By Gretel D’Souza, Claude D’Netto, Mandy Grewal, and Anu Kakkar

Common Word Elements Related to the Respiratory System

Bronchi/o Bronchus

Laryng/o Larynx

Nas/o, Rhin/o Nose

Pharyng/o Pharynx

Phren/o Diaphragm

-pnea (suffix) Breathing (a suffix used in such terms as dyspnea, which means “difficulty in breathing”)

Pneum/o, Pneumon/o, Pulmon/o Lung

Sinus/o Sinus Cavity

Trache/o Trachea

• Nose• Nasal Cavity• Pharynx

The Nose

• Body’s first line of defense against contaminants in the air

• Hairs, called cilia, inside the nose filter out particulate matter contained in air entering the nose

The Nasal Cavity

• Body’s second line of defense against foreign material trying to enter the respiratory system

• Nasal cavity lining is coated by mucus which filters out particles that are too small to be picked up by hairs in the nose

• Incoming air is warmed and moistened as is passes through the nasal cavity

• Outgoing air gives up its heat and water vapor

The Pharynx• Incoming air passes out of the nasal cavity

into the pharynx, where it is further purified and filtered to eliminate germs and unwanted chemicals

• Larynx• Trachea and Bronchi• Lungs• Diaphragm

The Larynx

• Marks the beginning of the lower respiratory system

• Provides us with a means of speech• Passes purified air into the trachea• Larynx prevents food and drink from entering

the trachea

The Trachea and Bronchi

• Often called the windpipe because air flows through it into the bronchi

• Trachea is a bit more than 4 in. long• Bronchi start at about shoulder level– As they move into the lungs, they become smaller

• Bronchioles are somewhat like capillaries– Get smaller as they extend deeper into the lungs,

eventually reaching a diameter of about half a millimeter

• Incoming air passes from the bronchi to the lungs

The Lungs• The apex is the tip of the

right lung that points upward• The bottom part of the right

lung, called the base, rests on top of the diaphragm

• The left lung is almost identical, except for an indentation on its inner side to accommodate the heart

The Lungs Cont.

• The air flows through the bronchioles and branches off into tiny passageways and sacs, called alveoli (singular alveolus)

• Alveoli receive oxygen from the air so that it can be picked up by the blood in the capillaries associated with them

The Diaphragm• Located at the very bottom of

the respiratory system• Initiates the breathing process• When the diaphragm moves

downward, the partial vacuum thus formed draws air into the lungs

• When it pushes upward, air is expelled from the lungs

Alveoli

• Singular: alveolus• From the latin word alveus “trough”• Small cavities in which oxygen is removed

from the air delivered by the bronchioles.

Apex

• Latin: tip• Word used to

describe the upper tip of each lung

Base

• Common English word

• Word used to describe the bottom of each lung

Bronchi

• Singular: bronchus• Latin: windpipe• Tubes (right and

left) branching off from the trachea and into the lungs

Bronchiole

• From the Latin word bronchiolus “small windpipe”

• Very small branches of bronchi that extend into the lungs

Diaphragm

• From the Greek word diaphragma “partition”

• Muscular partition at the base of the thoracic cavity

Phrenic

• Phren/o- diaphragm; -ic (adjective suffix)• Adjective referring to the diaphragm;

synonymous with diaphragmatic

Epiglottis

• Epi- outside; glottis- opening of the windpipe

• A mucous membrane covered leaf shaped piece of the cartilage at the root of the tongue

Larynx

• Vocal cords; voice box

Nasal

• Nas/o- nose; -al (adjective suffix)

• Adjective referring to the nose

Pharynx

• Greek word meaning “throat”• Passageway just below the nasal cavity and

mouth

Pulmonary• From the latin word “pulmo” (lung)• Adjective frequently used to modify another

term in or associated with the lungs

Trachea• From the Greek word “tracheia” meaning

rough• windpipe

1. Bronchoplasty: Surgical repair of the bronchus

2. Bronchorrhapy: Suturing of the bronchus3. Bronchotomy: Incision into a bronchus

1. Laryngectomy: Excision of the larynx2. Laryngoplasty: Surgical repair of the

larynx3. Laryngotomy: Incision into the larynx

1. Pharyngoplasty: Surgical repair of the pharynx

2. Pharyngotomy: Incision into the pharynx

1. Pneumonectomy: Removal of the pulmonary lobes from a lung

2. Pneumonopexy: Surgical fixation of a lung3. Pneumonorraphy: Suturing of a lung4. Pneumonotomy: Incision into a lung

1. Rhinoplasty: Surgery performed on the nose2. Rhinotomy: Surgical incision into the nose

1. Sinusotomy: Incision into a sinus2. Tracheoplasty: Surgical repair of the trachea3. Tracheotomy: Incision into the trachea for

the purpose of restoring airflow to the lungs

1. Laryngology: Branch of the medical study concerned with the larynx and diagnosis and treatment of its diseases

2. Rhinology: Branch of medical study concerned with the nose and diagnosis and treatment of its diseases

3. Rhinologist: One who specializes in the study, diagnosis, and treatment of abnormal conditions of the nose

More Terms

Atelectasis

• Reduction or absence of air in part or all of a lung, resulting in loss of lung volume

Pertussis • An acute infectious

inflammation of larnyx, trachea, and bronchi caused by Brodetella pertussis

Tuberculosis• Disease caused by presence of Mycobacterium

tuberculosis, most commonly affecting the lungs