Respiratory - First Aid Flashcards
Lung Development
- occurs in five stages
- initial development includes development of lung bud from distal end of respiratory diverticulum during week 4
-
Every Pulmonologist Can See Alveoli.
- Embryonic (weeks 4–7)
- Pseudoglandular (weeks 5–17)
- Canalicular (weeks 16–25)
- Saccular (week 26–birth)
- Alveolar (week 36–8 years)
Lung Development:
Embryonic (weeks 4–7)
- lung bud → trachea → bronchial bud → mainstem bronchi → secondary (lobar) bronchi → tertiary (segmental) bronchi
- errors at this stage can lead to tracheoesophageal fistula
Lung Development:
Pseudoglandular (weeks 5–17)
- endodermal tubules → terminal bronchioles
- surrounded by modest capillary network
- respiration impossible, incompatible with life
Lung Development:
Canalicular (weeks 16–25)
- terminal bronchioles → respiratory bronchioles → alveolar ducts
- surrounded by prominent capillary networ
- airways increase in diameter
- respiration capable at 25 weeks
- pneumocytes develop starting at 20 weeks
Lung Development:
Saccular (week 26–birth)
- alveolar ducts → terminal sacs
- terminal sacs separated by 1° septae
Lung Development:
Alveolar (week 36–8 years)
- terminal sacs → adult alveoli (due to 2° septation)
- in utero, “breathing” occurs via aspiration and expulsion of amniotic fluid → ↑ vascular resistance through gestation
- at birth, fluid gets replaced with air → ↓ in pulmonary vascular resistance
- At birth: 20–70 million alveoli
- By 8 years: 300–400 million alveoli
Congenital Lung Malformations:
- poorly developed bronchial tree with abnormal histology
- associated with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (usually left-sided) and bilateral renal agenesis (Potter sequence)
Pulmonary Hypoplasia
Congenital Lung Malformations:
- caused by abnormal budding of the foregut and dilation of terminal or large bronchi
- discrete, round, sharply defined, fluid-filled densities on CXR (air-filled if infected)
- generally asymptomatic but can drain poorly, causing airway compression and/or recurrent respiratory infections
Bronchogenic Cysts
Respiratory Embryology:
- nonciliated
- low columnar/cuboidal with secretory granules
- located in bronchioles
- degrade toxins
- secrete component of surfactant
- act as reserve cells
Club Cells
Alveoli
- Alveoli have ↑ tendency to collapse on expiration as radius ↓ (law of Laplace).
- Pulmonary surfactant is a complex mix of lecithins, the most important of which is dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC).
- Surfactant synthesis begins around week 20 of gestation, but mature levels are not achieved until around week 35.
- Corticosteroids important for fetus surfactant production and lung development.
Alveolar Cell Types:
- 97% of alveolar surfaces
- line the alveoli
- squamous
- thin for optimal gas diffusion
Type I Pneumocytes
Alveolar Cell Types:
- secrete surfactant from lamellar bodies → ↓ alveolar surface tension, prevents alveolar collapse, ↓ lung recoil, and ↑ compliance
- cuboidal and clustered
- also serve as precursors to type I cells and other type II cells
- proliferate during lung damage
Type II Pneumocytes
Alveolar Cell Types:
- phagocytose foreign materials
- release cytokines and alveolar proteases
- hemosiderin-laden macrophages may be seen in pulmonary hemorrhage
Alveolar Macrophages
Neonatal Respiratory Distress Syndrome
- surfactant deficiency → ↑ surface tension → alveolar collapse (“ground-glass” appearance of lung fields)
- Risk Factors:
- prematurity
- maternal diabetes (due to ↑ fetal insulin)
- C-section delivery (↓ release of fetal glucocorticoids; less stressful than vaginal delivery)
- Complications:
- PDA
- necrotizing enterocolitis
- Treatment:
- maternal steroids before birth
- exogenous surfactant for infant
- Therapeutic supplemental O2 can result in (RIB):
- Retinopathy of prematurity
- Intraventricular hemorrhage
- Bronchopulmonary dysplasia
- Screening Tests:
- lecithinsphingomyelin (L/S) ratio in amniotic fluid(≥ 2 is healthy; < 1.5 predictive of NRDS)
- foam stability index
- surfactant-albumin ratio
- persistently low O2 tension → risk of PDA
Respiratory Tree
Respiratory Tree:
Conducting Zone
- large airways consist of nose, pharynx, larynx, trachea, and bronchi
- small airways consist of bronchioles that further divide into terminal bronchioles (large numbers in parallel → least airway resistance)
- warms, humidifies, and filters air but does not participate in gas exchange → “anatomic dead space”
- cartilage and goblet cells extend to the end of bronchi
- pseudostratified ciliated columnar cells primarily make up epithelium of bronchus and extend to beginning of terminal bronchioles, then transition to cuboidal cells
- clear mucus and debris from lungs (mucociliary escalator)
- airway smooth muscle cells extend to end of terminal bronchioles (sparse beyond this point)
Respiratory Tree:
Respiratory Zone
- lung parenchyma
- consists of respiratory bronchioles, alveolar ducts, and alveoli
- participates in gas exchange
- mostly cuboidal cells in respiratory bronchioles, then simple squamous cells up to alveoli
- cilia terminate in respiratory bronchioles
- alveolar macrophages clear debris and participate in immune response
Lung Anatomy
- Right lung has 3 lobes.
- Left has Less Lobes (2) and Lingula (homolog of right middle lobe).
- Instead of a middle lobe, left lung has a space occupied by the heart.
- Relation of the pulmonary artery to the bronchus at each lung hilum is described by RALS:
- Right Anterior
- Left Superior
- Carina is posterior to ascending aorta and anteromedial to descending aorta.
- Right lung is a more common site for inhaled foreign bodies because right main stem bronchus is wider, more vertical, and shorter than the left.
- Aspiration:
- while supine—usually enters right lower lobe
- while lying on right side—usually enters right upper lobe
- while upright—usually enters right lower lobe
Diaphragm Structures
- Structures perforating diaphragm:
- T8: IVC, right phrenic nerve
- T10: esophagus, vagus (CN 10; 2 trunks)
- T12: aorta (red), thoracic duct (white), azygos vein (blue) (“At T-1-2 it’s the red, white, and blue”)
- I (IVC) ate (8) ten (10) eggs (esophagus) at (aorta) twelve (12).
- Diaphragm is innervated by C3, 4, and 5 (phrenic nerve).
- C3, 4, 5 keeps the diaphragm alive.
- Pain from diaphragm irritation (eg. air, blood, or pus in peritoneal cavity) can be referred to shoulder (C5) and trapezius ridge (C3, 4).
- Number of Letters = T Level:
- T8: vena cava
- T10: “oesophagus”
- T12: aortic hiatus
- Other bifurcations:
- The common carotid bifourcates at C4.
- The trachea bifourcates at T4.
- The abdominal aorta bifourcates at L4.
Lung Volumes
A capacity is a sum of ≥ 2 physiologic volumes.
Lung Volumes:
air that can still be breathed in after normal inspiration
Inspiratory Reserve Volume
Lung Volumes:
- air that moves into lung with each quiet inspiration
- ttypically 500 mL
Tidal Volume
Lung Volumes:
air that can still be breathed out after normal expiration
Expiratory Reserve Volume
Lung Volumes:
- air in lung after maximal expiration
- _____ and any lung capacity that includes _____ cannot be measured by spirometry
Residual Volume
Lung Volumes:
- IRV + TV
- air that can be breathed in after normal exhalation
Inspiratory Capacity
Lung Volumes:
- RV + ERV
- volume of gas in lungs after normal expiration
Functional Residual Capacity
Lung Volumes:
- TV + IRV + ERV
- maximum volume of gas that can be expired after a maximal inspiration
Vital Capacity
Lung Volumes:
- IRV + TV + ERV + RV
- volume of gas present in lungs after a maximal inspiration
Total Lung Capacity
Determination of Physiologic Dead Space
- VD = physiologic dead space
- anatomic dead space of conducting airways plus alveolar dead space
- apex of healthy lung is largest contributor of alveolar dead space
- volume of inspired air that does not take part in gas exchange
- VT = tidal volume
- Paco2 = arterial Pco2
- Peco2 = expired air Pco2.
- Taco, Paco, Peco, Paco (refers to order of variables in equation)
- Physiologic Dead Space
- approximately equivalent to anatomic dead space in normal lungs
- may be greater than anatomic dead space in lung diseases with V˙/Q˙ defects
Ventilation:
- total volume of gas entering lungs per minute
- VE = VT × RR
Minute Ventilation
Normal Values:
- Respiratory rate (RR) = 12–20 breaths/min
- VT = 500 mL/breath
- VD = 150 mL/breath
Ventilation:
- volume of gas that reaches alveoli each minute
- VA = (VT − VD) × RR
Alveolar Ventilation
Normal Values:
- Respiratory rate (RR) = 12–20 breaths/min
- VT = 500 mL/breath
- VD = 150 mL/breath
Lung and Chest Wall
- Elastic Recoil
- tendency for lungs to collapse inward and chest wall to spring outward
- At FRC, inward pull of lung is balanced by outward pull of chest wall, and system pressure is atmospheric.
- At FRC, airway and alveolar pressures equal atmospheric pressure (called zero), and intrapleural pressure is negative (prevents atelectasis).
- The inward pull of the lung is balanced by the outward pull of the chest wall.
- System pressure is atmospheric.
- PVR is at a minimum.
- Compliance
- change in lung volume for a change in pressure
- expressed as ΔV/ΔP and is inversely proportional to wall stiffness
- hig compliance = lung easier to fill (emphysema, normal aging)
- lower compliance = lung harder to fill (pulmonary fibrosis, pneumonia, NRDS, pulmonary edema)
- surfactant increases compliance
- Compliant lungs comply (cooperate) and fill easily with air.
- Hysteresis
- lung inflation curve follows a different curve than the lung deflation curve due to need to overcome surface tension forces in inflation
Respiratory System Changes in the Elderly
- ↑ lung compliance (loss of elastic recoil)
- ↓ chest wall compliance (↑ chest wall stiffness)
- ↑ RV
- ↓ FVC and FEV1
- Normal TLC
- ↑ ventilation/perfusion mismatch
- ↑ A-a gradient
- ↓ respiratory muscle strength
Hemoglobin
- Hemoglobin (Hb) is composed of 4 polypeptide subunits (2α and 2β) and exists in 2 forms:
- Deoxygenated form has low affinity for O2, thus promoting release/unloading of O2.
- Oxygenated form has high affinity for O2 (300×). Hb exhibits positive cooperativity and negative allostery.
- ↑ Cl−, H+, CO2, 2,3-BPG, and temperature favor deoxygenated form over oxygenated form (shifts dissociation curve right → ↑ O2 unloading).
- Fetal Hb (2α and 2γ subunits) has a higher affinity for O2 than adult Hb, driving diffusion of oxygen across the placenta from mother to fetus. ↑ O2 affinity results from ↓ affinity of
- HbF for 2,3-BPG.
- Hemoglobin acts as buffer for H+ ions.
- Myoglobin is composed of a single polypeptide chain associated with one heme moiety. Higher affinity for oxygen than Hb.
Hemoglobin Modifications
Lead to tissue hypoxia from ↓ O2 saturation and ↓ O2 content.
Hemoglobin Modifications:
Methemoglobin
- Oxidized form of Hb (ferric, Fe3+), does not bind O2 as readily as Fe2+, but has ↑ affinity for cyanide. Fe<strong>2</strong>+ binds O2.
- Iron in Hb is normally in a reduced state (ferrous, Fe<strong>2</strong>+; “just the 2 of us”).
- Methemoglobinemia may present with cyanosis and chocolate-colored blood.
- Methemoglobinemia can be treated with methylene blue and vitamin C.
- Nitrites (eg. from dietary intake or polluted/high altitude water sources) and benzocaine cause poisoning by oxidizing Fe2+ to Fe3+.
Hemoglobin Modifications:
Carboxyhemoglobin
- Form of Hb bound to CO in place of O2. Causes ↓ oxygen-binding capacity with left shift in oxygen-hemoglobin dissociation curve. ↓ O2 unloading in tissues.
- CO binds competitively to Hb and with 200× greater affinity than O2.
- CO poisoning can present with headaches, dizziness, and cherry red skin. May be caused by fires, car exhaust, or gas heaters. Treat with 100% O2 and hyperbaric O2.
Cyanide Poisoning
- Usually due to inhalation injury (eg. fires).
- Inhibits aerobic metabolism via complex IV inhibition → hypoxia unresponsive to supplemental O2 and ↑ anaerobic metabolism.
- Findings:
- almond breath odor
- pink skin
- cyanosis
- Rapidly fatal if untreated.
- Treat with induced methemoglobinemia: first give nitrites (oxidize hemoglobin to methemoglobin, which can trap cyanide as cyanmethemoglobin), then thiosulfates (convert cyanide to thiocyanate, which is renally excreted).
Oxygen-Hemoglobin Dissociation Curve
- Sigmoidal shape due to positive cooperativity (ie. tetrameric Hb molecule can bind 4 O2 molecules and has higher affinity for each subsequent O2 molecule bound).
- Myoglobin is monomeric and thus does not show positive cooperativity; curve lacks sigmoidal appearance.
- Shifting the curve to the right → ↓ Hb affinity for O2 (facilitates unloading of O2 to tissue) → ↑ P50 (higher Po2 required to maintain 50% saturation).
- Shifting the curve to the left → ↓ O2 unloading → renal hypoxia → ↑ EPO synthesis → compensatory erythrocytosis.
- Fetal Hb has higher affinity for O2 than adult Hb (due to low affinity for 2,3-BPG), so its dissociation curve is shifted left.
Oxygen Content of Blood
- O2 content = (1.34 × Hb × Sao2) + (0.003 × Pao2)
- Hb = hemoglobin level
- Sao2 = arterial O2 saturation
- Pao2 = partial pressure of O2 in arterial blood
- Normally 1 g Hb can bind 1.34 mL O2; normal Hb amount in blood is 15 g/dL.
- O2 binding capacity ≈ 20.1 mL O2/dL of blood.
- With ↓ Hb there is ↓ O2 content of arterial blood, but no change in O2 saturation and Pao2.
- O2 delivery to tissues = cardiac output × O2 content of blood.
Pulmonary Circulation
- Normally a low-resistance, high-compliance system. Po2 and Pco2 exert opposite effects on pulmonary and systemic circulation. A ↓ in Pao2 causes a hypoxic vasoconstriction that shifts blood away from poorly ventilated regions of lung to well-ventilated regions of lung.
- Perfusion Limited
- O2 (normal health), CO2, N2O
- gas equilibrates early along the length of the capillary
- diffusion can be ↑ only if blood flow ↑
- Diffusion Limited
- O2 (emphysema, fibrosis, exercise), CO
- gas does not equilibrate by the time blood reaches the end of the capillary
- A consequence of pulmonary hypertension is cor pulmonale and subsequent right ventricular failure.
Pulmonary Vascular Resistance
- Ppulm artery = pressure in pulmonary artery
- PL atrium ≈ pulmonary capillary wedge pressure
- Q = cardiac output (flow)
- R = resistance
- η = viscosity of blood
- l = vessel length
- r = vessel radius
Alveolar Gas Equation
- Pao2 = alveolar Po2 (mmHg)
- PIo2 = Po2 in inspired air (mmHg)
- Paco2 = arterial Pco2 (mmHg)
- R = respiratory quotient = CO2 produced/O2 consumed
- A-a gradient = Pao2 – Pao2
- Normal Range = 10–15 mm Hg
- ↑ A-a gradient may occur in hypoxemia.
- causes include shunting, V˙/Q˙ mismatch, and fibrosis (impairs diffusion)
Oxygen Deprivation:
- ↓ cardiac output
- hypoxemia
- anemia
- CO poisoning
Hypoxia (↓ O2 delivery to tissue)
Oxygen Deprivation:
- Normal A-a gradient
- high altitude
- hypoventilation (eg. opioid use)
- ↑ A-a gradient
- V˙/Q˙ mismatch
- diffusion limitation (eg. fibrosis)
- right-to-left shunt
Hypoxemia (↓ Pao2)
Oxygen Deprivation:
- impeded arterial flow
- ↓ venous drainage
Ischemia (loss of blood flow)
Ventilation/Perfusion Mismatch
- Ideally, ventilation is matched to perfusion (ie. V˙/Q˙ = 1) for adequate gas exchange.
- Lung zones:
- V˙/Q˙ at apex of lung = 3 (wasted ventilation)
- V˙/Q˙ at base of lung = 0.6 (wasted perfusion)
- Both ventilation and perfusion are greater at the base of the lung than at the apex of the lung.
- With exercise (↑ cardiac output), there is vasodilation of apical capillaries → V˙/Q˙ ratio approaches 1.
- Certain organisms that thrive in high O2 (eg. TB) flourish in the apex.
- V˙/Q˙ = 0 = “oirway” obstruction (shunt). In shunt, 100% O2 does not improve Pao2 (eg. foreign body aspiration).
- V˙/Q˙ = ∞ = blood flow obstruction (physiologic dead space). Assuming < 100% dead space, 100% O2 improves Pao2 (eg. pulmonary embolus).
Carbon Dioxide Transport
- CO2 is transported from tissues to lungs in 3 forms:
① HCO3− (70%)
② Carbaminohemoglobin or HbCO2 (21–25%)
- CO2 bound to Hb at N-terminus of globin (not heme)
- CO2 favors deoxygenated form (O2 unloaded)
③ Dissolved CO2 (5–9%)
- In lungs, oxygenation of Hb promotes dissociation of H+ from Hb. This shifts equilibrium toward CO2 formation; therefore, CO2 is released from RBCs (Haldane effect).
- In peripheral tissue, ↑ H+ from tissue metabolism shifts curve to right, unloading O2 (Bohr effect).
- Majority of blood CO2 is carried as HCO3− in the plasma.
Response to High Altitude
- ↓ atmospheric oxygen (PO2) → ↓ Pao2 → ↑ ventilation → ↓ Paco2 → respiratory alkalosis → altitude sickness
- chronic ↑ in ventilation
- ↑ erythropoietin → ↑ Hct and Hb (due to chronic hypoxia)
- ↑ 2,3-BPG (binds to Hb causing left shift so that Hb releases more O2)
- cellular changes (↑ mitochondria)
- ↑ renal excretion of HCO3− to compensate for respiratory alkalosis (can augment with acetazolamide)
- chronic hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction results in pulmonary hypertension and RVH
Response to Exercise
- ↑ CO2 production
- ↑ O2 consumption
- ↑ ventilation rate to meet O2 demand
- V˙/Q˙ ratio from apex to base becomes more uniform
- ↑ pulmonary blood flow due to ↑ cardiac output
- ↓ pH during strenuous exercise (2° to lactic acidosis)
- no change in Pao2 and Paco2, but ↑ in venous CO2 content and ↓ in venous O2 content
Respiratory Pathology:
- obstruction of sinus drainage into nasal cavity → inflammation and pain over affected area
- typically affects maxillary sinuses, which drain against gravity due to ostia located superomedially
- most common acute cause is viral URI
- may lead to superimposed bacterial infection, most commonly S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae, and M. catarrhalis
- infections in sphenoid or ethmoid sinuses may extend to cavernous sinus and cause complications (eg. cavernous sinus syndrome)
Rhinosinusitis
Respiratory Pathology:
- nose bleed
- most commonly occurs in anterior segment of nostril (Kiesselbach plexus)
- life-threatening hemorrhages occur in posterior segment (sphenopalatine artery, a branch of maxillary artery)
- common causes include foreign body, trauma, allergic rhinitis, and nasal angiofibromas (common in adolescent males)
Epistaxis
Kiesselbach drives his Lexus with his LEGS:
- superior Labial artery
- anterior and posterior Ethmoidal arteries
- Greater palatine artery
- Sphenopalatine artery