Running head: RESPIRATORY

Medical Terminology Patrice Lennon-Sanders American InterContinental University

Running head: RESPIRATORY Abstract

This article will cover an overview of the respiratory system. A glance of the organs included in the respiratory system as well as their functions. This paper will allow for an understanding of some of the disorders, and instruments involved in treating and diagnosing respiratory system conditions.

Running head: RESPIRATORY The Respiratory System

This overview will include the key anatomical parts of the respiratory system as well as how each part works. The upper respiratory tract includes several different organs. These organs include the nose, pharynx, larynx, and the trachea are a part of the respiratory system which is internally lined with moist mucous membranes that serve to warm and humidify the air as it travels to the lungs (Wingerd, 2006). The nose is a part of the respiratory system that is also known as the nasal cavity (Wingerd, 2006). While the pharynx, or the throat, serves as a chamber for swallowing food as well as for breathing in air (Wingerd, 2006). Then there is the voice box, or larynx which produces sound when exhaled air is squeezed between folds of membrane blocking the airway (Wingerd, 2006). The trachea is another part to the respiratory system that is also known as the windpipe (Wingerd, 2006). The trachea is a tube that carries air between the larynx and the bronchi (Wingerd, 2006).

The lower respiratory tract includes additional parts to the respiratory system. This part of the respiratory system includes the bronchi, the bronchial tree within the lungs as well as the bronchioles (Wingerd, 2006). The bronchus is the passage way of the airway which conducts air into the lungs. The bronchus leads to smaller tubes that become bronchioles (Wingerd, 2006). These tubes lead down to the clusters of alveoli and the lungs (Respiratory System, n.d.).

There are several diagnostic test and procedures that are used in diagnosing and treating illnesses involving the respiratory system. For example, a person that has asthma, which is a disorder that causes the airways of the lungs to narrow and swell, leading to wheezing, chest tightness, coughing, and shortness of breath (Pub Med Health, 2011). A diagnostic test used in determine how well a person is breathing is called a peak meter (CureResearch.com). A peak

Running head: RESPIRATORY meter is used in treating asthma and helping to determine what is triggering a persons asthma (CureReserach.com).

A second example is a diagnostic test used to treat sarcoidosis. Sarcoidosis is disease that is due to inflammation, and can appear in almost any body organ (CureResearch.com). Though sarciodosis can appear in almost any body organ it most often begins in the lungs or the lymph nodes (CureResearh.com). One of the least common tests used in testing sarcoidosis is called a Kveim-Siltzbach test, or Kveim test (healthcommunities.com). The Kveim test is a skin test that was specifically designed to help diagnose sarcoidosis. This test involves the collection of lymph node or spleen samples and injecting it into the patients skin. The skin is later biopsied to test for histological changes that confirm sarcoidosis (healthcommunities.com).

Additional terms involving the respiratory system as well as its definition and common uses are as follows:

Rhinoplasty Definition: The surgical repair of the nose. Pleurocentesis

Root rhin/o - nose

Suffix -plasty surgical repair Suffix -centesis surgical puncture

A Rhinoplasty may be necessary when a person has had injury or trauma to the nose. A person having Mesothelioma Cancer, a form of cancer involving the lining of the lungs in the chest cavity.

(Wingerd, 2006)

Root

Definition: The Pleur/o pleura, surgical puncture rib and aspiration of fluid from the pleural cavity. Spirometer Root Definition: An instrument that measures breathing volume. Spir/o - breathe

(Wingerd, 2006) (Mesotheliom a.com)

Suffix -meter measuring instrument

This instrument may (Wingerd, be used for an asthma 2006) patient to measure the Forced vital capacity (FVC), the maximum amount of air which can be forcefully

Running head: RESPIRATORY exhaled from a fully inflated lung. The epiglottis can be affected by persons have had streptococcus pneumonia or varicella-zoster as well as other causes.

Epiglottis Description: Located above the glottis, the epiglottis is a flap that covers the opening to the larynx while swallowing. Hyperpnea Definition: The presence of excessive carbon dioxide in the blood

Root -glottis opening into the larynx between the pharynx and larynx

Prefix Epi upon, over

(Epiglottis, n.d.) (Wingerd, 2006).

Prefix Hyper excessive

Suffix -capnia carbon dioxide

A person suffering from hyperpnea may suffer from abnormally deep and rapid breathing.

(medicaldictio nary.com) (Wingerd, 2006)

Running head: RESPIRATORY References

Bruce Wingerd (2006). Unlocking Medical Terminology. Retrieved from AIU Online Bookshelf. Chapter 12. http://www.mesothelioma.com/mesothelioma/ http://www.asthmahelpline.com/spirometer.htm http://www.emedicinehealth.com/epiglottitis/page2_em.htm http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/hyperpnea http://cureresearch.com/ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001196/ http://www.healthcommunities.com/sarcoidosis/diagnosis.shtml