Respiratory System Assessment Flashcards
Anterior Thoracic Landmarks
Suprasternal notch
Sternum
Sternal Angle (Angle of Louis)
Costal Angle
Posterior Thoracic Landmarks
Vertebra Prominens
Spinous Processes
Inferior Border of the Scapula
Twelfth Rib
Reference Lines
Midsternal Midclavicular Vertebral scapular Axillary (Anterior, Posterior, mid)
Lung Borders
Anterior lung borders
Apex 3-4 cm above the inner third of the clavicles
base rests on the diaphragm at 6th rib mid clavicular line
Posterior lung border
apex of the lung at T7
Can you auscultate the right middle lobe ?
No
Left Anterior Lobes
Left lung: oblique fissure divides LUL from LLL
Functions of respiratory system
supply o2 to body’s cells
remove CO2 from the body as waste
maintain homeostasis (pH 7.35-7.45) through acid-base balance
maintain heat exchange
Hypercapnia
excess buildup of carbon dioxide in the blood
The buildup of carbon dioxide causes us to …..
quality of rate and depth of breath is stimulated by …
breathe
CO2 levels
biggest driver of our respiratory rate…
hypercapnia
where is the respiratory center ?
The brainstem, specifically the pons and medulla are the breathing centers
Should we be using neck muscles to breathe?
No, that would be abnormal
Expiration is a passive or active process?
Passive. Diaphragm relaxes.
Developmental consideration for the aging adult?
Our lungs become more rigid, less elastic and less like a balloon
decreased vital capacity (max expelled air)
increased residual volume (air in lung after expiration)
decreased number of alveoli and lung expansion, increases effort of breathing
decreased ability to cough
increased secretions
greater risk of postop atelectasis and infection
Lungs need to be compliant (expandable)
Subjective Data for Respiratory Assessment
Cough SOB Orthopnea Chest Pain w/breathing History of Respiratory infection trauma surgery PMH Environmental exposures social history health promotion activity (vaccines, CXR, allergies medication history
The more premature the neonate is, the more
they will struggle to respirate
After 28 days, a neonate becomes an
infant
what kind of growth and developmental changes could happen if there is respiratory problems?
Could see developmental changes in the brain
When inspecting what are you looking for?
Shape and symmetry
posture and position of breathing
LOC
effort of breathing
The anteroposterior (AP) to transverse diameter
AP should be less than transverse usually 1:2
If someone has a barrel chest, what could it possibly point to ?
Barrel chest: AP = transverse (COPD and hyperinflated lungs)
as people age they start developing more of a barrel chest, but for some it could be related to a disorder
What is the normal respiration rate ?
12-20 breaths a minute
Bradypnea
slower than 12 breaths per minute
Tachypnea
faster than 20 breaths per minute
Hyperventilation (hyperpnea)
faster than 20 breaths per minute, deep breathing
Cheyne-Stokes
varying periods of increasing depth interspersed with apnea
Kussmaul
rapid, deep, labored
Ataxic
significant disorganization with irregular and varying depths of respiration
When we think about respirations we think about
the rate and the quality, the depth
Increased metabolic demands such as intense exercise would render
increased respirations