Ch. 7 Medical Terminology

• respiratory system


  supplies the blood with oxygen for transportation to the cells in all parts of the body
• upper respiratory tract


  consists of the nose, mouth, pharynx, epiglottis, larynx, and trachea
• lower respiratory tract


  consists of the bronchial tree and lungs
• thoracic cavity / thorax / rib cage


  protects the lower respiratory tract (bronchial tree and lungs)
• airway


  the upper respiratory tract and the bronchial tree of the lower respiratory tract
• nasal cavity


  the interior portion of the nose
• nostrils

  the external openings of the nose
• nasal septum


  a wall of cartilage that divides the nose into two equal sections
• septum


  a wall that separates two chambers
• cilia


  the thin hairs located just inside the nostrils
• mucous membranes


  specialized tissues that line the nose and also the digestive, reproductive, and urinary systems as well as other parts of the respiratory system
• mucus


  a slippery secretion produced by the mucous membranes that protects and lubricates the mucous membranes; in the nose, mucus helps moisten, warm, and filter the air as it enters
• olfactory receptors


  nerve endings that act as the receptors for the sense of smell; also important to the sense of taste; located in the mucous membrane in the upper part of the nasal cavity
• tonsils and adenoids


  parts of the lymphatic system; help protect the body from infection coming through the nose or the mouth
• palatine tonsils


  located at the back of the mouth
• nasopharyngeal tonsils


  higher than the palatine tonsils; behind the nose and the roof of the mouth
• paranasal sinuses


  air-filled cavities lined with mucous membrane; located in the bones of the skull
• para-


  near
• nas/o


  nose
• -al


  pertaining to
• sinus


  most commonly refers to the paranasal sinuses; however, can be a sac or cavity in any organ or tissue
• frontal sinuses


  located in the frontal bone just above the eyebrows; an infection here can cause severe pain in the area
• sphenoid sinuses


  located in the sphenoid bone behind the eye and under the pituitary gland; close to the optic nerves; an infection here can damage vision
• maxillary sinuses


  largest part of the paranasal sinuses; located in the maxillary bones under the eyes; an infection here can cause pain in the posterior maxillary teeth
• ethmoid sinuses


  located in the ethmoid bones between the nose and the eyes; irregularly shaped air cells that are separated from the orbital (eye) cavity by only a thin layer of bone
• pharynx 


  known as the throat; receives the air after it passes through the nose or mouth, as well as food; made of 3 divisions
• nasopharynx


  posterior to the nasal cavity and continues downward to behind the mouth; used only by the respiratory system for the transport of air and opens into the oropharynx
• -pharynx


  throat
• oropharynx


  the portion of the pharynx that is visible when looking into the mouth; shared by the respiratory and digestive systems and transports air, food, and fluids downward to the laryngopharynx
• or/o

  mouth
• laryngopharynx


  shared by both the respiratory and digestive systems; air, food, and fluids continue downward to the openings of the esophagus and trachea where air enters the trachea and food and fluids flow into the esophagus
• laryng/o


  larynx
• larynx


  the voice box; a triangular chamber located between pharynx and the trachea
• thyroid cartilage


  the Adam's apple; the largest of a series of 9 separate cartilages in the larynx; when enlarged it projects from the front of the throat
• vocal cords


  within the larynx; during breathing, the cords are separated to let air pass; during speech, they close together and sound is produced as air is expelled from the lungs, causing the cords to vibrate against each other
• epiglottis


  a lid-like structure located at the base of the tongue, swings downwards and closes off the laryngopharynx so that food does not enter the trachea and the lungs
• trachea


  known as the windpipe; transports air to and from the lungs; located directly in front of the esophagus
• bronchi


  also known as the primary bronchi or bronchial tree; two large tubes which branch out from the trachea and convey air into the lungs
• bronchioles


  the smallest branches of the bronchi; each primary bronchus divides and subdivides into these
• alveoli / air sacs


  very small, grapelike clusters found at the end of each bronchiole; where the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide takes place; each lung contains millions