Respiratory System Flashcards
List the functions of the respiratory system?
- enables breathing
- Consists of lungs and passages
- Located within the chest cavity, protected by ribs
- Diaphragm separates the lungs from the abdominal cavity
- Each breath cycle, gas exchange occurs
- Oxygen is taken in
- Carbon dioxide is let out
List the pathway of air in the respiratory system (10):
Nose—> now Paranasal sinuses—> Peter Pharynx—> picks Larynx—> love Trachea—> to Bronchial tract—> better Lungs—> life Bronchi—> before Alveoli—> anything
Describe the nose in the respiratory system pathway:
- Air is inhaled through the nose, where the air is moistened and warmed.
- Small hairs filter out impurities (air can also be inhaled through the mouth)
Describe the Paranasal sinuses of the respiratory system pathway:
- Air-filled extensions of the nasal cavity.
- There are four sets of sinuses located beside the nose and in the forehead
Describe the Pharynx, Larynx, and Trachea of the respiratory system pathway:
- The air proceeds down through the pharynx, larynx and into the trachea (windpipe).
- The trachea consists of 16-20 rings of cartilage stacked on top of each other. They form a semi-rigid support that keep the airway open
- at about the level of the 5th thoracic vertebra, the trachea divides and becomes the bronchial tract
Describe the Bronchial tract of the respiratory system pathway:
-At about the level of the 5th vertebra, the trachea divides and becomes the -Bronchial tract which enter each lung
Describe the Lungs of the respiratory system pathway:
- located in the thoracic cavity (chest) and rest on the diaphragm.
- Each lung is a separate organ which is surrounded by the pleura, a membrane that protects each lung
Describe the Bronchi of the respiratory system pathway:
-Inside each lung the bronchial tracts branch into smaller secondary bronchi, which then branch into smaller and smaller (9) bronchioles
Describe the Alveoli of the respiratory system pathway:
- eventually the bronchioles branch into alveoli which are the air sacs in the lungs
- they have very thin walls the contain a lot of elastic tissue. Alveoli stretch as they fill with air, like little balloons
- The alveoli are surrounded by a network of capillaries (tiny blood vessels) which bring deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs.
- Oxygen is transferred from the alveoli to the capillaries, which then take the oxygenated blood to the heart, to be pumped to all cells of the body
Describe the Diaphragm:
-The diaphragm is the main muscle of inhalation.
-When it contracts, it depends and enlarges the thoracic cavity
-The external intercostal muscles also assist by lifting the ribs.
-Air pressure in the lungs drops, air is drawn and normal breathing occurs
-other accessory muscles that help with breathing include:
intercostal,
scalene,
abdominal,
pectoralis minor,
sternocleidomastoid,
(isaps)
Describe breathing:
- a process of the autonomic nervous system, which can be controlled or over-ridden by conscious effort
- During deep, forceful exhalation, secondary muscles of respiration will also be used
What is dyspnea? (Pathologies of the respiratory system)
- a subjective sensation of difficulty breathing
- It is usually described as breathlessness and shortness of breath
- it may be caused by respiratory diseases
What is a common cold? (Pathologies of the respiratory system)
- a viral infection of the upper respiratory tract, which occurs more frequently than any other respiratory tract infection.
- It is accompanied by excessive production of nasal secretions
- The person may experience headaches and fatigue
What is influenza? (Pathologies of the respiratory system)
- A viral infection that can affect the upper and lower respiratory tracts.
- It usually occurs in epidemics.
- Can cause symptoms that affect the nose, throat or lungs.
- There is usually an abrupt onset of fever and chills, fatigue, muscle aching. Headache, nasal discharge, non-productive cough and sore throat.
- -Flu virus is spread by large droplet spray (from someone sneezing or coughing) or by hands
What is Pneumonia? (Pathologies of the respiratory system)
- -The term “pneumonia” describes inflammation of the bronchioles or alveoli of the lungs.
- It can be caused by infection from bacteria and viruses, or by gastric secretions that are aspirated (breathed) into the lungs.
- -pneumonia can usually be treated effectively with antibiotics but can be fatal to the elderly or people with compromised immune systems
What is Tuberculosis? (pathologies of the respiratory system)
- The worlds foremost cause of death from infection
- It is an infectious disease which is spread by inhaling the bacteria circulating in the air
- there are not usually any symptoms in the early stages and the disease is diagnosed by a positive tuberculin skin test
- In the later stages the symptoms are low- grade fever, shortness of breath, night sweats, fatigue, weight loss and a cough which becomes productive with purulent and sometimes blood-tinged sputum.
- The disease is treated with multiple anti-bacterial medications, although some types of tuberculosis are resistant to medication
What is Asthma? (Pathologies of the respiratory system)
- A very common chronic obstructive airway disease.
- Asthma attacks can be triggered by allergies, respiratory tract infections, cold air, exercise, drugs and chemicals, hormonal changes, emotional upsets, air borne pollutants, and gastroesophageal reflux.
- Persons with asthma exhibit a wide range of signs and symptoms from episodic wheezing and feelings of chest tightness, to an acute, immobilizing attack.
Describe asthma attacks.
- The attacks differ from person to person, and between attacks, many people are symptom free
- Attacks may occur spontaneously or in response to various triggers
- Asthma is often worse at night and may be worse anytime the person is laying down
- During an asthmatic attack, the airways narrow because of spasm of the bronchial tubes, edema (swelling) of the bronchial mucosa (the ligning of the bronchial tracts) and mucous plugging.
- Air becomes trapped behind the narrow airways and the person has difficulty breathing out.
- During a severe attack, the shoulders are raised, the person is wheezing or may be coughing to expel air, the skin becomes moist and anxiety and apprehension becomes obvious.
- The person may be only able to speak one or two worse before having to take a breath
What should be done if the client is having an asthma attack?
- The service provider should hand the person their medication (usually an inhaler or puffer) and allow them to administer it themselves
- Service should be discontinued
- If severe symptoms are obvious, and breathing does not improve, have the client taken to the hospital immediately
What is Bronchitis? (Pathologies of the respiratory system)
- In chronic bronchitis, airway obstruction is caused by: inflammation of the major and small airways
- There is edema and excess production of mucous into the bronchial passages.
- A history of a chronic productive cough for mroe than three months is necessary for a diagnosis of chronic bronchitis.
- Often the cough has been present for years
- Chronic bronchitis is seen in mostly people who are smokers who have recurrent infections
What is Emphysema? (Pathologies of the respiratory system)
- It is characterized by a loss of elasticity of the lungs, and destruction of the alveolar walls and capillary beds
- There is extreme shortness of breath and use of accessory muscles to breath
- This eventually results in a “barrel chest”
- weight loss occurs due to difficulty eating
- emphysema is caused by years of smoking, inhaling pollutants (workplace) or a hereditary factor
