Ageing and the respiratory system Flashcards
What is the function of the respiratory system?
Gas exchange
Regulate pH of blood
Involved in blood pressure control
Key role in non specific immune response
What can impact the functions of the respiratory system?
Change due to age
What are the anatomical changes to the chest wall and what can it lead to?
Increase in rib calcification
strength of contraction reduces
Laboured breathing
What is the age changes to the muco-ciliary escalator and what can it cause?
part of non-specific defence mechanism
cilia frequency begins to decrease
clearance of pathogens and debris decrease
Increase risk of infection
What is the age changes to the cough reflex and what can this cause?
May not lead to stimulation of cough reflex
Increased risk of pathogens
What is the age changes to the upper airway and what can this cause?
Cartilage becomes calcified
results in larger diameter of upper airways (more dead space, reduces gases)
What is the age changes to the lower airway and what can this cause?
elastic nature of lungs is lost
dilated lungs
What is a functional change in lungs?
Increase in blood pressure in pulmonary artery (blood from heart to lungs)
What is the effect of age on residual volume?
Increase as you age
What is residual volume?
volume of air remaining in lungs after full expiration
What is vital capacity?
Volume exhaled after full inspiration
What is the effect of age on vital capacity?
Decreases as you age
What is total lung capacity?
Volume of air in lungs following inspiration
What is the effect of age on lung capacity?
No significant change
What is tidal volume?
Volume of air moved back in fourth during normal breath
