Pulmonary Flashcards
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
a disease characterized by a decreased ability of the lungs to perform the function of ventilation
cardiac and circulatory diseases may allow blood to pool in the large veins of the pelvis and lower extremities causing …
pulmonary emboli
Processes of Gas Exchange
Ventilation
Diffusion
Perfusion
Major function of the respiratory system is to
exchange gases with the environment. Oxygen is taken in and carbon dioxide eliminated, a process known as gas exchange.
Ventilation
is the mechanical process of moving air in and out of the lungs
Diffusion
the movement of molecules through a membrane from an area of greater concentration to an area of lesser concentration
In diffusion the gases move between
the alveoli and the pulmonary capillaries.
As the red blood cells moves through the pulmonary capillaries..
they become enriched with oxygen. less oxygen will pass into the bloodstream as the gradient between alveolar and capillary oxygen concentration decreases
Perfusion
the circulation of blood through the capillaries
lung perfusion is dependent on three conditions
Adequate blood volume
intact pulmonary capillaries
efficient pumping of blood by the heart
hemoglobin
the transport protein that carries oxygen in the blood
oxygen is transported in the bloodstream in one of two ways
bound to hemoglobin
dissolved in the plasma
carbon dioxide is transported from the cells to the lungs in one of three ways
as bicarbonate ions
bound to the globin portion of the hemoglobin molecule
dissolved in plasma (measured in PCO2)
respiration
the exchange of gases between a living organism and its environment
diseases that affect the upper respiratory tract will result in
obstruction of air flow to the lower structures.
upper airway trauma produces
both significant hemorrhage and swelling
infections of the upper airway structures can obstruct
airflow
lower air obstruction may be caused by
trauma, foreign body aspiration, mucus accumulation (asthmatics), smooth muscle constriction (in asthma and COPD) and airway edema produced by infections or burns
traumatic injuries to chest wall/diaphragm will disrupt the normal mechanics causing..
negative pressure within the pleural space.
pneumothorax
a collection of air in the pleural space, causing a loss of the negative pressure that binds the lung to the chest wall.
open pneumothorax
air enters the pleural space through an injury to the chest wall
closed pneumothorax
air enters the pleural space through an opening in the pleura that covers the lung
tension pneumothorax
develops when air in the pleural space cannot escape, causing buildup of pressure and collapse of the lung
hemothorax
a collection of blood in the pleural space