The Thorax And Lungs

Question 1

What is the primary purpose of the respiratory system?

Answer 1

Supply oxygen to cells and remove carbon dioxide.

Question 2

How is the oxygenation process accomplished?

Answer 2

By ventilation and diffusion

Question 3

What is ventilation?

Answer 3

The process of moving gas in and out of the lungs by using inspiration and expiration.

Question 4

What is diffusion?

Answer 4

Where oxygen in an area of high concentration moves to an area of low concentration.

Question 5

How does the oxygen get into the blood?

Answer 5

The alveoli are the area of high concentration of oxygen, so it diffuses the oxygen to the alveoli capillary membrane to the pulmonary capillaries. There the RBC’s carry the oxygen to the other cells

Question 6

What are the three main structures within the thorax (chest)?

Answer 6

Mediastinum and right and left plural cavities.

Question 7

What does the mediastinum house?

Answer 7

Heart, the aortic arch, superior vena cava, lower esophagus, and the lower part of the trachea.

Question 8

How many lobes do both the right and the left lung possess?

Answer 8

Right has three the left has 2.

Question 9

What do the plural cavities contain?

Answer 9

The lungs. Lined with both parietal and visceral pleura. The lungs are protected by visceral pleura and the chest wall and diaphragm are protected by the parietal pleura.

Question 10

What are some important things to ask a patient to better asses his lungs.

Answer 10

Tobacco usage (1st-3rd hand)
Occupational exposure to pulmonary irritants like chemicals vapors dust allergens animals smoke esbestos arsenic coal dust radiation.
History of lung illness in pt or family copd pneumonia asthma lung ca

Question 11

What are some risk factors for TB?

Answer 11

HIV, substance abuse, low income or homeless, nursing home residents, shelter or prison, immigrant from a country with high tb rate.

Question 12

What is tactile fremitus?

Answer 12

Palpable vibrations transmitted through bronchiopulmonary tree to chest when patient speaks.

Question 13

When percussing the lungs what’s the normal sound heard?

Answer 13

Resonance.

Question 14

What are adventitious breath sounds?

Answer 14

Wheezes rhonchi crackles strider

Question 15

Where area are most of the sounds heard in the lungs?

Answer 15

Vesicular. Bronco vesicular is mainly heard in the mid chest by the bronchiole branches.

Question 16

What sound does a wheeze make?

Answer 16

High pitched musical sound

Question 17

What sound does rhonchi make?

Answer 17

Low pitched snoring (heard louder on exhalation) can clear with coughing.

Question 18

What sound do crackles make?

Answer 18

High pitched fine short crackling sounds heard at the end of inspiration.

Question 19

What sound does strider make?

Answer 19

Harsh high pitched sound heard on inspiration. Usually heard in cases of obstructed larynx or trachea.

Question 20

Bronco phony test

Answer 20

Pt says 99 or 123 while auscultation normal is muffled abnormal clear.

Question 21

Whispered pectoriloquy

Answer 21

Whisper 123 normal is faint and I distinct abnormal is clear and distinct.

Question 22

What is a pneumothorax?

Answer 22

Collapsed lung. Caused by trauma tension or spontaneity.

Question 23

What degree level should the rib cage be relative to the spine?

Answer 23

45

Question 24

What ratio is someone with a barrel chest?

Answer 24

1:1

Question 25

What is the normal ratio for AP symmetry?

Answer 25

1:2

Question 26

What degree are normal for nail beds?

Answer 26

160 degrees

Question 27

Clubbed fingers are at what degree? And signs of what?

Answer 27

Hypoxia or emphysema. Greater than 180 degrees.