Respiratory Flashcards
Where does gas exchange take place?
The alveoli
What is the lining of the chest cavity called?
The parietal pleura
What is the lining of the lungs called?
The visceral pleura
What is the name of the fluid found between the parietal and visceral pleura?
Pleural fluid
What is the function of the pleural fluid?
Allows the lungs to expand and move against the thoracic cage smoothly, easily and without pain.
How is excess pleural fluid disposed of?
Drained by lymphatic circulation
What is a pleural effusion?
A buildup of excess pleural fluid
What is the name of the muscles found between the ribs?
Intercostal muscles
About how much air do you take in with a normal breath?
500 mL
What is hypoxia?
Oxygen deficiency in the body tissues
What is hypoxemia?
Oxygen deficiency in the blood
What is hypercapnia?
Increased arterial CO2
What nursing diagnoses would be associated with hypoxia, hypoxemia or hypercapnia?
Impaired gas exchange
What lab tests would be evidence for a diagnoses of impaired gas exchange?
Decreased O2 and Increased CO2
Describe normal findings of a respiratory assessment of the nose.
Symmetric with no deformities, mucosa pink with no edema, exudate, blood or polyps. Nasal septum straight, nares patent bilaterally.
Describe normal findings of a respiratory assessment of the oral mucosa.
Light pink, moist, no exudate or ulcerations.
Describe normal findings of a respiratory assessment of the tonsils.
Not inflamed or enlarged
Describe normal findings of a respiratory assessment of the pharynx.
Smooth, moist and pink.
Describe normal findings of a respiratory assessment of the neck.
Trachea midline, no cervical nodes palpable.
Describe normal findings of a respiratory assessment of the chest.
AP (Anterior-Posterior) diameter 1:2, respirations non-labored 12-20 bpm, equal chest expansion, breath sounds equal and vesicular.
What subjective data would you ask about during a respiratory assessment?
Dyspnea, orthopnea, cough, sputum, chest pain, wheezing, hemoptysis
What is pleurisy?
Inflammation of the pleural linings.
What is hemoptysis?
Coughing up blood.
What is a pack year?
The number of years a person has been smoking multiplied by how many packs smoked per day.
Describe what you would expect to find while using percussion during a respiratory assessment. What would be abnormal?
A resonant sound. A dull sound would be abnormal.
4 adventitious breath sounds
Crackles, rhonchi, wheezes, stridor
When are crackles heard?
On inspiration
When are rhonchi heard?
On inspiration and expiration