Respiratory Diseases Flashcards
What are the 4 divisions of the bronchial tree?
- Trachea
- Bronchi
- Bronchioles
- Alveoli/ respiratory units
What type of epithelium does the NOSE have?
stratified squamous epithelium (several layers of flat cells)
What type of epithelium does the NASOPHARYNX/ TRACEHA have?
Pseudostratified cilated columnar (tall, slim)
What type of epithelium does the AIRWAYS have?
Simple cuboidal (hexagonal boxes)
What is the most common type of alveolar?
AT1 (95%)
What are the 3 main lung function measures?
- Airway resistance
- Lung volume & capacity
- Spirometry
How are lungs held against the chest?
Negative pleural pressure (vacuum seal between parietal (chest) & visceral (lung) layers)
What are Pneumothorax?
small air blisters on top of lungs which can burst (air into pleural space)
How are pneumothorax formed?
- Degradation of elastic fibres in lung wall
- Smoking / COPD
What is the mechanism behind CF?
-Cl- doesn’t enter –> hyerabsorption of Na+ –> more water –> thick mucus
How is CF diagnosed?
- Genetic tests
- Increased trypsinogen
- Sweat test
- Altered potential difference (nasal epithelium)
What are current therapies for IPF?
- Pirfenidone (anti-fibrotic)
- Nintedanib (blocks fibroblast / growth factors)
- Not efficient
What are the typical stages of IPF?
inflammation –> fibrosis –> Extra-cellular matrix deposition –> tissue remodelling –> less oxygen –> organ failure
What is airway remodelling?
epithelial cell damage + mucus hypersecretion
- vascular size changes (increased permeability)
- Increased smooth muscle + fibroblasts
What is Bronchiectasis?
- Chronic infection in small airways (lungs = damaged, scarred & dilated)
What are the 2 forms of bronchiectasis?
- Localised e.g. tumor
- Generalised e.g. most of lungs
What are the 3 types of dilation in bronchiectasis?
- Saccular (cystic) –> severe ballooning
- Varicose bronchiectasis –> bronchial walls beaded as dilated areas mixed with areas of constriction
- Cylindrical (most common)
What is ARDS characterised by?
Layer of cell debris build up in lungs (hyaline cartilage: glassy appearance)
- increased A-C permeability
What can cause ARDS?
- aspiration of gut, near drowning, infections, drugs, pneumonia, trauma
List some common obstructive lung diseases?
- Chronic bronchitis
- Respiratory bronchiolitis
- Asthma
- Emphysema
What are 2 key characteristics of asthma pathophysiology
- Chronic airway inflammation
- Airway remodelling/ fibosis
What is the asthmatic response driven by?
Strong Th2-type response
releases IL-4 & 5
What are 4 pathogenic infections which can worsen asthma?
- Chlamydia
- Mycoplasma
- Haemophilus
- Influenzae
Steroid therapy is a completely effective therapy for asthma. True or False?
False: 5-20% are resistant
How is asthma diagnosed?
- Pulmonary functional testing
- Spirometry (best)
- Forced oscillations
- Medical history
- Blood tests
What are common Asthma treatments? (3)
- Corticosteroids
- Beta-2 agnoists (SABA + LABA)
- Anti-IgE
What is emphysema? (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
Progressive lung disease: bronchitis, emphysema, breathing difficulties
-No effective treatments
What are environmental exposures to emphysema?
- Smoking
- Biomass smoke
- Bushfire smoke
Define emphysema
destruction + enlargement of air spaces & lung tissue
What is bronchitis?
inflammation of mucous membranes
What are the 2 phenotypes of bronchitis?
- Pink puffer: over ventilate + maintain normal blood gas levels until late stage
- Blue bloater: chronic + unable to compensate by increased ventilation
What is the difference between centriacinar + panacinar damage in emphysema?
- C: only terminal + respiratory bronchioles
- P: damaged + destroyed
