Clinical application of ventilation and lung mechanics Flashcards
What is hypoventilation?
Inspiratory muscles not working
What is a pneumothorax?
Pleural seal lost, lungs collapse
What is diffuse lung fibrosis?
Increased collagen in alveolar walls, lungs stiff so difficult for lungs to expand.
What is respiratory distress syndrome?
decreased surfactant - increased surface tension so difficult for lungs to expand.
What is emphysema
Destruction of elastic fibres, decreased elastic recoils of lungs so difficulty with quiet expiration.
What is asthma and COPD?
Increased airway resistance so difficulty with quiet expiration.
What epithelial cells are present in the conducting portion of the respiratory system?
Pseudostratified epithelium with cilia and goblet cells line the airways from the nasal cavity to the largest bronchioles.
How are small particles removed from the respiratory tract?
Carried down to alveoli then
engulfed by macrophages and removed by lymphatics and via airways (much-cilary)
What is the difference between bronchus and bronchioles?
Bronchus = cartilage Bronchioles = no cartilage or glands
What is radial traction?
Term used for the outward tugging action of the alveolar walls on bronchioles.
It prevents the collapse of bronchioles during expiration.
What is interstitium?
The microscopic space between the alveolar epithelium and capillary endothelium.
It contains: Elastin fibres, Collagen fibres and fibroblasts.
What causes interstitial lung fibrosis?
- Specific exposure e.g. asbestos, drugs, mouldy hay ect..
- Autoimmune-mediated inflammation
- Connective tissue disease
- Unknown injury (idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis)
What happens to the lungs in interstitial lung disease (diffuse lung fibrosis)?
Lungs are stiff and harder to expand. Therefore, lung compliance is low.
Elastic recoils of the lungs is high and so the lung volume is less than normal.
It has a ‘restrictive type of ventilatory defect.
What are the signs and symptoms of Interstitial lung disease?
Breathlessness
Dry cough
Relevant previous history: occupation, drug history ect
Chest expansion is reduced.
What is emphysema?
Abnormal, permanent enlargement of the air spaces distal to the terminal bronchiole with destruction of the alveolar walls (but no fibrosis)