Session 10: Respiratory System

Question 1

The respiratory system contains which two kinds of membrane?

Answer 1

Mucous membrane

Serous membrane

Question 2

What does the mucous membrane line?

Answer 2

The conducting portion of the respiratory tract. It bears mucus-secreting cells to varying degrees

Question 3

What does the serous membrane (pleura) line?

Answer 3

The pleural sacs which envelope each lung

Question 4

The serous membrane has what two layer?

Answer 4

Parietal serosa (outer wall)
Visceral serosa (inner wall)

Question 5

Why is the lung shiny?

Answer 5

It is covered in moist pleura

Question 6

The two pleural layers have what in between them (the pleural cavity)?

Answer 6

Lubricating fluid

Question 7

The pleural cavity may fill with what?

In each case state what this is called

Answer 7

Air- Pneumothorax
Blood- Haemothorax
Pus- Empyema
Watery transudate or exudate- Pleural Effusion

Question 8

What is transudate?

Answer 8

Transudate is fluid pushed through the capillary due to high pressure within the capillary

Question 9

What is exudate?

Answer 9

Exudate is fluid that leaks around the cells of the capillaries caused by inflammation

Question 10

How can fluid be drained from the pleural cavity?

Answer 10

By inserting a wide-bore needle through an intercostal space (usually 7th posteriorly- below this there is danger of penetrating the diaphragm)
Done through ultrasound guidance

Question 11

When a needle is inserted to drain the pleural cavity, how can you avoid the intercostal nerves and vessels that run along the inferior border of each rib, in the costal groove?

Answer 11

Insert the needle a fraction above the superior border of the lower rib

Question 12

Cancer of the lung can cause what?

How?

Answer 12

Paralysis of one side of the diaphragm

By the tumours impinging on the left or right phrenic nerve

Question 13

Do the lungs penetrate right down to the limits of the gutter margins?

Answer 13

No

Question 14

What is a Pancoast tumour?

What can this tumour cause as a consequence of its growth?

Answer 14

A tumour at the apex of the lung

Wasting of the muscles of the lower arm as the tumour can impinge on the brachial plexus

Question 15

What muscle wasting can be seen in the lower arm of some people with a Pancoast tumour?

Answer 15

The thenar eminence
Hypothenar eminence
Interosseus muscles in the palm

Question 16

Pancoast tumour can also give rise to what syndrome due to pressure on the sympathetic trunk?

Answer 16

Horner’s syndrome

Question 17

What are the symptoms of Horner’s syndrome?

Answer 17

Miosis (Constricting pupil)
Prosis (week, droopy, UPPER eyelid)
Apparent anhidrosis (localised, decreased sweating)

Question 18

Cancer of the lung can result in a hoarse voice as a result of what?

Answer 18

Impingement on the left recurrent laryngeal nerve

Question 19

What is the conducting portion of the respiratory tract made up of?

Answer 19

Nasal Cavity 
Nasopharynx 
Oropharynx
Larynx
Trachea 
Bronchi - Primary, Secondary
Bronchioles 
Terminal bronchioles

Question 20

What is the respiratory portion of the respiratory tract made up of?

Answer 20

Respiratory bronchioles
Alveolar ducts
Alveoli

Question 21

How is patency of the airway maintained?

Answer 21

Surrounding collagen or bone