Respiratory System Flashcards
What is the role of the diaphragm?
Relaxes and contracts - changes area inside ribcage
What is the role of the trachea?
Contains cartilage to keep airway open even when lying down
What is the role of the bronchioles?
Carries air into lungs
What is the role of the heart?
Pumps blood around your body
What is the role of the pleural?
Outside of the lungs are stuck to inside of the ribs - it’s filled with fluid to stop rubbing together
What is the role of the larynx?
Produces sound and speech (voicebox)
What is the role of the intercostal?
Elevates ribcage and assists the lungs in
What is the role of the epiglottis?
Prevents anything solid eg food from going into lungs/windpipe
What is the role of the alveoli?
Sight of gas exchange?
What medication would you take to treat chest infections?
Antibiotics
What area of the brain controls our breathing?
Medulla
What energy system works with oxygen?
Aerobic
What are the smaller branches of the airways into our lungs?
Bronchioles
What are the air sacs in our lungs where gas exchange takes place?
Alveoli
What is the brown inhaler that de-sensitises asthma sufferers airways?
Preventer
What is the component in blood that carries dissolved nutrients like glucose?
Plasma
What is the more detailed lung function monitoring test done at home?
Spirometer
What energy system works without oxygen?
Anaerobic
What is the blue inhaler that helps us cope with asthma symptoms?
Reliever
What is the genetic disease that causes thick mucus to be produced in the lungs and digestive system?
Cystic fibrosis
What is asthma?
A long-term inflammatory disease of airways of the lungs
It affects the airways and inflames them, making them narrow
This is because they become irritated
Symptoms of asthma
Coughing
Breathlessness
Wheezing
Chest tightness
How is it monitored?
Peak flow/spirometry (more hospital based, gives way more info about condition of lungs)
Regular checkups with GP/asthma
Pros and cons of inhalers
Portable, but can be difficult for kids to use
May have poor technique
What treatment does the preventer inhaler do?
Use everyday for best effect
Reduces inflammation
Reduces sensitivity of airways
What treatment does the reliever inhaler do?
Use when needed
Fast acting
Relaxes muscles of bronchi
What may be required if inhalers fail?
Steroids
How else may you minimise symptoms?
Stop smoking
Keep fit and healthy (keeps lungs stronger)
Take medication correctly
Regular checkups
Avoid triggers (pollen, pollution, animal fur, cold temperatures, smoke, common flu, sometimes exercise)
Annual flu jabs
What is emphysema?
COPD - Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Inflammation of airways
Airways are narrowed and the alveoli are damaged
Symptoms of emphysema
Phlegm
How is emphysema monitored?
Breathing tests - peakflow, spirometry, chest x-ray, CT scan
What are treatments of emphysema?
Inhalers (widens airways)
Vaccinations
Regular checkups
Antibiotics/steroids
Oxygen therapy (portable/fixed, o2 canister)
Chest drain (excess mucus is drained off)
What are other ways to minimise symptoms?
Chest physio therapy Regular fitness Stop smoking Counselling Drinks lots of water Nicotine replacements Healthy diet
What is cystic fibrosis?
Caused by a fault gene
A genetic disease that affects the organs - mainly lungs/digestive system
Mucus is too thick and sticky in body’s tubes
Symptoms of cystic fibrosis
Coughing Production of mucus Shortness of breath Wheezing Regular chest infections
How is cystic fibrosis monitored?
Regular appointments to check lung function (peak flow/spirometer tests)
Antibacterial screening and monitoring (assays)
Treatments for cystic fibrosis
There is NO CURE - you can only control it
Steroids
Physiotherapy - vibrating jackets
Medication - makes mucus in lungs thinner and easier to cough up, antibiotics for chest infections, inhalers (bronchodilators)
Surgical procedures - lung transplant (only in extreme cases) remember this is NOT a cure because it is GENETIC
Other ways to minimise symptoms of cystic fibrosis
Regular exercise (strengthens lungs)
Healthy diet and weight
Physiotherapy (airway clearance techniques)
Micky is 13 years old with cystic fibrosis. Analyse the treatment and care he needs to support him in managing his condition
Try and incorporate daily exercise into his schedule - walk to and from school (help strengthen his lungs by doing regular cardio) however this may trigger wheeziness and shortness of breath
Use a bronchodilator to help if he starts to wheeze in the day, however he may not have the right technique to use it so may be using it wrong
Attend regular Physiotherapy appointments to check his lung function, even though very time consuming
PROS AND CONS FOR EACH
What is the purpose of the diaphragm flattening and moving down when contracted?
Increases the thoracic cavity (chest) volume. This helps to draw air into lungs
What happens to the diaphragm during expiration (breathing out)?
Relaxes and moves up
What happens to the external intercostal’s during inspiration (breathing in)?
Lifts ribcage upward and outward
What happens during expiration (breathing out)?
Relaxes and lets ribs fall
What happens to the internal intercostal’s during inspiration (breathing in)?
Relaxed
What happens during expiration (breathing out)?
Relaxed - unless we need to breathe fast - then it contracts to pull down)
How does the ribcage move during inspiration?
Up and out
How does it move during expiration?
Down and in
What happens to the thoracic cavity volume during inspiration?
Increases
What happens during expiration?
Decreases
What happens to the air pressure in the lungs during inspiration?
Decreases
What happens during expiration?
Increases
What happens to the movement of air during inspiration?
Flows into lungs to level pressure
What happens to the movement of air during expiration?
Flows out of lungs to level pressure
Is the blood in the capillary high or low coming into the alveoli?
Low in O2 and high in CO2
Is there high or low concentration of O2 inside the alveoli?
High, low in CO2
What does the pressure difference create?
A diffusion gradient
What area do gases diffuse from?
An area of high pressure to low pressure
Why do alveoli have a moist layer inside?
To help absorb O2
What is a diffusion gradient?
Difference in the pressure of a gas in 2 areas (gases move high to low)
What do erythrocytes contain to absorb oxygen?
Haemoglobin
What substance is formed when oxygen is absorbed into the erythrocyte?
Oxygen + haemoglobin = oxyhaemoglobin
Explain 3 ways alveoli specially adapted to increase the efficiency of gaseous exchange?
- Thin walls (once cell thick) allow gases through easily - short diffusion pathway
- Thin layer of moisture helps dissolve oxygen into the alveoli wall to pass through it
- Blood travels quite slowly in the capillary and RBC’s move one cell at a time
