bronchi
carcinoma
Lung Pathology

condition in which alveoli in a portion of lung

atelectasis
collapses; prevents gas exchange in lung

chronic obstructive progressive, chronic, and usually irreversible

pulmonary disease group of conditions; like emphysema; lungs
(COPD) have decreased capacity to function

genetic condition; produces very thick mucus

cystic fibrosis (CF)
that causes severe congestion in lungs
 Lung Pathology

chronic lung condition characterized by

emphysema
destruction of alveolar walls

infant respiratory most common in premature infants;

distress syndrome characterized by tachypnea; previously
(IRDS) called hyaline membrane disease

influenza viral infection of respiratory system

 Lung Pathology

Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia caused by a fungus; an

pneumonia (PCP) opportunistic infection seen in AIDS patients

inflammatory condition of lungs; results in

pneumonia
alveoli filling with fluid
excessive amount of tissue fluid accumulating in
pulmonary edema
the lung tissues

floating blood clot obstructs pulmonary artery;

pulmonary embolism
causes infarct of lung tissue
pulmonary formation of fibrous scar tissue in lung;
fibrosis reduced ability to expand lungs
severe acute
acute viral respiratory infection; begins
respiratory
like flu but quickly progresses; very
syndrome
high mortality rate
(SARS)
 breathing stops repeatedly during
sleep apnea
sleep; causes drop in oxygen levels
tuberculosis bacterial lung infection; results in
(TB) inflammation and calcification of lungs
 accumulation of pus in pleural space; also called
empyema
pyothorax
accumulation of fluid in pleural cavity; prevents
pleural effusion
lungs from fully expanding
inflammation of pleura; characterized by sharp
pleurisy
pain with each breath
collection of air in pleural cavity; may result in
pneumothorax
collapsed lung
 Clinical Laboratory Tests

arterial blood blood test of oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in

gases (ABGs) the blood

sputum culture & cultures sputum for bacterial growth, if present,

sensitivity (C&S) then determines best antibiotic to use

sputum cytology examining sputum for malignant cells

 Diagnostic Imaging

chest X-ray X-ray of the organs of the thoracic cavity

pulmonary
X-ray of lungs after injecting dye into blood vessel
angiography
nuclear medicine test; radioactive air is inhaled for
ventilation-
ventilation portion; radioactive dye is injected for
perfusion scan
perfusion portion; looks for pulmonary emboli
Endoscopic Procedures
bronchoscopy visual examination of bronchial tubes
(Bronch) using a bronchoscope
visual examination of larynx using a
laryngoscopy
laryngoscope
Additional Procedures
cardiopulmonary emergency treatment given to persons
resuscitation (CPR) with cardiorespiratory arrest

technique for removing foreign body

Heimlich maneuver
obstructing trachea or pharynx
Surgical Procedures

surgical puncture of chest wall to remove

thoracentesis
fluids; also called thoracocentesis
insertion of tube (a chest tube) into chest to
thoracostomy
drain off fluid or air
emergency procedure to create an opening
tracheostomy directly into trachea so person can breathe
easier; also called tracheotomy
Respiratory System Pharmacology

antibiotic kills bacteria Amoxil, Cipro

blocks histamine
Allegra, Claritan,
antihistamine released during allergy
Benadryl
attack
Hycodan, Vicks
antitussive relieves urge to cough
Formula 44
Respiratory System Pharmacology

relaxes bronchospasms; Proventil, Ventolin,

bronchodilator
treats asthma Theo-Dur
reduces inflammation of Flonase, Nasonex,
corticosteroids
respiratory tract Azmacort
reduces congestion in Afrin, Drixoral,
decongestant
respiratory system Sudafed
Respiratory System Pharmacology

improves ability to Robitussin,

expectorant
cough up mucus Mucinex
liquefies mucus so it
mucolytic Mucomyst
is easier to cough up
 Common Pharmacology Terms of
the Respiratory System
Find information about the following respiratory drugs and
complete the table below.
Drug Class Drug Action Generic Name
Antihistamines Loratadine
Antitussives Suppresses cough
Bronchodilators • Salbutamol
• Albuterol
Decongestants • Pseudoephrine
 Common Abbreviations of the
Respiratory System
Complete the following table of common abbreviations

Abbreviation Meaning
ABG Arterial Blood Gas
COPD
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
Hb
Shortness of Breath
END WEEK 8