Prefixes
a-
absence of; without
-spasm
involuntary movement/muscle contraction
pneum/o
lung; air
bronchitis
inflammation of bronchial tubes (usually from a viral infection)
TB
tuberculosis
hyper-
above; excessive
-meter
instrument used to measure
py/o
pus
pneumonia
a lung infection that causes inflamed alveoli (air sacs) and difficulty breathing
PE
pulmonary embolism
dys-
painful, difficult, labored, or abnormal
-pnea
breathing
orth/o
straight
asthma
chronic lung disease that causes narrowing of the airway and inflammation; making breathing difficult
URT
upper respiratory tract
intra-
within; in
-ptysis
coughing or spitting
capn/o
carbon dioxide (CO2)
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
a group of lung diseases that cause airway obstruction and make breathing difficult
ALI
acute lung injury
eu-
good; normal
-centesis
surgical puncture used to aspirate fluid
spir/o
breathe; breathing
respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
virus that causes infections of the upper respiratory tract (especially dangerous for infants, children, elderly, and immunocompromised)
RSBI
rapid shallow breathing index