Medical Terminology Simplified

Lower Respiratory Tract

4–28 Continue to label structures in Figure 4–2, page 113, as you read the

following material.

The (5) trachea (windpipe)is a cylindrical tube composed of smooth muscle embed-

ded with a series of 16 to 20 C-shaped rings of cartilage. The trachea extends down-

ward into the thoracic cavity, where it divides to form the (6) right and left primary

bronchi (singular, bronchus).Each bronchus enters a lung and continues to subdi-

vide into increasingly finer, smaller branches known as (7) bronchioles.

The diminutive suffix -ole means small, minute.Thus, smaller segments of the

bronchus are called /.

4–29 The continuous branching of bronchi and bronchi/oles from the trachea

throughout the lungs resembles an inverted tree. This series of respiratory tubes that

branch into progressively narrower tubes as they extend into the lungs is known as

the bronchi/al tree. Refer to Figure 4–1 to identify the structures of the bronchi/

al tree.

The singular form of bronchiis.

4–30 The trachea’s cartilaginous rings provide necessary rigidity to keep air

passage open at all times. The CF chondr/o refers to cartilage.

Chondr/itis is an inflammation of.

4–31 Form medical words that mean

surgical repair of cartilage:

/ /

disease of cartilage: / /

tumor (or tumorlike growth) of cartilage: /

4–32 On its way to the lungs, air passes from the larynx to the trachea (windpipe).

In a life-threatening situation, when trache/al obstruction causes cessation of breath-

ing, a trache/o/stomy is performed through the neck into the trachea to gain access

below the blockage. (See Fig. 4–3.)

When an emergency situation warrants creation of an opening (mouth) into the trachea,

the procedure performed is a / /.

4–33 Softening of trache/al cartilage may be caused by pressure of the left pul-

monary artery on the trachea. Use -malaciato form a word that literally means

softening of the trachea: / /

118 CHAPTER 4• Respiratory System

Boldfaceindicates a word root or combining form. Blueindicates a suffix. Pinkindicates a prefix.

bronchi/oles

BRŎNG-kē-ōlz

bronchus

BRŎNG-kŭs

trache/o/stomy

trā-kē-ŎS-tō-mē

trache/o/malacia

trā-kē-ō-mă-LĀ-shē-ă

cartilage

KĂR-tĭ-lĭj

chondr/o/plasty

KŎN-drō-plăs-tē

chondr/o/pathy

kŏn-DRŎP-ă-thē

chondr/oma

kŏn-DRŌ-mă