Respiratory Flashcards
Major role of the Respiratory system
- provide oxygen for tissue perfusion & remove CO2
- influences acid-base balance, speech, smell, fluid balance, temp control
Health History (ROS-Subjective)
- health perceptions (describe daily activities, smoking, pneumonia vaccine)
- Nutrition -elimination - exercise - sleep/rest - cognitive perceptual -current health problems
Major Structures of the Upper respiratory system
-nose -nasal cavity -mouth -pharynx -larynx
Larynx
Connects upper and lower airways, responsible for taste, smell, chewing, swallowing food.
Complications of mouth breathing
Lacks normal warming moisturizing mechanisms, Ciliary function hindrance
Inhaled air is…
moistened, warmed, and cleansed by tissue lining nasal cavity
Assessment of the Nose
-History of: trauma, sinus probs, allergies, dyspnea thru nose, nosebleeds, snoring, anosmia, freq colds.
-Inspection: inflammation, deformities, symmetry. External nose deviation in shape, size and color. Flaring or discharge from nares. Lesions, mucosa for color, lesions, discharge, bleeding.
Palpation-lightly for tenderness, masses, displacement, sinuses for tenderness.
Assessment of Mouth & Pharynx
ROS
- Inspect: with good light source the interior mouth
- visualize pharynx pressing tongue blade against middle of back of tongue
- stimulate gag reflex with tongue blade: + response indicates airway protected
Positive response to stimulate gag reflex
Indicates airway protected.
Assessment of Neck
ROS
Inspect for: symmetry, trachea midline, ability to hold head erect, head movement
Palpate: lymph nodes with client erect, progress around ear front to back to nodes @ skull base, then under angle of mandible to midline
Deviated septum
from normally midline septum, protrudes more to one side of nasal passage.
