Respiratory System Flashcards
Define hypoxia.
Where there is a lack of oxygen in the cell (Body tissues)
What are body tissues?
a group of cells that have similar structure and that function together as a unit.
Define Hypoxaemia.
Where there is a lack of oxygen in the blood.
Which usually comes first? Hypoxia or Hypoxaemia?
Hypoxaemia.
We can assess and use interventions to prevent this from going to hypoxia hence preventing cell death
What is hypercapnia?
Greater than normal levels of CO2 in the bloodstream (PaCO2 > 45mmHg)
What is Hypocapnia?
Less than normal levels of CO2 in the blood stream (PaCO2 <35mmHg)
What is a common cause of Hypocapnia?
Hyperventillation.
Taking in too much O2, and not being able to balance this with CO2
What is the cause of Hypoxia?
Often caused secondary to Hypoxaemia.
Which is caused by any condition that reduces the amount of oxygen in your blood or restricts blood flow can cause hypoxia. People living with heart or lung diseases such as COPD, emphysema or asthma, are at an increased risk for hypoxia
What are the medical causes of Hypoxaemia?
ventilation-perfusion (V/Q) mismatch, diffusion impairment, hypoventilation, low environmental oxygen and right-to-left shunting.
What is Ventilation/perfusion mismatch?
Ventilation-perfusion mismatch is mismatched distribution of ventilation (airflow) and perfusion (blood flow)
When does ventilation/perfusion mis match occur?
Ventilation-perfusion (V/Q) mismatch occurs when either the ventilation (airflow) or perfusion (blood flow) in the lungs is impaired, preventing the lungs from optimally delivering oxygen to the blood
What does VQ ratio stand for?
ventilation/perfusion ratio
Efficient gas exchange is dependant of adequate what?
Ventilation and perfusion
Poor ventilation and poor perfusion = what?
A silent unit - when the lungs arent doing anything.
What does “Shunt” mean?
When blood flow is redirected from a poorly ventilated alveolus to a well-ventilated alveolus through vasoconstriction
What is vasoconstriction?
Vasoconstriction is the narrowing (constriction) of blood vessels by small muscles in their walls. When blood vessels constrict, blood flow is slowed or blocked
What is an alveolus?
a small air-containing compartment of the lungs in which the bronchioles terminate and from which respiratory gases are exchanged with the pulmonary capillaries.
What are bronchioles?
A tiny branch of air tubes in the lungs
What does the term “Dead space” in the lungs refer to?
Poor perfusion and a well ventilated alveolus
What are 3 Mechanical causes for lung insufficiency (poor VQ ratio)
Structural damage
Airway obstruction
Medication
What are some functional causes for lung insufficiency (poor VQ ratio)
Cardiac compromise, pulmonary embolism, hb, tumor, infection, COPD, Compliance and Resistance, and Surface area.
What are some structural damages that would cause a poor VQ ratio?
Structural damage to the: Nervous system (brainstem injury), Inter-coastal muscles, diaphragm, and abdominal muscles.
What are the two types of airway obstructions that would cause a poor VQ ratio?
Physiological (asthma ect) Foreign Objects (Steak ect)
What types of medications would cause a poor VQ ratio?
CNS depressants such as: sedatives, hypnotics, and tranquilizers.
What is cardiac compromise and what is its effect of the VQ ratio?
Cardiac compromise refers to any kind of heart problem.
If we have less cardiac output there will be less perfusion
What is a pulmonary embolism and how does it cause a poor VQ ratio?
Pulmonary embolism occurs when an artery in the lungs becomes blocked, in most cases by blood clots that travel to the lungs from elsewhere in the body.
It causes a poor perfusion rate
What is hemoglobin?
A protein inside red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to tissues and organs in the body and carries carbon dioxide back to the lungs.
How might an infection affect the VQ ratio?
An infection may cause a build up of pus or fluid in the lungs leading to poor ventilation and perfusion `
How does COPD influence your VQ ratio?
In COPD,
What are some examples of some ventilation problems?
Inflammation of broncial walls causing epithelial odema
Exudate in lower airways causing obstruction to air flow
Exudate in alveoli causing increased diffusion distance
and
Inflammation in alveolar wall causing increased diffusion distance
What are the bronchial walls?
the walls of the large tubes (bronchial) that connect to your trachea (windpipe) and direct the air you breathe to your right and left lungs.
What does exudate mean?
Exudate is fluid that leaks out of blood vessels into nearby tissues. The fluid is made of cells, proteins, and solid materials. Exudate may ooze from cuts or from areas of infection or inflammation. It is also called pus. (Think of the saying “fluid on the lungs”)
What are two common perfusion problems that we might come across?
Partial or complete obstruction to pulmonary artery causing reduced blood flow
and
Ineffective functioning alveoli (from exudate or oedema) causing vasoconstriction of surrounding pulmonary capillaries
What are pulmonary arteries?
Arteries that carry blood with relatively low oxygen content and high carbon dioxide content into the lungs.
What causes wheezing?
Wheezing happens when the airways are narrowed, tightened, blocked, or inflamed, making a person’s breathing sound like whistling or squeaking.
What causes crackles in a persons breathing?
Crackles occur if the small air sacs in the lungs fill with fluid and there’s any air movement in the sacs
What causes stirdor in a persons breathing?
Caused by a narrowed or partially blocked airway, which is the passage that connects the mouth to the lungs, stridor results in wheezing or whistling sounds.
What causes coughing?
A cough is an automatic reaction to clear your airways if they are blocked by something, such as phlegm (mucus), smoke, dust or a piece of food.
What is the Sternocleidomastoid muscle?
Sternocleidomastoid is the most superficial and largest muscle in the front portion of the neck. It is also known as SCM or Sternomastoid or Sterno muscle.
Where are the scalenes muscles?
The scalene muscles are located deep in relation to the sternocleidomastoid muscle, lateral to the cervical spine, connecting the vertebrae to the first two ribs
Where is the Trapezius muscle?
The trapezius is a muscle that starts at the base of your neck, goes across your shoulders and extends to the middle of your back
Where is the Pectoralis minor and major muscle?
pectoralis muscle, any of the muscles that connect the front walls of the chest with the bones of the upper arm and shoulder. The pectoralis major sits on top of the minor
What is Diaphoresis?
sweating, especially to an unusual degree as a symptom of disease or a side effect of a drug.
What is Pallor?
Paleness or loss of colour from the skin or mucous membranes.
What is Cyanosis?
Cyanosis refers to abnormal blue discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes
What is flushing of the skin?
Reddening of the skin.
What is digital clubbing?
a deformity of the finger or toe nails associated with a number of diseases, mostly of the heart and lungs (Larger and rounded ends of the fingers and toes)
What does haemoptysis mean?
Small amounts of blood mixed with sputum
What is nasal flaring and why does it occur?
Nasal flaring is a symptom of breathing difficulties or an attempt to widen the nasal opening to reduce airway resistance.
What is pursed lip breathing and why does it occur?
Pursed-lip breathing is a simple technique which consists of inhaling through the nose and exhaling through the mouth with pursued lips. It can help people to get more ventilation.
