Respiratory System - A&P

Question 1

What age-related changes can predispose an older adult to respiratory illness?

Answer 1

Weakening of airway musculature and decreased breathing capacity

Even minor lung infections can become life-threatening for older adults.

Question 2

How does decreased muscle mass affect older patients during breathing difficulties?

Answer 2

They have less help from muscles in the chest wall

This leads to an increased difficulty in breathing.

Question 3

What happens to the alveoli in lung tissue as one ages?

Answer 3

They can become enlarged and lose elasticity

This makes it harder to expel used air, leading to air trapping.

Question 4

What is the analogy used to describe the change in lung tissue quality with age?

Answer 4

Comparable to a balloon that has been expanded and then deflated

The balloon loses some of its ability to contract to its original state.

Question 5

What is the consequence of decreased elasticity in lung tissue?

Answer 5

Decreased ability to bring in oxygen and push out carbon dioxide

This hampers effective gas exchange.

Question 6

How do the body’s chemoreceptors change with age?

Answer 6

They become less sensitive to changes in oxygen and carbon dioxide levels

This can slow the body’s response to hypoxia.

Question 7

What is hypoxia?

Answer 7

A dangerous condition in which body tissues and cells do not have enough oxygen

It can lead to serious health complications.

Question 8

What protective mechanisms of the upper airway are lost with age?

Answer 8

Decreased cough and gag reflexes

This increases the risk of respiratory infections.

Question 9

What happens to the cilia that line the bronchial tree in older adults?

Answer 9

There is a decrease in the number of cilia

This lessens the ability to cough and clear secretions.

Question 10

Fill in the blank: The loss of cilia in the bronchial tree increases the chance of ______.

Answer 10

infection

This is due to impaired clearance of secretions.