1. Chapter 11:
Respiratory System
Medical
Terminology- Level 1
Medical Office Assistant Diploma
program
Surrey College, BC, Canada
Lecture PowerPoint prepared by Nancy Joseph as part of Digital
Project Submission (PIDP 3240, VCC, BC, CANADA) 1
2. Lesson Objectives
On completion of Chapter 11, the students
will be able to:
describe the respiratory system, naming the organs
and stating their functions.
analyze and build medical words using word parts.
spell and pronounce medical words described in
Chapter 11.
describe the selected pathological terms and
diagnostic and laboratory tests related to the
respiratory system.
identify and define abbreviations pertaining to the
respiratory system.
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3. Anatomy and Physiology
Overview
The respiratory system consists of: The
nose, pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, bronchioles, and
the alveoli in the lungs
Primary function of respiration is to furnish oxygen
(O2)for individual tissue cells to use and to take away their
gaseous waste product, carbon dioxide (CO2)
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4. Knowledge Probe
Why we have runny noses when the
weather is cold?
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5. Knowledge Probe - Answer
One of the function of the nose is to warm and
moisten the inhaled air as it travels to the lungs.
During cold weather the inhaled dry air mixes
with the warm air, and the mucous membranes
inside the nose increases fluid production in
order to protect the sensitive lung tissue. So the
excess fluid in the nose tends to drip out,
creating a runny nose.
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6. The Nose
The nostrils or anterior nares are the external entrances
to the nose.
The nose has five functions:
Serves as a passageway for air
Warms and humidifies inhaled air
The enclosed cilia and mucous membrane trap dust, pollen,
bacteria, and other foreign matter
Contains olfactory receptors, which sort out odours
Help to produce sounds and the quality of voice
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7. The Nasal cavity
Septum - Partition in the nose
Superior, middle, and inferior conchae
Air passages that lead to the pharynx and are connected by
openings with the paranasal sinuses, the Eustachian tubes,
and the eyes
Paranasal sinuses
Frontal
Maxillary
Ethmoidal
Sphenoidal
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8. The Pharynx
Also called the throat
The functions of the pharynx are:
Passageway for:
air
food
Aids in sound production by changing shape
It is divided into three portions:
Nasopharynx
Oropharynx
Laryngopharynx
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9. The Larynx
Also called the voice box
Its function is the production of vocal sounds
composed of nine cartilages bound together by muscles
and ligaments
It contains the glottis (opening into the trachea)
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10. The Trachea
Also called the windpipe
A ‘C-shaped’ cartilaginous tube for passage of air
extending from the pharynx and larynx to the main
bronchi
The trachea is composed of:
Smooth muscle
Mucous membrane – Lining that contains cilia, which
sweep foreign matter out of the passageway. (Note:
Smoking can destroy cilia)
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11. The Bronchi
The trachea divides into the right bronchus and the left
bronchus
The depression in each lung where the two bronchi
enters is called the hilum
Each bronchus then subdivide into the bronchial tree
composed of smaller bronchi, bronchioles, and alveolar
ducts
Bronchi functions as a passageway for air to and from
the lungs
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12. The Lungs
Two in number; cone-shaped, spongy organs of
respiration lying on either side of the heart within the
pleural cavity of the thorax
Each lung is covered by double-folded serous
membrane, the pleura (inner is visceral pleura and the
outer is parietal pleura)
The main function of the lungs is to bring air into intimate
contact with blood so that O2 and CO2 can be exchanged
in the alveoli
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13. The Lungs cont’d…
Pleural Cavity – A space between parietal and visceral
pleura; contains serous fluid that lubricates and prevents
friction
The Diaphragm – The musculomembranous wall that
separates the thoracic cavity from the abdominal cavity
Mediastinum – The central portion of the thoracic cavity,
between the lungs, which contains the heart and other
structures
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14. The Lungs cont’d...
Lung base – Broad inferior surface of the lung which
rests on the diaphragm
Lung apex – The pointed upper margin that lies above
the sternal end of the first rib
Lobes – The divisions of the lungs
Right lung – has three lobes
Left lung – has two lobes
Cardiac depression – Depression for normal placement
of the heart
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15. A flow chart to show the path of air in the
respiratory system
NOSE (Nares)
NASAL CAVITIES
PHARYNX
LARYNX
TRACHEA
BRONCHI
BRONCHIOLES
ALVEOLI
LUNG CAPILLARIES
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16. Respiration
Respiration consists of:
External respiration = Process by which the lungs are
ventilated and exchange of air occurs between alveoli
(air sacs) in the lungs and the pulmonary capillaries
Inspiration/Inhalation - Process of breathing in
Expiration/Exhalation - Process of breathing out
Internal respiration = Process involving an exchange of
air between the systemic (tissue) capillaries and the cells
of the body
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17. Respiratory Volume
The following terms are used by physiologist and
respiratory specialists to describe the volume of air
exchanged in breathing:
Tidal volume (TV), Supplemental air, Complemental
air, Residual volume, Minimal air, Vital capacity
(VC), Total lung capacity (TLC)
An instrument called spirometer is used to
measure the respiratory volume.
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18. Respiration
The Vital Function of Respiration
Respiration, along with temperature, pulse, and blood
pressure, is a vital sign that helps in determining an
individual’s state of health
A deviation from normal of any one or all the vital
signs denotes a state of illness
The medulla oblongata and the pons of the CNS
regulate and control respiration
The rate, rhythm and depth of respiration are controlled by
nerve impulses arising from these areas of the brain
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19. Respiration
Respiratory rates – The respiratory center located in the
medulla oblongata regulates the rate of respiration which
varies with age:
Newborn 30 – 80/min
1st year 20 – 40/min
5th year 20 – 25/min
15th year 15 – 20/min
Adult 15 – 20/min
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20. Life Span Considerations:
The Child
The lungs of the fetus take a definite shape at 12 weeks
of gestation
The alveoli of the lungs are complete at 20 weeks of
gestation
The alveoli begin to produce surfactant at 28 to 32
weeks of gestation
The lack of surfactant in pre-term infants contributes to
respiratory distress syndrome (RDS)
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21. Life Span Considerations:
The Older Adult
The respiratory system is vulnerable to injuries
The mucous barriers breakdown, cilia decrease in
effectiveness, and the composition of the connective
tissue in the lungs changes
Diaphragmatic breathing is predominant and it becomes
difficult to breathe lying down
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22. Life Span Considerations:
The Older Adult
The respiratory system is vulnerable to injuries
The mucous barriers breakdown, cilia decrease in
effectiveness, and the composition of the connective
tissue in the lungs changes
Diaphragmatic breathing is predominant and it becomes
difficult to breathe lying down
Vital capacity declines with age. The elastic recoil of the
lungs begins to decline and an increase in the stiffness
of the chest walls
Voice may become gravelly and softer with a rise in
pitch, making communication more difficult, especially if
there is impaired hearing
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23. Pronunciation Exercise
Use the pronunciation guide provided in
the medical vocabulary section (p. 300) in
Chapter 11, to spell and pronounce the
medical terms. Also learn meaning for the
listed word parts and the medical terms.
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24. Combining forms (provide meaning
and build medical term for each)
alveol/o :
bronch/o :
lob/o :
ox/o :
phon/o :
phren/o :
rhin/o :
spir/o :
tel/o :
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26. Suffixes (provide meaning and build
medical term for each)
-ema:
-itis:
-osis:
-phasia:
-pnea:
-ptysis:
-sphyxia:
-us:
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27. Suffixes
-ema: condition [empyema - collection of pus in the pleural cavity]
-itis: inflammation [bronchitis - inflammation of the bronchi]
-osis: condition (usually abnormal) [cyanosis - Abnormal condition
of the skin and mucous membrane caused by oxygen deficiency in
the blood]
-phasia: speech [aphasia - lack of ability to speak]
-pnea: breathing [dyspnea - difficulty in breathing]
-ptysis: spitting [hemoptysis - spitting of blood from respiratory
tract, lungs]
-sphyxia: pulse [asphyxia - lack of pulse (condition)]
-us: pertaining to [alveolus - pertaining to small air sacs in the lungs]
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28. Pathological terms
Apnea - A temporary cessation of breathing
Asthma - Chronic inflammatory disorder characterized
by wheezing, dyspnea, and a feeling of constriction in
the chest caused by edema, bronchoconstriction, and
increased mucus production
Cystic fibrosis (CF) - Inherited disorder of exocrine
glands resulting in thick, mucous secretions that do not
drain normally
Epistaxis - Nosebleed
Emphysema - Hyperinflation of air sacs with destruction
of alveolar walls, making it difficult to exhale air from the
lungs
Pertussis - Whooping cough (bacterial infection of the
pharynx, larynx, and trachea)
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29. Pathological terms
Pneumonia - An inflammation of the lung (or
lungs), caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi and chemical
irritants
Pneumoconiosis - abnormal condition caused by dust
in the lungs e.g. asbestosis
Stridor - Strained, high-pitched sound during inspiration
(due to obstruction of the larynx or trachea)
Tachypnea - Fast breathing
Tuberculosis (TB) - A contagious disease caused by
the bacillus Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which is carried
in droplets
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30. Diagnostic and Lab Tests
Bronchoscopy - Process of viewing the
larynx, trachea, and bronchi with a flexible
bronchoscope.
Culture, Sputum - Examination of the sputum to
determine the presence of microorganisms.
Laryngoscopy - Visual examination of the larynx using
a laryngoscope
Nasopharyngography - X-ray examination of the
nasopharynx
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31. Diagnostic and Lab Tests
Pulmonary function test - Series of tests performed to
determine the diffusion of O2 and CO2 across the cell
membrane in the lungs. Tests are done on all phases of
respiration, with abnormal results indicating various
respiratory diseases and conditions.
Rhinoscopy - Visual examination of the nasal passages
Rhinoplasty - Surgical repair of the nose
Thoracocentesis - Surgical puncture of the chest for
fluid removal
Tracheostomy - Creation of a new opening into the
trachea
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32. Abbreviations
Cystic fibrosis CF
Shortness of breath SOB
Sudden infant death syndrome SIDS
Upper respiratory infection URI
Chest x-ray CXR
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease COPD
Respiratory distress syndrome RDS
Human immunodeficiency virus HIV
Pulmonary embolism PE
Arterial blood gases ABGs
Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome AIDS
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34. Summary of Chapter 11
Let us recap the main points of what we covered
in this lesson.
We learned about the organs of the Respiratory
system and their functions.
We also learned new medical terms
(pathological, diagnostic and laboratory tests).
We got familiarized with a few selected
abbreviations.
We also learnt to pronounce terms related to the
Respiratory system.
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35. Quick Recap
Name the organs of the Respiratory system.
What is the role of trachea in the respiratory
system?
Name the two processes of respiration?
In order to assess the respiratory functioning,
which three aspects of respiration should be
considered?
Next we will be learning about the Nervous
system.
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36. References
Rice, Jane. Medical Terminology: A Word-building Approach, Sixth
Ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education Inc., 2008.
Chabner, Davi-Ellen. The Language of Medicine, Eighth Ed.
Philadelphia, PA: W.B Saunders Company, 2007.
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