Lungs Flashcards
Parietal pleura
Covers boundaries of thoracic cavity
Visceral pleura
Covers lungs
Phrenic nerve
C3-C5
-supplies much of the diaphragmatic pleura
Conducting portion of lungs
Trachea- bifurcates at carina
Bronchi- right & left
Secondary Bronchi- right & left
Tertiary bronchi- functionally independent units
Terminal bronchiole- beginning of terminal ventilator unit
Right principal bronchus
Wider, shorter and more vertical than the left
-more susceptible to foreign objects
Left principal bronchus
Longer and narrower than right
Secondary bronchi- right side
Three secondary
- superior
- middle
- inferior
Secondary bronchi- left side
Two secondary
- superior
- inferior
Tertiary bronchi
Disease processes common
each tertiary bronchi gives rise to numerous bronchioles
Terminal bronchiole
used solely for conduction of air
respiratory portion of lungs
Respiratory bronchiole
Alveolar ducts- form alveolar sacs
Alveoli
Type I alveolar epithelial cells
Specialized for gas exchange
Type II alveolar epithelial cells
Produce surfactant
-reduce the surface tension at the blood-air interface
Pulmonary Arteries
Carry deoxygenated blood from the RV
Pulmonary veins
intersegmental veins form the R and L superior and R and L inferior veins
-return oxygenated blood to the LA
Lymphatic drainage Primary and secondary
Primary- capture excess fluid and prevent accumulation
Secondary- cleansing the interstitial fluid
Superficial and deep lymphatic plexi
Superficial- fluid drains into the bronchopulmonary/hilar nodes
Deep- drain substance of the lungs
Pulmonary plexus
Mixture of- parasym, sym, and visceral afferent fibers
Parasym of pul plexus
innervate the smooth musculature of the airways
-controls size and secretory activity
Sym of pul plexus
associated with the smooth musculature of the walls of blood vessels- fibers often act as bronchodilators
also inhibits secretory activity
Vagal afferent fibers
initiate cough refle respond to stretch prevent over expansion of lungs limit inspiration Pulmonary arteries- pressoreceptors- BP Pulmonary veins- Chemoreceptors- blood gas level
Enlarge tracheobronchial nodes
Distort the position of the trachea
Enlarged pulmonary/bronchopulmonary nodes
may obstruct the confuting portion of an airway
causes SOB and/or chronic cough
Increased size and/or proliferation of bronchopulmonary nodes on the L side
May compress the recurrent laryngeal nerve
-noticeable ∆ voice quality
most pain associated with the lungs is transmitted by
afferent fibers contained within the intercostal and phrenic nerves that supply the parietal pleura
Pancoast syndrome
involves sympathetic trunk
The pain detected by the afferent fibers from the bronchi that accompany sympathetics
Referred pain over the anterior chest wall
Emphysema
Visible distortion and enlargement of the airways distal to the terminal bronchioles
- loss of important elastic fibers
- destruction of elastin– excessive elastase- neutrophils and macrophages- increase in # of smokers- a1- antityrpsin deficiency
Costodiaphragmatic recess
deep and narrow space btwn thoracic wall and diaphragm
critical when performing invasive procedures or evaluating a pt with a penetrating wound to the thorax
What nerves supply sensory fibers to the parietal pleura
Intercostal nerves
