Life support chain

Question 1

What is life support chain?

Answer 1

Cells are the foundation of the human body.

1. All cells in the body require oxygen, nutrients, and removal of waste.
2. The respiratory and circulatory systems are the carriers of these supplies and wastes.
3. If interference occurs, cells become damaged and die.

Question 2

Cells use oxygen to take available nutrients and turn them into what?

Answer 2

Chemical energy through metabolism

Question 3

What is adenosine triphosphate?

Answer 3

is used to store energy.

Question 4

What is aerobic metabolism?

Answer 4

Uses oxygen

Question 5

When does cells switch to anaerobic metabolism?

Answer 5

when oxygen is limited.

Question 6

When does movement of oxygen, waste, and nutrients occur?

Answer 6

diffusion

Question 7

What is pathophysiology?

Answer 7

The study of functional changes that occur when the body reacts to disease

Question 8

What is respiratory compromise?

Answer 8

is the inability to move gas effectively

Question 9

What can respiratory compromise lead to?

Answer 9

. Hypoxia: decreased level of oxygen in the body

b. Hypercarbia: elevated level of carbon dioxide in the body

Question 10

What are the factors that impair ventilation?

Answer 10

Blocked airway

b. Impairment of the muscles of breathing
c. Physiologic obstruction of the airway (eg, asthma attack)
d. Numerous other factors

Question 11

What are the impair respiration?

Answer 11

Change in the atmosphere

b. High altitudes
c. Impaired movement of the gas across the cell membrane

Question 12

What are the effects of respiratory compromise on the body?

Answer 12

Oxygen levels throughout the body fall and carbon dioxide levels rise.

2. The brain detects an increase in carbon dioxide levels.
3. The body increases its respiratory rate in an attempt to return the carbon dioxide levels to normal.
4. If increased respiratory does not occur or is not effective in returning the carbon dioxide levels to normal, the blood will become more acidic.
5. Blood oxygen levels will begin to fall, which will cause the brain to issue further commands to breathe.

Question 13

What is impairment of cellular metabolism?

Answer 13

results in the inability to properly use oxygen and glucose at the cellular level

Question 14

What happens when there is inadequate oxygen?

Answer 14

cells will create energy through anaerobic metabolism.
Can result in metabolic acidosis
b. Requires more energy than when using glucose for fuel
c. Decreases the blood’s ability to effectively carry oxygen to the cells
d. Decreases the functioning of oxygen within the cell
e. Brain cells cannot use alternative fuels.
i. If their supply of glucose decreases dramatically, brain cells will quickly become damaged or die.
f. Cellular injury, up to a point, may be repairable if normal tissue perfusion is restored.