Chapter 1: Conducting Airways/ Respiratory System Flashcards
State the three primary functions of the nose
- Heating
- humidification
- filtering
Describe the functions of turbinates
To increase the surface area of the nasal passage to facilitate heating, humidifying, and filtering of inspired air
Describe the impact of intubation on inspired air
Intubation by-passes the upper airway including the nose so all the functions of the nose and upper airway are lost. When using an artificial airway we need to be prepared to assist in carrying out the functions of the upper airways
Name the structure that is the narrowest part of the upper airway (adults / babies).
• Adults - the glottis (space between the true vocal cords)
• neonates- cricoid cartilage
Label the structures of the upper airway
May be one on the exam
Describe the changes in the epithelium of the lower airway as it progresses down toward the bronchioles
The epithelial layer thins, moving from pseudo stratified columnar epithelial later to cuboidal, and finally savamous by the terminal bronchioles
In addition the cartilage disappears as do the submucosal glands
Name the alveolar cell types and functions
• Type l alveolar cells : these are very thin very simple cells whose purpose is to facilitate gas exchange
• Type 2 alveolar cells: produce surfactant (dppc) which helps stabilize the alveoli and serves as a source for new type I and type 2 cells following injury
• Type 3 alveolar cells: alveolar macrophages. They attack any foreign substance that makes it to the alveoli. They phagocytize it
Name the structure that covers the opening of the larynx to keep food from going into the lungs during swallowing
The epiglottis protects the entrance to the larynx and the lower airway
Explain why an endotracheal tube is move likely to be inserted into the right mainstream as opposed to the left mainstream
The angle at which the right mainstream bronchus comes off the carina is not very acute at 25 degrees. This provides almost a straight shot for aspirates or endotracheal tubes to enter the right mainstream bronchus
Differentiate between bronchi and bronchioles
• Bronchi: large, cartilaginous airways with normal respiratory epithelium and lots of submucosal glands
• Bronchioles: small airways lacking in cartilage, with cuboidal to squamous epithelium and diminishing to absent submucosal glands
Discuss what differentiates the conducting airways from the area of gas exchange
Alveoli. If alveoli are present then we are in the area of gas exchange
Describe how cilia function and their role in mucociliary clearance
They continuously sweep towards the laryngopharynx . They whip forward contacting the ger layer of the mucus, moving it and anything stuck to it towards the laryngopharynx.
Describe the interface at which gas exchange occurs.
- ACM
-alveolar epithelium
- alveolar basement membrane
- interstitial space
- capillary basement membrane
- capillary endothelium
- blood plasma
- RBC’s
Name the primary neurotransmitters in the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems
SNS: catecholamines - epinephrine and norepinephrine
PNS: acetylcholine (ach)
Describe the typical effects of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system stimulation
•SNS
Alpha 1 - vasoconstriction primarily of arterial smooth muscle
Beta 1 - increased heart rate and force of myocardial contraction
Beta 2 - causes bronchial smooth muscle relaxation leading to bronchodilation
• PNS
-relaxation of the arterial blood vessels
- slowing heart rate and force of constriction
- bronchoconstriction
