The Respiratory System I
Bartolo Natoli, M.A; M.Ed.
Combining Forms
alveol/o
bronch/o
bronchiol/o
capn/o OR carb/o
laryng/o
lob/o
nas/o OR rhin/o
or/o
ox/o
palat/o
pharyng/o
phren/o
pleur/o
pneum/o
pulmon/o
sinus/o
spir/o OR -pnea
thorac/o
tonsill/o
trache/o
uvul/o
Chapter Objectives
1. What are the basic combining forms of the
Respiratory System?
2. Where is the basic anatomy of the Respiratory
System located?
3. What are the definitions of the basic symptomatic
terms regarding the Respiratory System?
The Respiratory System
Nasopharynx
Oropharnyx
Laryngopharynx
Epiglottis
Glottis
The Respiratory System
Having Trouble Breathing?
The majority of symptomatic
terms referring to breathing
end in the suffix ‘-pnea’.
This is derived from the Greek
πνεω, which means to breathe.
Types of ‘-pnea’
eupnea
bradypnea
tachypnea
hypopnea
hyperpnea
dyspnea
apnea
Types of ‘-pnea’
eupnea
bradypnea
tachypnea
hypopnea
hyperpnea
dyspnea
apnea
Types of ‘-pnea’
eupnea
bradypnea
tachypnea
hypopnea
hyperpnea
dyspnea
apnea
Practice: SOAP Form
Examine the vital signs of these 4 patients. What
type of breathing pattern does each exhibit?
1. BP: 130/72; RR: 17; T: 98.8 F
eupnea
2. BP: 100/60; RR: 7; T: 98.4 F
bradypnea
3. BP: 158/80; RR: 26; T: 99.2 F
tachypnea
4. BP: 78/50; RR: 3; T: 97.5 F
apnea
The ‘Hyper’s & ‘Hypo’s
A large number of terms in this chapter involve the
prefixes “hyper” and “hypo”. Remember:
Hyper = Above/Excessive
From the Gk ὑπερ
Hypo = Below/Lack
From the Gk ὑπο
The ‘Hyper’s & ‘Hypo’s
In this presentation, these prefixes are grouped into 3
pairs of terms:
hypercapnia --- hypocapnia
hyperventilation --- hypoventilation
hypoxemia --- hypoxia
Hyper/Hypocapnia
eupnea
hypocapnia
hypercapnia
CO2 is one of the most powerful vasoand bronchodilators. Therefore, a lack
of CO2 results in muscle spasm, tetany
and, eventually, death.
Hyper/Hypoventilation
2
Hyper/Hypoventilation
Hyperventilation is the EXCESSIVE
movement of air into and out of the
The difficulty with these terms is that they are easily
lungs.
2
confused with the conditions
resulting from them:
HYPERventilation --> HYPOcapnia
HYPOventilation --> HYPERcapnia
Hypoventilation is the LACK OF
movement of air into and out of
the lungs.
Hypoxia & Hypoxemia
Hypoxia =
Hyp + Ox
lack of oxygen in tissue cells
Hypoxemia =
Hyp + Ox + Hemia
lack of oxygen in the blood
& the rest . . .
The remaining symptomatic terms regarding the
Respiratory System don’t share any obvious
terminological similarities. Therefore, we’ll break
them down separately.
& the rest
cyanosis
expectoration
dysphonia
hemoptysis
epistaxis
pulmonary edema
rhinorrhea
& the rest
cyanosis blueish color of the skin
expectoration
dysphonia
hemoptysis
epistaxis
pulmonary edema
rhinorrhea
& the rest
cyanosis
expectoration
dysphonia
hoarseness
hemoptysis
epistaxis
pulmonary edema
rhinorrhea
& the rest
cyanosis
expectoration
dysphonia
hemoptysis
epistaxis
nosebleed
pulmonary edema
rhinorrhea
& the rest
cyanosis
expectoration
dysphonia
hemoptysis
epistaxis
pulmonary edema
rhinorrhea
runny nose
& the rest
cyanosis
expectoration
coughing up material from the lungs
dysphonia
hemoptysis
epistaxis
pulmonary edema
rhinorrhea
& the rest
cyanosis
expectoration
dysphonia
epistaxis
hemoptysis
coughing up blood that originates
in the lungs
pulmonary edema
rhinorrhea
& the rest
cyanosis
expectoration
dysphonia
hemoptysis
epistaxis
rhinorrhea
pulmonary edema
fluid filling the spaces
around the alveoli