Vocabulary & Check Your Knowledge
Respiratory System Vocabulary
Alveolar Duct
A tube composed of smooth muscle and connective tissue.
Anteriorly
Pertaining to front.
Autonomic
Unconsciously regulates.
Benign
Non-cancerous.
Bronchodilators
Substance that dilates the bronchi and bronchioles.
Carcinogenic
Causing cancer.
Cardiac Notch
The cardiac notch is an indentation on the surface of the left lung.
Carina
The carina is a ridge of cartilage that separates the two main bronchi.
Cessation
Stop or stopping.
Chronic
A condition that lasts over a long time with periods of exacerbation and periods of remission.
Conducting Zone
The major functions of the conducting zone are to provide a route for incoming and outgoing air, remove debris and pathogens from the incoming air, and warm and humidify the incoming air. Several structures within the conducting zone perform other functions as well. The epithelium of the nasal passages, for example, is essential to sensing odors, and the bronchial epithelium that lines the lungs can metabolize some airborne carcinogens.
Cyanotic
Pertaining to abnormal colour of blue (bluish colour, lips and nail beds) caused by deoxygenation.
Defensins
The lysozyme enzyme and proteins which have antibacterial properties.
Diaphragm
A flat, dome shaped muscle located at the base of the lungs and thoracic cavity.
Dyspnea
Difficulty breathing.
Epiglottis
The epiglottis, attached to the thyroid cartilage, is a very flexible piece of elastic cartilage that covers the opening of the trachea.
Erythrocytes
Red blood cells.
Eupnea
Normal breathing.
Expiration
Exhalation or the process of causing air to leave the lungs.
External nose
The external nose consists of the surface and skeletal structures that result in the outward appearance of the nose and contribute to its numerous functions.
Fauces
The fauces is the opening at the connection between the oral cavity and the oropharynx.
Fibroelastic Membrane
A fibroelastic membrane is a flexible membrane that closes the posterior surface of the trachea, connecting the C-shaped cartilages.
Glottis
The glottis is composed of the vestibular folds, the true vocal cords, and the space between these folds.
Hard Palate
The hard palate is located at the anterior region of the nasal cavity and is composed of bone.
Hilum
The hilum is a ridge of cartilage that separates the two main bronchi. A concave region where blood vessels, lymphatic vessels, and nerves also enter the lungs.
Hyperpnea
Forced breathing or breathing that is excessive.
Inferior
Pertaining to below.
Inspiration
Inhalation or process of breathing air into the lungs.
Laryngeal
Pertaining to the larynx.
Laryngopharynx
The laryngopharynx borders the oropharynx, trachea, and esophagus.
Larynx
The larynx is a cartilaginous structure inferior to the laryngopharynx that connects the pharynx to the trachea and helps regulate the volume of air that enters and leaves the lungs. Also known as the voice box.
Lingual
Pertaining to the tongue.
Lymphocytes
Lymphocytes are lymph cells, a type of white blood cell.
Malignant
Cancerous.
Nasopharynx
The nasopharynx serves as an airway and is continuous with the nasal cavity.
Oropharynx
The oropharynx is a passageway for both air and food and borders the nasopharynx and the oral cavity.
Pharyngeal
Pertaining to the pharynx.
Pharyngeal Tonsils
A pharyngeal tonsil, also called an adenoid, is an aggregate of lymphoid reticular tissue similar to a lymph node that lies at the superior portion of the nasopharynx.
Pharynx
The pharynx is a tube formed by skeletal muscle and lined by mucous membrane that is continuous with that of the nasal cavities. Also known as the throat.
Posterior
Pertaining to behind.
Pulmonary Artery
The pulmonary artery is the artery that arises from the pulmonary trunk.
Respiratory Zone
The respiratory zone includes structures that are directly involved in gas exchange.
Rhinorrhea
Excessive flow or discharge from the nasal cavity (runny nose).
Septal Cartilage
The flexible portion you can touch with your fingers.
Soft Palate
The soft palate is located at the posterior portion of the nasal cavity and consists of muscle tissue.
Sympathetic
Flight or fight response.
Trachea
The trachea (windpipe) extends from the larynx toward the lungs.
Uvula
The uvula is a small bulbous, teardrop-shaped structure located at the apex of the soft palate.
Test Yourself
Respiratory System Glossary Reinforcement Activity (Text Version)
- A small bulbous, teardrop-shaped structure located at the apex of the soft palate is called the ____[Blank 1].
- Lymphocytes
- Posterior
- Uvula
- Located at the anterior region of the nasal cavity and is composed of bone is the _____[Blank 2].
- Glottis
- Fauces
- Hard Palate
- A ridge of cartilage that separates the two main bronchi is called the ______[Blank 3].
- Carina
- Eupnea
- Alveolar Duct
- ____[Blank 4] serves as an airway and is continuous with the nasal cavity.
- Conducting zone
- Nasopharynx
- Hilum
- ______[Blank 5] consists of the surface and skeletal structure that result in the outward appearance of the nose and contribute to its numerous functions.
- Pharynx
- Inferior
- External nose
Check your answers: [1]
Activity source: Respiratory System Glossary Reinforcement Activity by Gisele Tuzon, licensed under CC BY 4.0./Text version added.
Attribution
Except where otherwise noted, this chapter is adapted from “Respiratory System” in Building a Medical Terminology Foundation by Kimberlee Carter and Marie Rutherford licensed under CC BY 4.0. / A derivative of Betts et al., which can be accessed for free from Anatomy and Physiology (OpenStax). Adaptations: dividing Respiratory System chapter content into sub-chapters.
- 1. Uvula, 2. Hard Palate, 3. Carina, 4. Nasopharynx, 5. External nose ↵