Obstructive Airway Disease Overview Flashcards
What is an obstructive respiratory disease?
Affects the airways
What is a restrictive airway disease?
Affects the lungs
What are some examples of obstructive airway diseases?
- Asthma
- COPD
- Chronic bronchitis (COPD)
- Emphysema (COPD)
What is asthma?
Allergic inflammatory reaction which is usually reversible
What is chronic bronchitis (COPD) caused by?
Smoking
What is chronic bronchitis characterised by?
Neutrophil inflammation
What is emphysema (COPD)?
Emphysema is a condition which causes airflow obstruction but is not a disease of the conducting airways (disease of respiratory airways - alveoli)
What is ACOS?
Asthma/COPD overlap syndrome
* Long-standing cigarette smokers who have features of both asthma and COPD
Which airways become inflamed in asthma?
Both large airways (trachea, bronchi) and small airways (bronchioles, terminal bronchioles, alveolar ducts/sacs)
What are large airways?
Diameter larger than 2mm
- Trachea
- Bronchi
What are small airways?
Diameter less than 2mm
- Bronchioles
- Terminal bronchioles
- Alveolar sacs
Where does the conducting zone end and acinar zone begin?
After 17 generation (division)
What is the conducting zone?
Where gas transport takes place
What is the acinar/respiratory zone?
Where gas exchange takes place
What airways make up the conducting zone?
- Trachea
- Bronchi
- Bronchioles
What airways make up the acinar/respiratory zone?
- Terminal bronchioles
* Alveolar sacs
How many levels of branching does the respiratory tree undergo?
23
At what point in the respiratory tree do large airways become small airways?
After 7th generation
How does COPD cause airway obstruction?
- Contraction of smooth muscle causes airway to constrict
* Alveolar walls keep respiratory tree open - COPD results in destruction of alveolar walls and bronchial tree collapse
What is atopic asthma?
Individual experiences attacks in response to allergens
What is non-atopic asthma?
Individual does not experience attacks in response to allergens
What is extrinsic asthma?
Has an external trigger factor e.g. allergen, chemical, environmental pollution
What is intrinsic asthma?
No external trigger factor
What are the 3 points the characterise asthma?
- Airway inflammation (characterised by presence of eosinophils)
- Airway hyper responsiveness
- Reversible airflow obstruction
What characterises asthmatic inflammation?
Eosinophils
What characterises inflammation caused by chronic bronchitis (COPD)?
Neutrophils
What is airway hyper responsiveness?
Airway becomes sensitive to a variety of abnormal stimuli
What does chronic airway inflammation result in?
- Exacerbation
* Airway hyper-responsiveness
What does airway remodelling result in?
Fixed airway obstruction
What does airway remodelling involve?
Repair of airways by laying down collagen - permanent obstruction
How is basement membrane remodelled in asthma?
Thickening
How is submucosa remodelled in asthma?
Collagen deposition
How is smooth muscle remodelled in asthma?
Hypertrophy
What is airway epithelium?
Pseudostratified columnar epithelium