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Emergency Medical Technology > Respiratory system > Flashcards

Respiratory system Flashcards

1
Q

How important is the respiratory system of patients?

A
  • It is the key component. If the patient has an airway or breathing problem than nothing else matters
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2
Q

How many parts is the respiratory system divided into?

A
  1. **Upper airway **
  2. Lower airway
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3
Q

What area does each level of the airway encompass? What is the function of each?

A
  1. Upper: From nose/mouth to epiglottis
    a. filters air
    b. warms and humidifies air
    c. provides sense of smell
  2. Lower: from epiglottis to alveoli.
    - contains larynx
    a. exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide
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4
Q

What structures are part of the pharynx? What function does the pharynx have?

A
  1. Oropharynx and nasopharynx
  2. Location of gag reflex for airway protection
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5
Q

What is the function of the trachea? What is it made of?

A
  1. Conducts air into lungs
  2. Hard cartilage
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6
Q

What is the purpose of the bronchi? What is the anatomy of it?

A
  1. Connects trachea to each lung
  2. a. striaght into right lung
    b. sharp angle into left lung
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7
Q

What is the function of the lungs? What is the anatomy of the lung? What are the locations during expiration and inspiration?

A
  1. Organ of respiration where exchange of O2 and CO2 take place
  2. Each lung is divided into lobes
  3. Inspiration: the umbilicus
  4. Expiration: 4-5 intercostal space
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8
Q

What are the alveoli? What is the anatomy of the alveoli? What hapopens in the alveoli?

A
  1. They are the **smallest unit of the respiratory system. **
  2. Microscopic sacks surrounded by capillaries
  3. Gas exhcange
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9
Q

What are the types of pleura?

A
  • Parietal pleura
  • Visceral pleura
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10
Q

What are the characteristics of the diaphragm? What is the shape? What is the purpose of its structure? WHat does it contract or relax?

A
  1. Has characteristics of both voluntary and involuntary muscles
  2. Dome shaped
  3. Divides thorax from abdomen
  4. a. contracts during inhalation
    b. relaxes druing exhalation
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11
Q

Are breathing and respiration the same? WHy or why not?

A
  1. No
  2. a, Breathing: moves air in and out of system
    b. respiration: supplies cells with O2 and removes CO2 at cellular level
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12
Q

What happens during inhalation?

A
  1. Diaphragm and intercostal muscles contract
  2. Size of thoracic cavity increases
  3. Pressure in the lungs decrease
  4. Air travels in the lungs
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13
Q

What happens during exhalation?

A
  1. Diaohragm and intercostal muscles relax
  2. All dimensions of the thorax decrease
  3. Pressure in the lungs increase
  4. Air flows out of the lungs
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14
Q

Does the body use all the inhaled oxygen?

A

No

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15
Q

Where is the respiratory center located? What does it respond to? What does it control? What nerve controls the diaphragm?

A
  1. Located in brainstem
  2. Responds to CO2
  3. Controls the rate and tidal volume
  4. **Phrenic nerve **
    - neck injury can injure this nerve
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16
Q

What are the signs of adequate respirations?

A
  1. Effortless
  2. NTV
  3. Norml rate
  4. Regular rhythm
  5. Normal LOC
  6. Warm skin with normal color
  7. Normal breathing sounds bilaterally
17
Q

What are the signs of respiratory distress?

A
  1. Slower than 8 breaths/minute or faster than 24 breaths/minute
  2. Irregular rhythm
  3. Quality: labored
  4. Acessory muscle use
  5. Noisy or diminished breath sounds
  6. Pale or blue skin
  7. Cool clammy skin
  8. Dyspnea
  9. Conversational dsypnea
  10. Tripod position
  11. Anxiety
18
Q

What are some considerations for infants and children?

A
  • Structures less rigid
  • Airway smaller
  • Larger tongue
  • More dependence on diaphragm
  • Nasal flaring and seesaw respirations
19
Q

What is Dyspnea?

A
  • Shortness of breath (SOB) or difficulthy breathing
  • *​**
  • *Patient may not be alert enough to complain about shortness of breath**
20
Q

Terminology: What does Hypoxia, Anoxia, Wheezing, Rales, Stridor, and Rhonchi mean?

A
  1. Hypoxia: decreased/low oxygen
  2. Anoxia: no oxygen
  3. Wheezing: whislting sound
  4. Rales: fluid sound (crackles)
  5. Stridor: high pithced sound
  6. Rhonchi: coarse gravely sounds
21
Q

What are the causes of poor breathing?

A
  • Pulmonary vessels become obstructed
  • Alveoli are damaged
  • Air passages are obstructed
  • Blood flow to the lungs is obstructed
  • Pleural space is filled
22
Q

What are some abnormal respiratory patterns to watch for?

A
  • **Apnea **
  • Cheyne stokes
  • Central nervous system hyperventillation
  • Ataxic
  • *similar to Kussmal respirations in a diabetic patient
23
Q

What is an upper and lower respiratory infedtion? What can it cause?

A
  • infectious disease that may Effect all parts of the airway
  • Obstruction
24
Q

What is acute pulmonary edema? What are the signs and symptoms? How often does it reoccur? Who is most at risk?

A
  1. Fluid buildup in the lungs
  2. Signs and symptoms:
    a. Dyspnea
    b. Frothy pink sputum
    c. Rales(crackles)
  3. Reoccurance is high
  4. Those with a history of chronic congestive heart failure
25
Q

What are signs of Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)?

A
  • Emphysema or chronic bronchitis
  • Barrel chest
  • Labored breathing
  • Cyanosis
  • Can have a sudden onset
  • Abnormal breath sounds may be present
    *
26
Q

What is acute asthma? What are some signs?

A
  1. Spasm of the bronchioles
  2. a. tachypnea
    b. anxiety
    c. wheezing
    d. labored breathing
    e. can have sudden onset
27
Q

What is spontaneous pneumothorax? What can cause it? What is a symptom? What can you look for in a patient who has it?

A
  1. Accumulation of air in the pleaural space
  2. Caused by certain medications
  3. Dyspnea and sharp chest pain on the side
  4. Absent or decreased breath sounds on one side
28
Q

What is pulmonary effusion? What can it cause? What causes it? What are some signs? How can you ease a patient with pleural effusion?

A
  1. Collection of fluid outside the lung
  2. Cuases dyspnea
  3. Cuased by irritation, infection or cancer
  4. Decreased breath sounds
  5. Eased if patient is sitting up
29
Q

What is pulmonary embolism? What are some signs and symptoms?

A
  1. Blood clot that winds up in the lungs
  2. a. dyspnea
    b. hemoptysis
    c. cyanosis
    d. achypnea
    e. pleuritic chest pain
    f. one sided chest pain
    g. can have sudden onset
    e. can have abnormal breath sounds
30
Q

What is pneumonia caused by? What are some signs and symptoms?

A
  1. Upper respiratory tract infection (URI)
  2. a. fever
    b. productive cough
    c. slow onset
31
Q

What is the treatment for pneumonia?

A
  1. High flow O2
  2. High fowlers position
  3. Rapid transport
  4. Reassure patient
  5. Support ventilations PRN (as needed)
32
Q

What is hyperventilation? What are some signs and symptoms?

A
  1. a. Response to illenss or emotional state (syndrome)

  • *2. a. anxiety
    b. dizziness
    c. clear lung sounds
    d. increased tidal volume
    e. numbness and tingling hands and feet
    f. carpal/pedal spasms**
33
Q

What are treatments for hyperventilation?

A
  • Reassure patient
  • Give oxygen

_*Do not give paper bag*_

34
Q

What are some special considerations for patient with COPD (Cardio obstructive pumonary disorder)?

A

1. COPD in dsitress: high flow O2

  • *2. COPD in no distress: low flow O2 **
  • 2LPM via nasal cannula
  • due to hypoxic drive
35
Q

What are the geriatric needs?

A
  • Aging alters respiratory system
  • Older patients are at risk for lung diseases
  • they may need ventillatory support
36
Q

What are the pediatric needs?

A

1. Asthma is common in childhood

2. Cyanosis is a late findin

3. Treatment is the same as for an adult

Emergency Medical Technology (22 decks)

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