Lecture 10 - CF: Respiratory System Flashcards
Describe the anatomy of the respiratory system
Series of branching tubes: • Upper airways • Trachea • Bronchi • Bronchioles • Terminal bronchioles • Respiratory bronchioles • Alveolar ducts • Alveoli
What is the difference between the conducting and respiratory zones?
Conducting: mucosa lined, no gas exchange
Respiratory: simple squamous epithelium for gas exchange
What are the phases of lung development?
- Embryonic: lung bud appears, out pouching from foregut
- Pseudoglandular: branching of airways up to terminal bronchioles
- Canalicular: development of acinar region & type I and II pneumocytes
- Sacular / alveolar:
• sacules form into alveolar ducts
• decrease in interstitial tissue, septation
• alveoli start to develop
What is the tissue origin of the lungs?
Endoderm
What is the acinus?
Of what is it composed?
This is the gas exchange region of the lung
Composed of: • respiratory bronchioles • alveolar ducts • alveolar sacs • alveoli
What is septation?
Septa form between alveoli to form more alveoli
What are some functions of the lungs?
- Gas exchange
- Defence
- Acid-base balance
- Metabolic
- Heat exchange
- Water balance
- Phonation
What are the defences in the lung?
Upper: • cough reflex • sneezing • mucociliary escalator • turbinates, filter Lower: • surfactant • IgA • complement • alveolar macrophages
What is ASL and what is it composed of?
Airway surface liquid:
• periciliary layer
• mucous gel layer
Describe the function of the mucociliary escalator
ASL present on cells in lumen
Cilia on apical surface beat 12-15 times per second
Describe gas exchange in the lungs
- Takes place at the level of alveoli
- Alveoli filled with air upon inspiration
- Gas diffuses in solution across the single celled wall of the alveolus into the capillary
- Basement membrane between alveolus and capillary
What is the measurement of ‘Flow’
Volume / time (of air)
Which parameters do we measure to determine lung function?
- Volume
- Flow
- Pressure
What are the various lung volumes and capacities of the lungs?
Total lung capacity Vital capacity Tidal volume Residual volume Expiratory reserve volume Inspiratory reserve volume Inspiratory capacity Expiratory capacity
Describe how FEV and FVC are measured
- Maximal inspiration
- Forced expiration until residual volume
First second: FEV
Until residual volume: FVC
When is most of the air exhaled when performing Spirometry?
First second
What happens with reversible intrathoracic airway obstruction?
Air can’t be exhaled as quickly
What are some pulmonary complications of CF?
- Poor lung function, progressive decline
- Cough and sputum production
- Dyspnoea
- Need for transplantation; death
- Respiratory failure
What causes lung disease in CF?
The CFTR mutation(s)
Which cells in the respiratory system express CFTR?
Epithelium of respiratory tract Alveolar macrophages Serous cells of submucosal cells Type II pneumocytes Neutrophils
What is the role of CFTR in the epithelium of the respiratory tract?
Describe what happens to this process in CF
Modulates the composition of ASL
- Cl- secretion through CFTR
- Na+ and H20 absorption through ENaC
In CF:
- No Cl- secretion
- No ENaC inhibition; increased Na+ and H2O absorption
- Decrease in ASL volume
What are the sequalae of reduced ASL volume?
- Reduced ciliary beating in periciliary layer
- Decreased lubrication, adherence of mucous plaque
→ Promotes chronic infection
Discuss the interaction between CFTR and Bicarbonate ions
CFTR important for bicarbonate ion transport
Mutation leads to:
→ improper pH regulation of ASL (airway surface liquid)
→ inhibits antimicrobial function
What are the thick mucous plaques in the airways of CF patients?
Adhere to airway epithelial surface
Describe the anaerobic milieu
Increased oxygen consumption of epithelial cells
→ anaerobic environment
This anaerobic environment is ideal for the growth of bacteria
→ Pseudomonas aeruginosa converts to anaerobic biofilm mode of growth
What is the common feature of lung inflammation in individuals with CF?
Describe the effect of this
Presence of great n°’s of neutrophils, causing:
• tissue damage
• neutrophils possess large amount of oxidants and proteases that damage tissue when the cells are present in too large numbers (regurgitation, etc.)