Introduction to respiratory systems

Question 1

Which part of the respiratory anatomy are medicines used to treat asthma/COPD working on?

Answer 1

bronchioles and the alveoli

Question 2

are the bronchi symmetrical?

Answer 2

no, the right is more vertical and shorter and wider

Question 3

what happens when excitatory of the nerves and vaguest nerves occurs?

Answer 3

bronchoconstriction

Question 4

what happens when inhibitory nerves and circulating epinephrine occurs?

Answer 4

bronchodilation

Question 5

what are the 2 different autonomic nervous systems?

Answer 5

sympathetic and parasympathetic

Question 6

What effects how easily air flows into your lungs?

Answer 6

The relaxation/contraction of circular smooth muscle lining the “airways’” determines how easily airflow can occur (bronchodilation vs. bronchoconstriction)

Question 7

where does most gas exchange occur?

Answer 7

in the alveolar sacs

Question 8

how is the airway diameter increased and therefore reduced airway resistance?

Answer 8

Sympathetic impulses innervate the adrenal gland which secretes epinephrine into
circulation, binding to adrenergic receptors on airway smooth muscle cells,
causing smooth muscle relaxation, increasing airway diameter and reducing
airway resistance.

Question 9

what is NANC?

Answer 9

non adrenergic non cholinergic (NANC) nerves, they can also be inhibitaors

Question 10

how is the airways of the smooth muscle narrowed and increased constriction?

Answer 10

Parasympathetic cholinergic fibers innervate airway smooth
muscle, mucous glands and pulmonary blood vessels. This causes airway smooth
muscle contraction, narrowing airways and also increases production of mucous
glycoproteins.

Question 11

what kind of receptors does bronchoconstriction occur at?

Answer 11

muscarnic receptors

Question 12

what kind of receptors does bronchodilation occur at?

Answer 12

adrenergic receptors

Question 13

For asthma treatment would you expect to use an agonist or antagonist at adrenergic receptors?

Answer 13

agonist

Question 14

For asthma treatment would you expect to use an agonist or antagonist at muscarinic receptors?

Answer 14

antagoist

Question 15

what are some of the early pathophysiology of asthma?

Answer 15

• hypersenitivity
• hypersecretion of mucous
• bronchoconstriction

Question 16

what are some of the later pathophysiology of asthma?

Answer 16

• bronchoconstriction
• cellular infiltration
• loss of cillary function

Question 17

what is COPD the umberlla term for which 2 diseases?

Answer 17

• chronic bronctis

- emphysema

Question 18

what is emphysema?

Answer 18

the breakdown of the walls of the aveoli

Question 19

what is chronic bronchitisi?

Answer 19

infflammtaion and excess mucus in the bronchioles

Question 20

drugs used to treat asthma- bronchodilators?

Answer 20

• Beta-agonists – Short acting(SABA) – Long acting(LABA) • Antimuscarinics (SAMA/LAMA) • Xanthines

Question 21

drugs to treat asthma- anti-inflammatories?

Answer 21

• Corticosteroids • Leukotriene modifiers • Anti IgE antibody • Sodium cromoglycate

Question 22

what is asthma?

Answer 22

• a an inflammatory disease
• characterised by recurrent attacks of breathlessness and wheezing
• The airway obstruction is mostly reversible with treatment or spontaneously

Question 23

what is COPD?

Answer 23

• disease characterised by airflow obstruction which is usually progressive, not fully reversible. Airflow obstruction is due to airway and parenchyma damage and the result of chronic inflammation that differs from asthma.

Question 24

what is the aetiology (cause) of asthma? enviornmental?

Answer 24

Allergens
Pollutants 
Tobacco smoke 
Infections (RTIs) 
Diet 
Drugs 
Obesity

Question 25

what is the aetiology? host?

Answer 25

Genetic predisposition Age Atopy Airway hypersensitivity Gender Ethnicity
air pollution
biomass and developing countries

Question 26

what is spirometry?

Answer 26

monitor lung function and diagnoses respiratory condition. it measures air expelled from the lungs

Question 27

what are some non-pharmaceutical interventions?

Answer 27

• reduce exposure to triggers= house dust mite
• stop smoking
• weight loss
• breathing exercises

Question 28

what is Anti-alpha trypsin deficiency?

Answer 28

it is a cause of COPD
Anti alpha trypsin: anti-protease enzyme found in the serum which inhibits neutrophil elastase • Elastase breaks down extracellular matrix leading to lung damage and alveolar collapse • Point mutations produce abnormalities in the protein so that it is unable to leave the liver and therefore is not present in the lung and can also cause liver damage

Question 29

what are the clinical features of emphysema?

Answer 29

increasing dyspnea even at rest
bronchial infection less common
minimal cough
Patients tend to hyperventilate to compensate for hypoxia, appearing pink with little CO2 retention. They are often thin with pursed lips in an effort to compensate for lack of elastic recoil.

Question 30

what are the clinical features of chronic bronchitisis

Answer 30

Excess mucous production Broncho spasm Wheeze and dyspnoea Hypoxia and hypercapnia
Patients often have a productive cough, are overweight, dyspneaon physical exertion. Retain CO2 and lose ability to increase the rate and depth of ventilation.