C13 Respiratory System Flashcards
What is the main function of the respiratory system?
Gas exchange (O2/CO2)
What are the components of the upper respiratory tract?
Nose, pharynx, larynx, and upper trachea
What are the components of the lower respiratory tract?
Lower trachea, bronchi, bronchioles, alveoli and lungs
Lungs
Cone-shaped organs that sit in the chest cavity are protected by the ribs
How many lobes does each lung lobe contain?
Right lung: 3 lobes vs Left lung: 2 lobes
What are the lungs made up of?
Millions of alveoli reminder is connective tissue
Pleura?
Membranes around the lungs. Two:
Outer=Parietal
Inner=Visceral
What is between the two pleura?
Intrapleural space (contains fluid secreted by the membranes)
Respiration-Inspiration
The diaphragm contracts downward.
Higher volume and lower pressure
Respiration-Expiration
The diaphragm relaxes upwards.
Higher pressure and lower volume
Pneumonia- Description
Acute inflammation of the lower
respiratory tract (bronchioles, alveolar ducts,
alveolar sacs and alveoli).
-Inhalation or aspiration (oro- and nasopharynx).
Frequent nosocomial infections.
Can pneumonia be uni or bilateral/ total or partial?
Yes can be unilateral or bilateral also can be total or partial.
Pneumonia- Bacterial, Virus, Other
Bacterial (Streptococcus pneumonia)/ Viral/
Mycoplasmas/ Others (i.e. fungi, chemicals, dust
Pneumonia-Symptoms
- Coughing
- Sputum production
- Chest pain
- Chills
- Fever
- Rales
- Dyspnea
- Cyanosis
Pneumonia-Dx
- Medical history
- Physical examination
- Auscultation
- Chest X-ray
- Sputum smears and
blood cultures
Pneumonia- Treatment *Etiology
- Antibiotics / Antifungal
- Oxygen therapy
- Increase fluid intake
- Bed rest
- Analgesics
- Chest physiotherapy
- Postural drainage (percussion and vibration)
Sleep Apnea-Description
Potentially serious sleep disorder in which breathing
repeatedly stops and starts. It is accompanied by loud snoring.
-Older Men>Women
Sleep Apnea-3 types?
- Obstructive: throat muscles relax
- Central: brain does not send proper signals to the
muscles that control breathing - Complex: combination of obstructive and central
Sleep Apnea-Symptoms
- Hypersomnia
- Loud snoring
- SOB
- Morning headaches
- Dry mouth
- Sore throat
- Insomnia
Sleep Apnea-Dx
- Sleep study
- Pulse oximetry- Measures O2 in blood
Sleep Apnea-Treatments
- O2
therapy: Continuous positive airway pressure - Surgery
Pulmonary Hypertension (PH) - Description
high blood pressure that affects the arteries in the lungs
PH - Primary vs Secondary Causes
Primary (idiopathic: genetic predisposition?) or
secondary (i.e. COPD, sleep apnea, AIDS).
PH- Symptoms
- Asymptomatic for long
time - Dyspnea
- Fatigue
- Chest pain
- Edema (angles and legs)
- Cyanosis
- Syncope- a temporary loss of consciousness and muscle tone caused by a sudden decrease in blood flow to the brain.
PH- Dx *Difficult
- Transesophageal echocardiogram
- Pulmonary function test
- CF scan
PH- Treatments
- Vasodilators
- Endothelin receptor antagonists
- Calcium channel blockers
- Anticoagulants
- Diuretics
- Oxygen therapy
- Heart-lung transplant
PH-Prognosis
- Progressively worse -> fatal
- Complications- Cor pulmonale (right-side heart failure)
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)- Description
Lung disease is characterized by chronic obstruction of lung airflow that interferes with normal breathing.
* 3rd leading cause of death worldwide
COPD-Etiology
other diseases (i.e. asthma, pulmonary tuberculosis), smoking, exposure to contaminants (i.e. polluted air, textile dust fibers), respiratory infections, and allergies.
COPD- 2 conditions that contribute
- Chronic Bronchitis:
severe irritation and
inflammation of bronchial
tubes (daily cough and
mucus) - Pulmonary
Emphysema: gradual
destruction of alveoli
COPD (General)-Symptoms
EARLY
* SOB after mild exercise
* Wheezing
* Chest tightness
* Frequent colds/flu/
respiratory infections
* Fatigue
LATER
* Severe fatigue
* Dyspnea
* Chronic cough
* Mucus production
* Swelling of
feet/ankles/legs
* Cyanosis
COPD (Chronic Bronchitis)- Symptoms
EARLY
* SOB after mild exercise
* Wheezing
* Chronic cough
* Mucus production
LATER
* Severe fatigue
* Dyspnea
* Swelling of
feet/ankles/legs
* Cyanosis
Blue Boater
Lower vent –> Hypoxemia
Higher CO–> polycythemia
COPD (Pulmonary Emphysema)- Symptoms
EARLY
* SOB after mild exercise * Chest tightness
LATER
* Severe fatigue
* Hyperventilation
* Barrel chest
Pink Puffer
higher hypervent–> puffing
lower CO–>pink
COPD- Treatments
- Bronchodilators
- Inhaled corticosteroids
- Oxygen therapy
- Diuretics
- Pulmonary rehabilitation
COPD- Dx
- Pulmonary Function tests
- Chest X-ray
- Arterial blood gases
- Sputum analysis
Asthma- Description
inflammatory disorder
of the airways that causes recurrent
spasms in the bronchi of the lungs.
Asthma- Etiology
uncertain (allergy/ respiratory
infections/ exercise or exertion/
temperature and humidity/
emotions/stress and anxiety)
Asthma- Extrinsic
in response to an
environmental irritant (childhood)
Asthma- Intrinsic
without evidence of
allergic response
Asthma- Symptoms
- Coughing
- Pronounced wheezing
- Dyspnea / Tachypnea
- Chest tightness
- Pallor
Asthma- Dx
- Physical examination
- Chest x-ray
- Pulmonary function tests
- Blood test- Allergy related: Eosinophils and IgE
Asthma- Treatments
- Bronchodilators
- Inhaled corticosteroids * Oxygen therapy
Lung Cancer- Description
Malignant neoplasms in the trachea, bronchi or alveoli.
Lung Cancer- Etiology
87% cases by smoking (directly/indirectly), radon gas, asbestos, uranium
Lung Cancer- 2 major types
- Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC): more common, grows slower
-Squamous cell carcinoma
-Adenocarcinoma
-Large-cell carcinoma - Small cell lung cancer (SCLC): less common, grows fast, metastasis
Lung Cancer- Symptoms
Early-stage
* No symptoms
Advance-stage
* Cough
* Hoarseness
* Weight loss
* Wheezing
* Chest pain
* Dyspnea
* Hemoptysis
Lung Cancer- Dx
- Chest x-ray or CT scan
- Sputum cytology test
- Bronchoscopy
- Tissue biopsy
Lung Cancer- Treatments
- Surgery
- Radiotherapy
- Chemotherapy
Cystic Fibrosis- Description
Progressive, genetic disease that
causes persistent lung infections and limits the ability
to breathe over time.
Genetic Learning center
- Autosomal-recessive dysfunction
- Defective cystic fibrosis conductance regulator (CFTR)
- >1700 mutations
- Characterized by the production of copious amounts of abnormally
thick mucus that clogs bronchus, lungs, pancreas.
Cystic Fibrosis- Symptoms
- Wheezy respiration
- Dry cough
- Dyspnea
- Tachypnea
- Lung infections
- Constipation
- Electrolyte imbalance
- Inability to absorb fats
- Pancreatic insufficiency
(diabetes)
Cystic Fibrosis- Dx
- Sweat test
- DNA test
- Chest x-ray
- Pulmonary function
Cystic Fibrosis- Treatments
- Antibiotic
- Bronchodilators
- Mucus-thinning drugs
- Gene therapy *CFTR modulators
- Anti-inflammatories
