Respiratory Assessment Flashcards
costochondral junctions
point in which the ribs join their cartilage
–> NOT palpable
suprasternal notch
hollow U-shaped depression just above the sternum, in-between the clavicles
manubriosternal angle
the intersection between the manubrium and the sternum (bony ridge)
- a few centimeters down from
the manubrium
sternal angle (Angle of Louis)
articulation of the manubrium and the body of the sternum, continuous with the second rib
landmarks with the angle of Louis
a. landmark to start counting the
ribs
b. the site of which tracheal
bifurcation occurs (bronchus
splits into right and left bronchi)
c. landmark for the upper border
(base) of the atria
costal angle
the right and left costal margins
form an angle where they meet the xiphoid process (usually <90 degrees)
- angle > 90 decrees when the rib
cage is overinflated
vertebral prominens
C7 - the most bony projection felt at the base of the neck
spinous processes
- align with their numbered ribs
down to T4 - after T4, spinous processes angle
downwards from their vertebral
bodies
lung borders: anterior chest
apex - 3-4cm above inner thrid of clavicles
base - rests on diaphragm at above the sixth rib in the midclavicular line
lung borders: posterior chest
apex - C7 spinous process
base - T10 –> T12 (deep inspiration)
properties of the right lung
- shorter than the left lung (liver)
- wider than the left lung (no heart)
- 3 lobes
- Right Upper Lobe (RUL)
- Right Middle Lobe (RML)
- Right Lower Lobe (RLL)
- responsible for 55% lung function
properties of the left lung
- longer than the right lung (no
liver) - narrower than the right lung
(heart compresses the lung) - 2 lobes:
- Left Upper Lobe (LUL)
- Left Lower Lobe (LLL)
- responsible for 45% of lung
function
pleurae
two layers that form an envelope between the lungs and chest wall
a. visceral pleura - lines outside of
the lungs
b. parietal pleura - lines the inside
of the chest wall and
diaphragm
pleural cavity (space between the two pleura) contains serous fluid
- lubricates the lungs to allows
frictionless breathing
- creates a negative pressure
which holds the lungs in place
the trachea
lies anterior to the esophagus
- begins at the level of the cricoid
cartilage
- bifurcates at the level of the
angle of louis (anterior) or
T4/T5 (posteriorly)
the bronchi
transports air between the environment and the lung parenchyma
- functions to protect the alveoli
from particles inhaled (lined
with cilia and mucus secreting
goblet cells)
which bronchi is more likely to become obstructed?
the right bronchi –> it is shorter and straighter, allowing foreign objects to enter and obstruct it easier
what is considered the “dead space” of the lungs?
the trachea and the bronchi
- air present in these locations are
not directly involved in gas
exchange
acinus
the functional respiratory unit that consists of the:
1. bronchioles
2. alveolar ducts
3. alveolar sacs
4. the alveoli
hypercapnia
increased levels of carbon dioxide in the blood –> the major stimulus for breathing
hypoxemia
decreased levels of oxygen in the blood –> stimulus for breathing, although not as significant as hypercapnia
what mediates involuntary breathing?
the respiratory centre in the brainstem: the medulla and pons
Inspiration Process - Involuntary
ACTIVE - diaphragm flattens to open thoracic cavity while intercostal muscles move the ribcage up
–> creates a negative pressure
that draws air into the lungs
Expiration Process - Involuntary
PASSIVE - diaphragm relaxes (elasticity in thoracic cage and abdomen push it up), decreasing the thoracic cavity’s space, while the intercostal muscles relax, pulling the ribcage down and in to a more neutral position
–> creates a positive pressure
that pushes air out of the lungs
Forced Inspiration
accessory muscles in the neck pull up the sternum and ribcage
- sternomastoid, scalene, and
trapezius muscles