Respiratory system Anatomy + Diagnostic procedures Flashcards
What does the respiratory system do?
oxygentates the blood and removes carbon dioxide
what is the respiratory system made of?
chest (thorax), lungs and condcuting airways
What is the respiratory epithelium coated with?
a mucus film and cilia on the surface ofthe pharynx and trachea
purpose of cilia and mucuos membrane?
cilia - exert a sweeping action, preventing dust and foreign particles from reaching the lungs
mucous membrane - also protects the lungs by moistening and warming inhaled air starting in the nasal cavity.
Passage way of air in respiratory system?
- Air enters the nasal and oral cavities
- passes through the pharynx, down through the
larynx to the trachea. - The trachea descends andbranches into two primary bronchi, one for each lung (The trachea and bronchi are kept open by sturdy rings of tracheal cartilage)
- The bronchi branch into smaller and smaller tubules called
bronchioles, which lack cartilaginous rings. - Finally gas exchange at end of bronchioles called alveoli
What is the lungs encased by?
a double membrane consisting of 2 layers of pleura- one covers lung surface and the other, the thoracic cavity
between these is the pleural cavity which contains small amt of pleural fliud
purpose of pleural fluid?
lubricates the lungs and thoracic surfaces to reduce friction as lung expand and contract + reduce surface tension = lungs r flexible
what is intrapleural pressure?
the space between the lungs and chest wall has a perssure slightly less than the pressure within the lungs which acts as a partial vacuum and prevetns the lungs from collapsing
What occurs in alveoli?
thin-walled sacs surrounded by blood capillaries
site of gas exchange
Inspired/inhaled oxygen diffuses across the pulmonary membrane from the alveoli into the capillary blood
The hemoglobin molecules within the red blood cells bind oxygen for transport to the tissues
Carbon dioxide that is given off into the blood as a waste from the cells diffuses primarily from the blood plasma into the alveoli to be expired, or exhaled
what muscles r important for respiration?
main r the diaphragm and muscles between the ribs (called external intercostals) and others r abd and internal intercostal muscles
these muscles increase the volume/space within the chest cavity to decrease pressure within the lungs and draws air into the lungs
What controls the activity of the diaphragm and
external intercostals?
the medulla and pons in the brain
what affects the depth and rate of breathing?
Physical factors - (talking, coughing, exercising)
emotional factors - (fear, sadness)
chemical factors - (levels of carbon dioxide and oxygen)
What are the 3 key disruptions of respiratory function that can lead to disease?
- interference of air flow,
- interference with the diffusion of gases at the respiratory membrane
- blocked or reduced blood flow through alveolar capillaries.
commom s/s of respiratory diseases?
Chest pain
Dyspnea or difficulty breathing
Wheezing
Cough—productive or nonproductive, acute or chronic
Hemoptysis or coughing blood
Fatigue
Fever—low or high grade
Dysphonia or hoarseness
Cyanosis—a blue color in skin and nails; indicator of low
oxygen
Sinus and nasal drainage
Clubbing of fingers or toes, indicator of low oxygen or
circulatory problems
Tachypnea or rapid breathing
Abnormal breath sounds
What do physical exams of the respiratory system start with?
auscultation which listens for bronchial sounds (air rushing through the trachea and bronchi and sound like air being blown through a hollow tube) and vesicular breathing sounds (air filling the alveoli)
next is percussion (tapping the chest)
What is spirometry?
1st and most common lung function test
measures air capacity of lungs (pt inhales as deep as possible before exhaling into a spirometer as fast and as forcefully as possible)
What is peak flow?
aka peak expiratory flow rate
measured with a device to gauge the max force a pt can exhale
what is the bronchial challenge test?
used to detect and quantify airway hypersensitivity
does spirometer w/o inhaling agent like methacholine and then w/ (if pt develops dyspnea, tightness in chest, coughing or weakness then they have hypersensitive bronchi)
What is wheezing?
High-pitched, continuous, whistling sound caused Airway secretions and narrowing of airway.
What are crackles
split into fine and coarse crackles (both r fine, discontinuous popping lung sounds but fine is high pitch whereas coarse is louder, lower in pitch and lasts longer)
caused by Airway secretions and airway opening.
(Inhaled air collides with previously deflated airways and the airways suddenly pop open, creating a crackling sound as gas pressure between the two compartments equalizes)
What is pleural rub?
Creaking sound similar to walking on fresh snow caused by Decreased lubrication causes the two pleura to rub against each other
What are the percussion sounds in the chest?
Resonance - Low-pitched sound heard over normal lungs
Hyperresonance - Loud, low-pitched sound than normal resonance heard over hyperinflated lungs
Tympany - Drum-like, loud, empty quality. Not a normal chest sound. Indicate excessive air in the chest.
Dull - Normally heard over dense areas such as the heart or liver. Dullness replaces resonance when fluid or solid tissue replaces air-containing lung tissues.
What is pulse oximetry?
noninvasive procedure to measure oxygen saturation in the blood by placing a pulse oximeter on fingertip, earlobe, forehead, and transmitting beam of lights through capillaries to measure diff in color and calculate blood o2 level
normal levels r greater than 90%
What is arterial blood gases (ABGS)
used to evaluate levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide and
blood pH (Key indicators of respiratory function)
requires arterial puncture to draw blood samples (should be high in 02 and low in CO2)
