Oxygenation/Respiratory Failure Flashcards
Purpose of the upper respiratory tract
moisten/filter/warm the air and protects the lungs from foreign matter
Purpose of the lower respiratory tract
participates in gas exchange at the alveoli, excretes CO2, where oxygenation occurs
Where does gas exchange take place
occurs within the respiratory bronchioles, alveoli, and alveolar ducts
Ventilation
the movement of air through the pulmonary airways
Perfusion
the movement of blood through the pulmonary circulation
Diffusion
the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide
Ventilation perfusion ratio
the amount of air reaching the alveoli (ventilation) to the amount of blood (perfusion) reaching the alveoli
Perfusion without ventilation
Blood is going to parts of the lungs that do not have air to give
Ventilation without perfusion
Blood is not going to parts of the lungs that have air to give
Orthodyspnea
shortness of breath when laying flat, occurs with heart failure
Nocturnal dyspnea
shortness of breath at night, occurs with heart failure and asthma
Examples of acute dyspnea
asthma, PE, aspiration, pneumothorax
Examples of chronic dyspnea
COPD
Cough
a response to a chemical or mechanical stimulus, mechanism to eliminate a substance
Hemoptysis
sputum production with blood
Atelectasis
collapse of alveoli resulting in reduced gas exchange
What are the common causes of atelectasis
tumor, lung disease, foreign body, pneumonia, mucus, pneumothorax,
Hypercapnia
high levels of CO2 in the blood
Hypoxemia
low levels of O2 in the blood
When does respiratory failure occur
when the pulmonary system fails to oxygenate the blood or fails to eliminate CO2 efficiently
What is the order of occurrence for hypoxemia and hypoxia
hypoxemia occurs before hypoxia
What is the normal ventilatory stimulus
hypercapnia:the accumulation of CO2
What happens during chronic hypercapnia to the respiratory center
the respiratory center becomes insensitive to CO2, so low O2 becomes the driving stimulus for breathing
Hypoxia
low O2 in the tissues
