General Pathology of the respiratory tract Flashcards
What is the role of the nasal chamber in relation to defense?
They causes turbulent airflow removing particles and some bacteria. Smell is also used to detect noxious irritants
How are the alveolar macrophages dispersed throughout the lung?
Usually one sentinel per alveolus.
What is primary atelectasis ?
Failure of the lung tissue to expand at birth. Non inflammatory disease
What is secondary atelectasis?
Collapse of lung tissue that was previously ventilated. Non inflammatory
How does partial primary atelectasis appear on post mortem?
Multifocal areas of pale tissue that has been inflated and dark red areas that haven’t.
What are the causes of secondary atelectasis?
compression (air, masses, fluid, organs) or obstruction (masses, foreign objects, secretions)
What is the definition of emphysema?
Excessive air in the lung
What is alveolar emphysema?
Permanent abnormal enlargement of airspaces distal to the terminal bronchioles often due to destruction of alveolar walls by neutrophil elastase.
What is interstitial emphysema?
Septal lymphatics are dilated with air secondary to forced expiration
What is compensatory emphysema?
Emphysema where the lungs are overinflated next to an area of consolidation
What is melanosis?
Deposition of melanin in alveolar walls
What is anthracosis?
Accumulation of carbon in alveolar macrophages.
When is anthrcosis an issue?
When the amount of particles overwhelms the macrophages giving infection an oppurtunity
What is hyperaemia?
Increased volume of blood being pumped into the lung tissue
What is congestion?
Decreased blood flow from the lung tissue
