W8: Pulmonary Flashcards
How many lobes to the left and right lung have?
Right lung: 3 lobes
Left lung: 2 lobes
Dsecribe the pleural surface of the lungs
- the surface of the lungs are covered by a lining called pleura
- the pleura covering the outer surface of the lungs: visceral pleura is continuous with the parietal pleura that covers inside the thoracic cage
- pleural surfaces are moist to allow surfaces to slide over each other
Epithelia of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses
- cuboid epithelium- composed of ciliated and mucus producing cells
- function to keep nasal pasages moist and to filter air
- mucus contains bacteriacidal substances
- cilia helps remove muscu from nasal passages
Epithelium of pharynx and larynx
- squamous epithelium (identical to mouth)
- sturdy- provides protection to injury
- mucosa of the pharynx is rich in lymphoid tissue. This is a source for antibodies, but also goes through hyperplasia during infection
Epithelium of the trachea
-trachea and bronchi are lined with cuboidal epithelium
contains 4 cell typies: ciliated, mucus producing, neuroendocine, and basal cells
-under pathologic conditions, basal cells proliferate, and become squamous. Most lung cancers originate from bronchial epithelium. 4 cell types, this is why there are several histolic types of lung cancer.
The alveoli are lined with
- pneumocytes
- type1: 90% of alveolar surface - very thin cells designed to allow passaege of air to the blood
- type 2: cuboidal cells, specialize in the production of pulmonary surfactant (mix of lipids, protein, carbohydrates), which keeps the alveoli open and prevents them from collapsing
Histology of Bronchi and Alveoli: image

External surface of the lung is covered with
- mesothelium and underlying connective tissue
- mesothelium is an epithlial layer that lines both the visceral and parietal pleura
Pulmonary Circulation image

Describe Pulmonary Blood Supply
- the lungs have dual blood supply
- the pulmonary artery brings venous blood supply from right ventricle into the lungs to be oxygenated in the alveolar speta
- the oxygenated blood leaves the lungs through the pulmonary veins which drain into the left atrium
how are nutrients brought to the lungs?
through bronchial arteries, which originate in the thoracic aorta
Preconditions for normal respiration
- airways must be patent
- lungs must be able to expand rhythmically during each respiratory movement
- alveolar respiratory membrane must be in tact
- action of control centers in CNS, thoracic muscles and diaphragm must be properly coordinated
Metabolic function of the lungs
-maintain acid/base balance
Facts to know about the respiratory system
- ) is an open-ended system with direct contact with the environment (risk for URI, bronchitis, pneumonia)
- ) exposed to many allergens in air (immunologic diseases)
- )Inhaled air contains pollutants, airborne particles, and gases which may cause disease
- ) Heart and lungs form a functional unit
- ) Inhaled air contains many potential carcinogens
Most common cause of death in the elderly, and people with cancer, and immune diseases
Upper Respiratory Infections
most recognised as, characterized by, tendency to
- most often recognised as the common cold
- characterized by acute inflamation of the nose, sinus, throat, larynx
- tendency to extend to trachea and bronchi
Etiology of URI
- most often caused by viruses, though impractical to isolate the virus in every case
- short lived, heal spontaneously, are not helped by abx
- common cold is most often caused by rhinovirus, up to 50%, common in spring or fall
- influenza and parainfluenza can also cause colds in the winter
Pathology of URI
- largely non-specific
- mucosa of nose and upper resp. tract is congested, edematous, infiltrated with inflammatory cells
- cells infiltrates lynphocytes, macrophages, and plasma cells
- severe infections may cause ulceration of mucosal lining, causeing infection.
- Bacterial infections elicit PMN’s which cause mucopurlent exudate
Clinical Features of URI
- nasal congestion, inflammation and rhinorhea
- throat pain, sneezing, cough
systemic: malaise, fever, headache - last 2-3 days, even though fever may persist for a day or 2 longer
- purulent nasal discharge, ear pain, deep throat expecteration are signs of bacterial superinfection
What are middle respiratory infections?
- Infections of the larynx, trachea, and extrapulmonary bronchi
- most common in children, and include isolated laryngitis presenting as croup, acute epiglotitis, and viral tracheobronchitis
- can be an extention of URI, and are commonly associated with pneumonia
What is croup?
most common in, patho, caused by, mild or severe?
Infection of larynx and adjacent structures
- most common in children under 3
- spasm of the vocal chords, which causes inspiratory stridor= barking or brass cough
- typically caused by parainfluenza virus
- 80% mild form of disease
Epiglotitis
- previously common, caused by haemophilis influenzae
- school aged children and adolescents. Vaccine reduced
- Sudden loss of voice and hoarseness, throat pain on swallowing
- narrowing of air passage due to edema of epiglotis and inflammation of pharangeal mucosa
- abx. and supportive therapy with humidified 02
- severe cases tracheal intubation
Bronchiolitis
- acute childhood disease involving bronchi and bronchioles but not alveolar spaces of the lungs
- Viral infection, 80% RSV
- virus invades epithelial cells of bronchi and bronchioles, causing cell death and desquamation
- also incites inflammatory response with macrophages, plasma cells, lymphocytes
- Desquamation and inflammatory infiltrate, dead cells, edema, cause obstruction of bronchi and bronchioli
- occurs in epidemics from fall to spring, 1% of infants
- wheezing respiration, low grade fever, SOB
- unless bacterial infection, recovery in 7-10 days
Pneumonia: 2 major forms
- inflammation of the lung
- Alveolar pneumonia: caused by bacteria, focal or diffuse,. May be limited to the alveoli, or involve the bronchi.
- Bronchopneumonia: limited to segmental bronchi and lung parenchyma
- lobular pneumonia: widespread alveolar pneumonia
-Interstitial pneumonia: Diffuse, bilateral, caused by infections with viruses. Mycoplasma pneumonia.




