Aspiration
The swallowing of foreign matter into the lungs.
Alveolar macrophages
The special cells in the lungs that attack bacteria and other germs.
Alveoli
Small air sacs in the lungs that exchange incoming oxygen with outgoing carbon dioxide.
Biopsy
Procedure in which a sample of lung tissue is taken if you have a severe case of pneumonia.
Bronchi
The two large tubes that connect the trachea to the lungs.
Bronchial pneumonia
Type of pneumonia that spreads from the bronchi to several patches in one or both lungs.
Bronchioles
The smaller tubes of the airways that lead from the bronchi to the alveoli. Each lung has hundreds of bronchioles.
Bronchoconstriction
The narrowing of the bronchioles.
Bronchodilator
Medication that opens up the bronchial tubes, helping to diminish shortness of breath.
Cilia
Tiny hairs on the cells that line the airways. They sweep away mucus that has trapped foreign particles and help the body remove irritants.
Expiration
The process of releasing air from the lungs through the nose or mouth.
Inspiration
The process of breathing air into the lungs.
Irritant
Substance that may provoke a bad reaction in the airways.
Lobar Pneumonia
Pneumonia that affects only one lobe, or section, of the lung.
Lobe
The well-defined portion of the lungs.
Mucus
Sticky airway secretion that prevents lung damage by trapping foreign particles. When infection makes your lungs produce too much mucus, it clogs the airways.
Pulmonary Function Test
A test used to measure how well the lungs work.
Respiration
The gas exchange from air to the blood, and from the blood to the body cells.
Streptococcus pneumoniae
The technical name for pneumococcus — the strain of bacteria that is the leading cause of bacterial pneumonia.
Trachea
The windpipe where the air we breathe is adjusted to body temperature, filtered and moistened.
Ventilation
The amount of air that moves in and out of the lungs.
Viral Pneumonia
An infection of the lungs caused by one of several viruses.