Respiration Flashcards
Trachea
*Airway
• Carries air through the neck and upper chest
• Divides the left and right main bronchi
Alveoli
Type 1: gas exchange
Type 2: produce surfactant to reduce surface tension to allow inflation
Pleura
• Reduces friction during respirations via serous secretions
Diaphragm
- Promotes inhalation by contracting downward letting lungs expand
- Promotes expiration by relaxing upwards compressing lungs
Pulmonary Ventilation: Inhalation
• Expansion of chest cavity and lungs creates negative pressure in lungs which draws air in
Pulmonary Ventilation: Exhalation
- Diaphragm and intercostals relax–> chest and lungs return to normal size–> pressure rises past atmospheric–> forces air out
- Requires no energy or effort
Respiration/Diffusion
- Movement of CO2 and oxygen between air in alveoli and blood in capillaries
- CO2= flows blood to lungs
- Oxygen= flows lungs to blood
Transport/Perfusion
- Oxygenated blood passing through body tissues
* CO2 returning to lungs from blood
Where is Breathing Controlled?
RESPIRATORY CENTERS in brainstem that use feed back from:
• Chemoreceptors
• Lung receptors
Chemoreceptors
• Detect changes in blood pH, O2, and CO2
• Respiratory centers increase/decrease ventilation in response
*Blood CO2 levels= PRIMARY STIMULUS for breathing
*Low blood CO2= secondary stimulus
Lung Receptors
• Sensitive to breathing patterns, lung expansion/compliance, airway resistance, respiratory irritants
Factors Affecting Pulmonary Function: Developmental: Adults
- Smoking
- Lack of exercise
- Decreased: lung expansion, alveolar inflation, ventilation, immune response, cough, chemoreceptor response
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease
Factors Affecting Pulmonary Function: Environmental
- Stress: catecholamines (↑ blood clots, ↓ inflammatory/immune response)
- Allergic Reactions: Hay Fever (histamine; nasal congestion/swelling); Asthma (anaphylaxis; bronchoconstriction, edema, spasms)
- Air Quality: Air pollution
- Altitude: High altitudes= hypoxemia/hypoxia; ↑ ventilation, RBC, hemoglobin, lung vol/pulmonary vasculature, vascularity of body tissues
Factors Affecting Pulmonary Function: Lifestyle
- Pregnancy: ↑ oxygen/respiratory rate
- Occupational: airway irritants, cancer
- Nutrition: poor= ↓ ventilatory muscle strength
- Obesity: respiratory Infections (poor ventilation/secretions not removed); Apnea (fat leads to obstructive sleep apnea)
- Substance abuse: respiratory depressants (opioids, sedatives, anti-anxiety), alcohol, illicit drugs
Factors Affecting Pulmonary Function: Smoking
- Constriction of bronchioles, ↑ fluid secretions into airway, inflammation, paralyzes cilia
- Continued smoking= chronic bronchitis, emphysema, obstruction of bronchiole/alveolar walls
Factors Affecting Pulmonary Function: Medications
- Respiratory depressants: anesthetics, opioids, anti-anxiety, sedative-hypnotics, neuromuscular blockers, magnesium sulfate
- Good meds: anti-inflammatory (expectorants, decongestants, cough suppressants, corticosteroids), bronchodilators
Impaired Gas Exchange: URIs, Influenza, Pneumonia
• URIs: sneezing, stuffy nose, sore throat, mild fever, tearing, cough
• Influenza: fever/high fever, fatigue, weakness, muscle pain, nasal inflammation/discharge, headache, exhaustion (upper respiratory)
• Pneumonia: dyspnea, discolored sputum, fever, chills, cough, elevated WBC, malaise, pleural pain (lower respiratory infection)
-Treatment: anti-pyretics, expectorants, rest, humidity, hydration
Impaired Gas Exchange: Structural Pulmonary Abnormalities
- Limited movement of the chest wall
* Lungs cannot expand/inflate
Impaired Gas Exchange: Airway Inflammation and Obstruction
- Allergic reactions (asthma), irritants (smoke)
* Food, object, spasms, swollen tonsils/epiglottis