Two Trees

Question 1

What is each lung composed like?

Answer 1

With two tree structures

Question 2

What are the two tree structures?

Answer 2

The vascular tree and the airway tree embedded in lung tissue

Question 3

Describe the vascular tree

Answer 3

Composed of the arteries, veins and capillaries which conduct poorly oxygenated blood to the lungs and return highly oxygenated blood to the heart

Question 4

What does the airway tree consist of?

Answer 4

Air-filled branching tubes originating from the trachea

Question 5

What do the air-filled branching tubes do?

Answer 5

Conduct ‘new’ atmospheric air to the gases exchange surfaces and retain ‘used’ air to the environment

Question 6

What is pulmonary oedema?

Answer 6

A build up of fluid in the interstitial space in the lungs

Question 7

What does a pulmonary oedema increase?

Answer 7

Increases the diffusion distance of gases between blood and the alveoli

Question 8

What is pulmonary oedema often linked to?

Answer 8

Often to left heart failure, renal failure, pneumonia or cirrhosis of the liver

Question 9

What does the increase diffusion distance in pulmonary oedema lead to?

Answer 9

Hypoxia as the blood loads with less oxygen

Question 10

What are early symptoms of pulmonary oedema?

Answer 10

Shortness of breath, cough and various disruptions to teh rate and rhythm of breathing

Question 11

What are later symptoms of pulmonary oedema?

Answer 11

Cyanosis and a cough with foaming red sputum

Question 12

what is initial treatment for pulmonary oedema?

Answer 12

100% oxygen while later treatment goes onto to address the underlying cause