The trachea is the part of the respiratory tract that leads from the larynx and ends lower down in the thoracic cavity where it divides into the two main bronchi (left and right). It lies almost exactly in the middle of the neck (median) although in most healthy people, it may be noticed sitting slightly to the right. It >> Read More ...
Pertussis (whooping cough) closely resembles many other upper and lower respiratory tract infections and a proper diagnosis is essential in order to commence with the appropriate treatment as soon as possible. Many cases of pertussis are initially misdiagnosed for more common respiratory tract infections. It is only upon >> Read More ...
What is Whooping Cough? Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is a contagious infection of the respiratory tract. While most respiratory tract infections are due to viruses (example : common cold, influenza), pertussis is caused by bacteria, namely the Bordetella pertussis bacterium. Pertussis typically affects the >> Read More ...
What is dysphonia? Dysphonia is the medical term for a speech disturbance (phonation), usually resulting in a hoarse voice or whispering voice, due to problems with the larynx (voice box). Spasmodic dysphonia is a form of dystonia where there is involuntary spasms of the vocal cords. This causes interruptions in speech , >> Read More ...
Location of the Larynx The larynx is the short tube that connects the pharynx (throat) to the trachea (wind pipe). It runs at the front of the throat at the level of C3 to C6 vertebrae and lies anterior to the esophagus. Function of the Larynx It allows air to be directed into the respiratory organs for gas exchange. The >> Read More ...
The presence of blood in the mouth can be extremely worrying, especially if it is a sudden bleed for no obvious reason. Bleeding when coughing (hemoptysis), vomiting (hematemesis) or from the nose (epistaxis) indicates the most likely source of the bleed – the respiratory passages, gastrointestinal tract or nasal >> Read More ...
What is stomatodynia? Stomatodynia is the medical term for pain in the mouth. This can include pain or discomfort of the lips, tongue (glossodynia), palate and/or inner lining of the mouth cavity known as the buccal mucosa. Often dental pain, involving the teeth and/or gums may be described as mouth >> Read More ...
What is the Pharynx and Tonsils? The pharynx is the uppermost part of the alimentary tract and commonly referred to as the throat. It directs the passage of air and food between the mouth and nose into esophagus and larynx. The tonsils are collections of lymphoid tissue that lie in the >> Read More ...
What is Esophagitis? Esophagitis (UK ~ oesophagitis) is the medical term for inflammation of the esophagus, the long muscular tube of the gut which leads from the throat to the stomach. Esophagitis is a broad term to describe swelling of the esophagus, irritation of the mucosal lining or even lacerations of the esophageal >> Read More ...
What is hematemesis? Hematemesis (UK ~ haematemesis) is the medical term for the vomiting of blood either mixed with partially digested gastrointestinal contents and mucus or consisting entirely of blood. Blood in the vomit can vary in color from fresh and bright red to degraded maroon blood or even dark brown to black >> Read More ...
