Respiratory System and Aging

Question 1

Pulmonary changes with aging - thorax

Answer 1

Calcification of bronchial and costal cartilage

Wasting of resp. mm

Question 2

Pulmonary changes with aging - thorax - Calcification of bronchial and costal cartilage leads to

Answer 2

Inc stiffness of costovertebral cartilage
Inc rigidity of chest wall
Inc ant post diameter (kyphosis)

Question 3

Effects on the aged resp. system -

Answer 3

Lung - dec alveolar ducts
Thinning and separation of alveolar membrane
Altered cilia

Question 4

Effects on aged resp system - Tinning and separation of alveolar membarne - dec (3) Inc (2)

Answer 4

Dec mucus glands
Dec tissue extensibility
Dec cap network
Inc number and thickness of elastic fibers
Inc fibrosis of pulmonary capillary itnima

Question 5

Effects on aged respiratory system - thorax

Answer 5

Inc resistance to deformation of chest wall
Attemped inc use of diaphragm
Dec tidal volume with exercise
Dec max voluntary ventilation

Question 6

Effects of age on respiratory system - lung

Answer 6

Dec SA for gas exchange
Inc physiologic dead space
Dec lung elastic recoil
Dec ventilatory flow rate
Dec ventilatory distribution
Inc resistance to flow in small airways
Dec ventilation/perfusion ratio

Question 7

Consequences of lung changes

Answer 7

Inc vulnerability to environmental insults
Dec compliance in chest wall and thorax
Dec strength and func of ventilatory mm
Dec expansion of alveolar ducts
Dec compliance of alveolar tissue

Question 8

Consequences of lung changes - Dec compliance in chest wall and thorax - rib cage expansion dec - young vs old

Answer 8

Young - 40% lung volume

Old - 30% lung volume

Question 9

Consequences of lung changes - dec strength and function of ventilatory mm - what percentage of dec in diaphragm strength

Answer 9

25%

Due to denervation and degeneration of motor fibers

Question 10

Resp changes with age

• Resp muscle
• Elasticity of chest wall
• Emptying of lungs
• Rigidity of lung
• Fatiguability
• Max breathing capacity

Answer 10

Weakening
Decreased
Less efficient
Increased
Earlier/Easier
Reduced 60-80%

Question 11

Resp changes in blood gases

Answer 11

Dec PaO2

Question 12

Resp changes - changes in control of ventilation

Answer 12

Dec change in intrinsic control, coordination of CNS centers, responsiveness of respiratory pumps, response in neuromuscular mechanism

Question 13

PaO2
20 yrs
60-65 yrs
90 yrs

Answer 13

90
83
83

Question 14

Regulation of ventilation - older adult

Answer 14

Impaired warning of ventilatory distress

Delayed adaptive response

Question 15

Pulmonary function with exercise

• minute ventilation
• max O2 consumpton

Answer 15

Increased

Decreased

Question 16

Changes in lung volumes/spirometry parameters - diffusion capacity dec due to

Answer 16

Loss of alveolar SA in pulmonary vasculature
Thickening of intima and fibrous changes
Possible changes in RBC membrane

Question 17

Response with exercise

Answer 17

Early shift from aerobic to anaerobic metabolism

Inc stiffness of thoracic pump