Upper Respiratory Tract
Lower Respiratory Tract
Suffixes
Prefixes
Other
100

laryng/o

larynx (voice box)


laryng/o/plegia: 

-plegia: paralysis

100

bronchi/o

bronchus (plural, bronchi)


bronch/itis: inflammation of the lining of bronchial tubes, which carry air to and from the lungs.

100

-capnia

carbon dioxide (CO2)


hyper/capnea: excessive or above normal CO2 in the bloodstream, typically caused by inadequate respiration.

100

peri-

around


peri/tonsill/ar: around or pertaining to the tonsils

100

cyan/o

blue


cyan/osis: results from poor circulation or inadequate oxygenation of the blood.

200

trache/o

trachea (windpipe)


trache/o/plasty: performed to correct a narrow or stenotic trachea.

200

alveol/o

alveolus; air sac


alveol/ar

-ar: pertaining to

200

-osmia

smell


an/osmia: a loss, usually partial, of the sense of smell.

200

brady-

slow


brady/pnea: slow breathing

200

spir/o

breathe


spir/o/meter: evaluates the movement of air into and out of the lungs (ventilation).

300

epiglott/o

epiglottis


epiglottitis: because the epiglottis seals the opening to the lungs, inflammation can lead to severe airway obstruction and death. Epiglottitis is treated as a medical emergency.

300

pleur/o

pleura

each of a pair of serous membranes lining the thorax and enveloping the lungs in humans and other mammals.

300

-phonia

voice


dys/phonia: usually signifies dysfunction in the muscles needed to produce sound.

300

dys-

bad; painful; difficult


dys/pnea: painful or difficult breathing

300

phren/o

diaphragm; mind


phren/o/spasm: involuntary contraction of the diaphragm (hiccup!).

400

pharyng/o

pharynx (throat)


pharyng/o/scope

-scope: instrument for examining

400

pneum/o, pneumon/o

air; lung


pneum/o/lith

-lith: stone, calculus

pneumon/ia

-ia: condition

400

-ptysis

spitting


hem/o/ptysis: spitting blood. Usually a sign of serious condition of the lungs.

400

eu-

good, normal


eu/pnea: normal breathing

400

orth/o

straight


orth/o/pnea

-pnea: breathing

Discomfort in breathing that is relieved by sitting or standing in an erect position.
500

adenoid/o

adenoids

The adenoids are glands located in the roof of the mouth, behind the soft palate where the nose connects to the throat. The adenoids produce antibodies, or white blood cells, that help fight infections.

500

pulmon/o

lung


pulmon/o/logist

-logist: specialist in the study of

500

-thorax

chest


hem/o/thorax: type of pleural effusion containing blood and commonly associated with severe trauma to the chest.

500

tachy-

rapid


tachy/pnea: rapid breathing

500

pector/o

chest


pector/algia:

-algia: chest pain

AKA: thoracalgia or thoracodynia