Unit 11: Diseases of the Respiratory System Flashcards
In the thorax, there are ___ pleural cavities–each houses __ lung
2, 1
Function
Exchange of gases
- oxygen released from Lungs into blood capillaries and
- carbon dioxide released from blood capillaries to lungs
Lungs
Spongy organs divided into lobes
The pleural membrane consists of
- parietal pleura: Lines plural cavity
- visceral pleura: covers each lung
Parts of the upper respiratory system
- nose
- mouth
- Sinuses
- pharynx
- larynx
Sinuses
air-filled cavities in the bones of the skull
larynx
voice box
Parts of the lower respiratory system
- trachea
- bronchi
- bronchioles
- alveoli
alveoli
grape-like clusters of air sacs surrounded by blood capillaries
Acute Inflammation of Upper Respiratory System
Usually in response to infections, allergens, irritants:
- streptococcus bacteria
- cold & flu viruses, other viruses
- Diphtheria
- Dust, pollens, allergens
- Fumes
Lesions from most Acute Upper Respiratory Infections will contain ______(catarrhal), less commonly_____ (purulent) & dead cells
mucous, pus
Diptheria
bacterial, sore throat, low-grade fever, swollen neck
-contagious diseases spread by direct physical contact or breathing
Rhinitis
Inflammation of mucous membrane of the nose;
may cause runny nose, watery eyes, stuffy head, sore throat, sneezing, fever
common cold (acute rhinitis)
acute inflammation; may lead to sinusitis
Coryza
acute inflammation with discharge of mucous; head cold (viral infection which settles in mucous membranes of the nose)
Allergic rhinitis (hay fever)
inflammation due to allergies
Sinusitis
inflammation of mucous membrane lining paranasal sinuses
-caused by infections
Pharyngitis
inflammation of the throat;
caused by irritation, smoking, viral or bacterial (strep) infections
Laryngitis
Inflammation of larynx and vocal chords
- May follow rhinitis, sinusitis, or pharyngitis
- caused by mechanical injury or laryngeal cancer
Tonsilitis
Inflammation of the tonsils (lymphatic tissue)
-usually caused by strep infection
Nasal and laryngeal polyps
Non-cancerous growths on mucous membranes of the nose or larynx
Nasal polyps
Restrict entrance of air and cause chronic irritation to nose
-caused by aerosol decongestants, toxic fumes, cocaine
Laryngeal polyps
Interfere with speech, caused by strain on the larynx, may predispose laryngeal cancer
Tracheitis
Acute or chronic, caused by fumes, dust, allergens, may be associated w/ bronchitis or laryngitis
Major complications of tracheitis
- scar tissue & stenosis of the trachea
- severe breathing difficulty with the risk of pneumonia
Bronchitis
Inflammation of mucous membrane lining the bronchi; very common
Causes of bronchitis
irritants, smoking, fumes, dust, allergens, pollens, viral infections (flu)
Mucous is produced–>_________–>breathing difficulty–> risk of pneumonia
congestion
complication of bronchitis
chronic bronchitis
chronic bronchitis leads to
scar tissue on walls of bronchi–>less flexible–>resulting in stagnation of air
bronchiectasis
abnormal destruction & dilation of large airways (bronchi)
bronchiectasis could be ______or ______
congenital or acquired
long term bronchial damage–>damaged bronchial wall–inflexible, stretched bronchi–>______
difficulty exhaling
bronchiectasis poses a potential risk of
bleeding in bronchi, coughing up blood, stagnant air, risk of infection & pneumonia
Anoxia
low oxygen levels in blood–>results in cyanosis
Bronchial asthma
hypersensitivity reaction causing constriction of bronchi
-hereditary or acquired condition
bronchial asthma leads to
hyper secretion of mucous from cells lining bronchi–>bronchi can be blocked, irritated–> difficulty in breathing
-anoxia, cyanosis, pneumonia
Long-term effects of bronchial asthma
chronic bronchitis, bronchiectasis, with effects on heart, emphysema
Pneumonia
inflammation of bronchioles or alveoli due to bacterial or viral infection
-Pneumonitis=inflammation
Etiology of Pneumonia
- bacteria, (most common) e.g. Streptococcus pneumonia #1 cause
- endogenous infection (coming from w/in the body)
- common in a person with compromised health - viruses (flu)
- fungi (pneumocystis carinii)
- fumes, irritants, cancer
pneumonia results in
- congestion of air spaces–>difficulty breathing (dyspnea)–>impaired gas exchange–>weakness
- fevers, chills, chest pain and cough
complications of pneumonia
force the lungs to work harder
- pleurisy
- hydrothorax
- hemothorax
- empyema
- heart problems
Pleurisy (Pleuritis)
Infection spreads to the membrane around the lungs, e.g. bacterial infection
Hydrothorax
Mucous in the chest cavity around the lungs
hemothorax
Blood in the chest cavity around the lungs
empyema
Pus in the chest cavity around the lungs; caused by ruptured lung or ulcerated tumor
Types of pneumonia
- Lobular
- Bronchial
- Interstitial
- Double
- Viral
Lobular Pneumonia
infecting one or more lobes; usually caused by strep
Bronchial Pneumonia
due to mixed bacterial infections associated with complications of surgery, aspiration, anesthesia, chronic illness, or chronic pulmonary disease
Interstitial Pneumonia
Inflammation of lung supportive tissue between the air sacs; diffuse process that occurs all over the lungs and is not confined to one location; idiopathic.
Interstitium
tissue that surrounds & separates tiny air sacs (alveolae) in lung
Double Pneumonia
both lungs are involved
Viral Pneumonia
caused by a variety of viruses
Tuberculosis
bacterial infection by mycobacterium tuberculosis
- spread by coughing, sneezing, or inhaling infected dried sputum
- first asymptomatic
- later flu & pneumonia-like symptoms
incubation period for tuberculosis
symptoms 7-14 days
malaise
subjective feeling of being sick, ill, or not healthy
with tuberculosis, scar tissue forms on the lungs in ____ months
6-9
tubercules/granulomas
dead bacteria, immune cells, lung tissue–caseous necrosis
with TB, the infection survives ________________ but usually causes no further harm
inside the scar tissue
Miliary Tuberculosis
TB infection at multiple sites throughout the body
- infection may break out of the scar tissue & spread
- infects liver, spleen,kidneys, brain, usually fatal
- 1 in 1000 cases
Pneumoconiosis
refers to particles which have been inhaled into the lungs,
-scar tissue–>discoloration–>interference w/ expansion of lungs & breathing
Atelectasis
collapse of alveoli or airless state of part or all of a lung
- due to fractured ribs or mucous plaque
- causes inadequate breathing pattern, pain
Emphysema
end stage of severe chronic lung disease
-increased production of mucous causes trapping of air in alveoli leading to overinflation–>destruction of alveoli–>lungs cannot recoil–>barrel chest appearance because of difficulty exhaling air from lungs
predisposing factors of emphysema
- cigarette smoking
- Recurrent inflammation of lungs
emphysema results in
- respiratory failure
- anoxia, cyanosis
- hypertrophy of heart, stroke
- hypertension
- scar tissue on surface of lungs & pleural membrane
emphysema vs. chronic bronchitis
Emphysema:
- less inflammation
- more alveolar destruction
Chronic Bronchitis:
- More inflammation
- Less alveolar destruction
Pulmonary abscess
Collection of infectious material contained within a capsule
- E.g. bacterial pneumonia or aspiration of food or foreign material
- can be a source of septicemia; difficult to treat
- abscess cavities
Lung: Fungal Disease
Caused by inhaling airborne fungus
- fungus forms tuberculosis-like granulomas
- may spread throughout lungs & cause dyspnea & fever
Lung Cancer
Leading cause of cancer deaths in the US
Predisposing factors of lung cancer
- cigarette smoking
- genetics
- inhalation of carcinogenic or industrial air pollutants
lung cancer is often ________ until metastasis
asymptomatic
Symptoms of lung cancer
dyspnea, coughing, hemoptysis (coughing up blood)
lung cancer has a ___% survival rate for five years
10
Long cancer: squamous cell carcinoma
Malignant new growth of cells; Bronchogenic Carcinoma
Bronchogenic carcinoma
- starts in the bronchi and spreads through the lungs
- # 1 type of cancer in males
- # 2 type of cancer in females
- # 1 cause of death in both
- metastasizes quickly to lymph nodes, brain, G.I. organs
Respiratory sarcoma
- found in the soft tissue of lungs
- results in cough and breathlessness
- primary or secondary to
Cleft lip
One or more abnormal splits in upper lip
- related to hereditary factors
- repaired surgically
Cleft palate
Involves palate or roof of mouth, more common in girls
- separate or in combination with a cleft lip
- related to hereditary factors
- repaired surgically
Cystic fibrosis
- Hereditary disorder (autosomal recessive) with defective transport of chloride
- lethal; affects exocrine glands causing secretion of thick mucous that obstruct body passageways (lungs and pancreas)
Obstructive disorders
- choking (airway obstruction)
- chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Choking
Obstruction of airflow caused by foreign object, respiratory disease, or compression of the airways
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) seem
Group of pulmonary diseases characterized by inability to get air into/out of lungs
- caused by smoking e.g. bronchitis and emphysema
- results in high carbon dioxide level in blood
Postmortem conditions
- cyanosis
- emaciation
- hydrothorax
- hemorrhage
- cavitation
cavitation
Formation of cavities in an organ or tissue; frequently seen in some forms of tuberculosis
