Pathology of respiratory tract infection Flashcards
what it is a coryza?
it is catarrhal inflammation of the mucous membrane in the nose, caused especially by a cold or by hay fever
what is laryngitis?
inflammation of the larynx,
what does laryngitis typically result in?
huskiness or loss of voice, harsh breathing and a painful cough
what is acute epiglottitis?
a rapidly progressive infection causing inflammation of the epiglottis and tissues around the epiglottis that may lead to abrupt blockage of the upper airway and death
what usually causes epiglottitis?
bacteria
what is the epiglottis?
the flap that covers the trachea
what is bronchitis?
inflammation of the mucous membrane in the bronchial tubes
what does bronchitis typically cause?
bronchospasm and coughing
what is bronchiolitis?
inflammation of the bronchioles
what is pneumonia?
lung inflammation, inflammation may affect both lungs or only one
what is pneumonia caused by?
bacterial or viral infection
what is the condition where the air sacs fill up with pus and may become solid?
pneumonia
what does the respiratory tract antimicrobial defence system rely on?
components of both the innate and adaptive immune systems
what is the role of the respiratory tract antimicrobial defence system?
to protect the lungs and the rest of the respiratory tract against inhaled microorganisms
what is the mucociliary escalator?
it is a major barrier against infection, microorganisms hoping to infect the respiratory tract are caught in the sticky much and moved up the mucociliary escalator
what is humeral immunity?
it is the aspect of immunity that is mediated by macromolecules found in extracellular fluids such as secreted antibodies, compliment proteins and certain antimicrobial peptides
why is humoral immunity named so?
because it involves substances found in the humours, or body fluids
what is cellular immunity?
it is a protective immune process that involves the activation of phagocytes, antigen-sensitised cytotoxic T cells and the release of cytokines and chemokine in response to antigen
what is the respiratory tract defence mechanism that has both sensory and motor components?
the cough reflex
the sensory (afferent) components are mainly via the vagus nerve
the motor components are efferent
what is pneumonia?
it is an inflammatory condition of the lung affecting primarily the small sacs known as alveoli
what usually causes pneumonia?
infection with viruses or bacteria and less commonly by other microorganisms, certain medications and conditions such as autoimmune diseases
what is bronchopneumonia?
inflammation of the lungs, arising in the bronchi or bronchioles
what is lobar pneumonia?
acute inflammation of an entire pulmonary lobe, produced in 95% of cases by streptococcus pneumoniae
what is the most common organisms that may cause lobar pneumonia?
streptococcus pneumonia
what may cause lobar pneumonia if pulmonary tuberculosis is not treated promptly?
mycobacterium tuberculosis and
the tubercle bacillus
what is a lung abscess?
it is defined as a necrosis of the pulmonary tissue and formation of cavities containing necrotic debris or fluid caused by microbial infection,
what is the formation of multiple small abscesses occasionally referred to as?
necrotising pneumonia or lung gangrene
what is an empyema?
the collection of pus in a cavity in the body, especially in the pleural cavity
what is bronchiectasis?
abnormal widening of the bronchi or their branches, causing a risk of infection
when does aspiration pneumonia occur?
when food, saliva, liquids, or vomit is breathed into the lungs or airways leading to the lungs, instead of being stalled into the oesophagus and stomach
what are opportunistic infections?
they are infections that occur more frequently and are more severe in individuals with weakened immune systems, including people with HIV
what does pulmonary gas exchange refers to?
it refers to the dissusionof oxygen from the gas phase in the lung alveoli, through the thin alveolar-capillary membrane, into solution in the pulmonary capillary blood, and of carbon dioxide in the opposite direction, both driven by partial pressure gradients
what is hypoxaemia?
an abnormally low concentration of oxygen in the blood
what is alveolar hypoventilation?
it is defined as insufficient ventilations leading to hypercapnia, which is an increase in the partial pressure of carbon dioxide as measured by arterial blood gas analysis
what is pulmonary hypertension?
it is a type of high blood pressure that affects the arteries in your lungs and the right side of your heart, in one form of pulmonary hypertension pulmonary arterioles and capillaries become narrowed, blocked or destroyed
what is cor pulmonale?
it is a condition that most commonly arises out of complications from blood pressure in the pulmonary arteries (pulmonary hypertension)
why is cor pulmonale also known as right-sided heart failure?
because it occurs within the right ventricle of your heart
