Disorders of the Respiratory System Flashcards
hypoxia
a deficiency of oxygen in tissues, often a consequence of respiratory disorders
hypoxemic hypoxia
describes low pO2 in arterial blood due to high alitude, airway obstruction, fluid in lungs, carbon monoxide poisoning
ischemic hypoxia
due to decreased blood circulation
anemic hypoxia
occurs if blood cannot carry enough oxygen because of anemia, hemorrhage, insufficient hemoglobin
histotoxic hypoxia
occurs when tissues cant use oxygen because a toxin agent is present
principal symptom of hypoxia
cyanosis, which produces blue skin
breathing pure oxygen for an extended period of time leads to
oxygen toxicity
oxygen toxicity generates
free radicals that can cause problems with central nervous system which could produce coma or even death
scuba divers
must balance a mixutre of oxygen and nitrogen to avoid this problem
Chronic Obsructive Pulmonary Disease
any disorder that is characterized by chronic and recurrent obstruction of air flow that causes a significant reduction in ventiliation
COPD causes
smoking, exposure to second had smoke, air pollution, occupational exposure to airborn irratants, or allergens
COPD symptoms
include coughing, frequent respiratory infections, and hypoventilation
“pink puffers”
tend to be very thin and exhibit normal blood gases
“blue bloaters”
tend to be stocky and exhibit cyanosis because of hypoxia
routin treatment for COPD
with bronchodilators and aerosol corticosteroids that are inhaled
chronic bronchitis
inflammation of the bronchi which is usually caused by smoking
effects of chronic bronchitis
- goblet cells become enlarged and produce excess mucus
- cilia are immoblized and reduce in number
- alveolar macrophages incapacitated by cigarette smoke
in chronic bronchitis the sputum
provides a growht medium for bacteria which leads to chronic infection
emphysema
involves the permanent enlargement of alveoli due to long term exposure to airborne irritants, especially tabacco smoke
in emphysema the alveolar walls
break down and lose elasticity
in emphysema the alveoli
remain inflated during expiration and obstruct out-flowof air
in emphysema the damage to pulmonary capillaries
causes enlargement of the right ventricle
in emphysema ventilation
becomes inceasingly difficult and a “barrel-chest” develops
asthma
an immune response triggered by allergens (allergic asthma) or by infection, drugs, exercise, or cold, dry air (non-allergic asthma)
astma demographics
most common chronic illnes of children, especiallly by young boys with 50% of cases developing before age 10
asthma is characterized by
chronic airway inflammation and airway obstruction
in asthma muscle spasms
trigger bronchoconstriction (in tertiary bronchi and bronchioles)
in asthma excess mucus secretion
clogs bronchioles and can lead to suffocation
asthma treatment
involves inhaling epinephrine to relax bronchioles and open airway and cotcosteroids to reduce inflammation
pneumonia
an acute infection of alveoli caused by viruses, bacteria, or fungi
in pneumonia alveoli
fill with fluid and dead leukocytes, reduces ventilation and gas exchange
pneumonia demographics
especially dangerous to infants, the elderly, and people with compromised immune systems
tuberculosis
an infection transmitted by inhalation
in tuberculosis lung tissue
is destroyed and replaced with fibrous connective tissue; reduces elastic recoil and ventilation
recent resurgence of TB
correlates with a risk in HIV infection and the development of antibiotic resistant strains of the bacteria
lung cancer develops
primarily from cigarette smoke, although long-term exposure to airborne irritants, including secondhand smoke, is responsible for about 15% of all cases
squamous cell carcinoma
develops in bronchial epithelium and spreads to the bronchial walls where bleeding lesions occur
adenocarcinoma
develops in bronchial glands and alveolar cells
smal cell carcinoma
originates in the the primary bronchi, but invades the mediastinum and quickly mestasisizes to other organs
cystic fibrosis
a genetic disease that reduces the body’s ability to transport chloride ions across the plasma membrane of epithelial cells
5% of the population carries
a detective gene that still allows these cells to make chloride pumps, but the pumps dont get installed correctly in the plasma membrane
-cystic fibrosis
cystic fibrosis is characterized by
salty sweat
in cystic fibrosis cells in the respiratory passageways produce
heavy mucus secretions that clog cilia in the airways and make breathing difficult
in cystic fibrosis the leading cause of death is
lung disease that develops by age 30
high altitude sickness
occurs when the altitude increases, because air pressure and pO2 decreases
in high altitude sickness less oxygen reaches blood and causes
shortness of breath, severe headache, fatigue, nausea, dizziness
nitrogen narcosis
affects underwater workers who breathe air under high pressure
pressurized air tanks create
positive intrapulmonary pressure that allows a person to inspire with minimal thoracic activity
pressurized air allows nitrogen gas to
dissolve easily in blood, in adipose tissue, in myelin of brain
pressurized air causes
giddiness and disorientation
decompression sickness
deep water divers who surface too quickly can suffer from this
in decompression sickness nitrogen
rapidly leaves body fluids and produces dangerous gas bubbles in joints, bones, muscles, and pulmonary capillaries
decompression sickness can cause
pain, dyspnea or loss of conciousness
