Respiratory Function & Medications

Question 1

What is Anatomical Dead Space?

Answer 1

The 30% of air that remains in the large passageways and is not involved in gas exchange.

Question 2

During normal breathing, what is the normal amount of air that moves in/out of the lungs?

Answer 2

500mL of air

Question 3

List the upper respiratory tract in order:

Answer 3

• oral/nasal cavity
• pharynx
• larynx

Question 4

List the lower respiratory tract in order:

Answer 4

• trachea
• bronchi
• bronchioles
• alveoli

Question 5

What is the name of the most outer surface layer of the lungs called?

Answer 5

The Inner Pleura, called the Visceral Pleura, covers the surface of each lung.

Question 6

What is the space between the visceral and parietal pleura? Whats the function?

Answer 6

Pleural cavity, has small amount of pleural fluid, providing lubrication as the lungs expand and contract during respiration.

Question 7

What is the parietal pleura? And what is its purpose?

Answer 7

The Outer Pleura which covers the diaphragm and lines the inner walls of the chest.

Question 8

What happens to the diaphragm and intercostal muscles during expiration?

Answer 8

It relaxes, diaphragm moves up and intercostal muscles depresses. Thus shrinking the diameter of the thoracic activity and pushing the air out of the lungs.

Question 9

What other things can breathing do other than gas exchange?

Answer 9

• Create moisture that protects us from infection, temperature change and dehydration.
• Air passing through out vocal cords allow us to talk.
• Air passing through nostrils allow us to smell.

Question 10

How do you measure the respiratory function of a patient?

Answer 10

Spirometer & peak flow

Question 11

What does ERV stand for and what is it?

Answer 11

Expiratory Reserve Volume is the amount of air that can be breathed out after a normal exhalation. Aka, if you were breathing in and out normally, but then forcefully pushed out as much additional air as possible after an exhale.

Question 12

What is hypocapnia?

Answer 12

Where there are low levels of Carbon dioxide in the blood.

Question 13

What is Eupnoea?

Answer 13

It refers to normal, good and unlabored breathing.

A.K.A quiet breathing OR resting RR

Question 14

What is Apnoea?

Answer 14

The absence of breathing.

Question 15

What is hypoxia?

Answer 15

When there is inadequate blood supply to the tissues of the body.

Question 16

What is hyperventilation?

Answer 16

Over-breathing, or rapid and irregular breathing that is usually uncontrollable and leads to hypocapnia.

Question 17

What is hypoventilation?

Answer 17

Also know as respiratory depression, which is the abnormal retention of CO2 in the blood due to poor gas exchange within the lungs.

Question 18

What is orthopnoea?

Answer 18

Difficulty breathing while lying down.

Question 19

What is hypopnea?

Answer 19

Hypopnea is the overly shallow breathing or an abnormally low respiratory rate.

Question 20

What is Kussmaul breathing?

Answer 20

Deep, consistent and laboured breathing that is seen when body’s organs have become too acidic. Often associated with diabetic ketoacidosis and kidney failure.