Week 11: Asthma

Question 1

What is the conducting zone? What is the role?

Answer 1

Conducting zone is made up of the larger airways
e.g. mouth, nose , larynx, pharynx, trachea and primar and terminal bronchi

Role is to humidifiy and filter air

This part DOES NOT participate in gas exchange

Forms part of the ANATOMICAL DEAD SPACE

Question 1

Do you wheeze on inhalation or exhalation for Asthma?

Answer 1

Exhalation

Wheezing on inhalation could indicate vocal chord dysfunction

Question 2

What is the Respiratory Zone?

Answer 2

• Is made up of the smaller airways (e.g. bronchioles)
• Is the site of gase exchange / diffusion

Question 3

What is surfactant?

Answer 3

Is a substance in alveoli that prevents alveolar wall collapse

Question 4

What is the trachealis?

Answer 4

Trachealis forms the back portion of the trachea.

When it constricts it minimises the diameters to prevent big physical objects from going deeper into the lungs.

Question 5

Does contraction of smooth muscle change radial or longitudinal size of alveoli branches?

Answer 5

IT DOES BOTH!!
it changes both radial and longitudinal sizes

Thus increasing the resistance within airways

Question 6

What is the 3 layers of th airways?

Answer 6

Inner most layer
Mucosa - Membrance & Epithelium

Middle Layer
Airway smooth muscle !!! - Make sure you know its not the outside layer

Outer layer
Cartilage? i think

Question 7

What limits Residual Volume?

Answer 7

Strength of expiratory muscles

Increasing severity of disease causes an increase in residual volume!

Question 8

Difference between Restrictive and obstructive disorders

Answer 8

Restrictive
Is about Volumes NOT Flows

Obstructive
Is related to flow

Question 9

Two Hallmark symptoms of obstructive Disorders

Answer 9

1. Cough
2. Dysnpnoea

Question 10

What are the primary mechanisms of narrowing airways?

Answer 10

1. Bronchoconstriction
2. Airway Wall thickening
3. Increase Mucous Secretions