Pulmonology

Upper Respiratory Infection (URI)

a bacterial or viral infection of the upper respiratory tract

What can an upper respiratory infection (URI) also be called?

a head cold

What is the effective treatment against bacterial colds?

Antibiotics

Are antibiotics effective against viral colds?

No

How is a cold spread

contact with patient or by inhalation of particles

Asthma

hyperreactivity of the bronchi/bronchioles to an allergen or inhaled substances

What does asthma cause?

Inflammation, excess mucus production, and bronchospasm

Bronchitis

acute or chronic infection or inflammation of the bronchi

Acute bronchitis

infection/inflammation of bronchi due to infection

Chronic bronchitis

infection/inflammation of bronchi due to smoking or pollution

How are acute and chronic bronchitis different?

one is due to infection, and the other is due to environmental factors

Bronchiectasis

PERMANENT enlargement and loss of elasticity in bronchioles that allows secretions to accumulate

bronchi/o-

bronchus

-iectasis

condition of dilation

Reactive airway disease

conditions with REVERSIBLE airway narrowing and wheezing

Pulmonology

medical specialty that studies the respiratory system

What two systems does the respiratory system work with?

Cardiovascular and cardiopulmonary

pulmon/o-

lung

-logy

study of

What are the functions of the respiratory system?

to bring oxygen into the body and expel carbon dioxide

Alveoli

functional unit of the lungs that contain capillaries that allow for gas exchange

What is the first part of the upper respiratory tract?

nose

What separates the nasal cavity?

septum

deviated septum

septum is broken/shifted more towards one side

nas/o-

nose

What does the pharynx connect to superiorly?

nasal cavity

Which part of the upper respiratory tract is a common passage for inhaled air, exhaled air, and food

pharynx

What are the three parts of the pharynx?

nasopharynx, oropharynx, laryngopharynx

What is the larynx also called?

voice box

What is the first part of the lower respiratory tract?

larynx

Why does the larynx remain open during speech and respiration?

to allow air into the trachea

What happens during swallowing?

larynx pulls up to the epiglottis to force food into the esophagus

What is the trachea also called?

windpipe

What is the passageway for inhaled and exhaled air?

trachea

Why is the trachea C-shaped, as opposed to a full circle?

opening in cartilage aligns with esophagus, so it is allowed to move more food down to the stomach

What does the anterior side of the trachea do?

prevent collapse (due to cartilage)

What does the posterior side of the trachea do?

allow food to pass through esophagus more easily (due to no cartilage)

What does the trachea divide into?

right and left primary bronchi

What prevents the bronchi from collapsing?

rings of cartilage

Bronchioles

smallest bronchi (<1mm diameter)

What do the walls of bronchi contain?

smooth muscle, no cartilage

What does the smooth muscle of the walls of bronchi do?

contract or relax to narrow or widen the bronchial lumen

How many lobes does the right lung have?

3

cardiac notch

curve in left lung to leave space for heart

How many lobes does the left lung have?

2

Apex

top of the lung

What extra lobe does the right lung have that the left lung doesn't?

middle lobe

Where does the base of the lung rest?

on the diaphragm

Abnormal breath sounds (BS)

lung sounds that are different from normal and may indicate a lung disease, injury, or condition

What do normal breath sounds sound like?

soft wind through a tunnel

Pleural friction rub

creaking or grating due to inflammation of pleura

crackles/rales of the lungs

irregular crackling or bubbling due to fluid or infection in the alveoli

rhonchi

humming, whistling, or snoring due mucus or foreign body obstruction (FBO)

stridor

high-pitched crowing due to edema or obstruction

Wheezes

high-pitched whistling or squeaking due to asthma attack or reaction

What is atelectasis?

collapse of all or part of the lung.

What happens to the lung in atelectasis?

the lung doesn't fill with a proper amount of air

atel/o-

incomplete

-ectasis

condition of dilation

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

any type of chronic obstructive lung disease due to chronic air pollution or smoking

What are examples of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)?

chronic bronchitis and emphysema

What is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease characterized by?

chronic inflammation, severe coughing, shortness of breath (SOB), and sputum (spit) production

Alveolar hyperinflation

alveoli overly fills with air

What can alveolar hyperinflation cause?

Barrel chest

Cystic fibrosis (CF)

inherited condition caused by a recessive gene that causes problems with respiratory, digestive, and sweat secretions

cyst/o-

bladder

fibr/o-

fiber

Why does cystic fibrosis cause respiratory issues?

mucus secreted is too thick and blocks alveoli, resulting in constant coughing

What are two chronic components of cystic fibrosis (CF)?

lung infections and lack of oxygen

Empyema

localized pockets of pus that have collected inside a pleura/body cavity of the lung due to a bacterial infection

em-

in

py/o-

pus

Influenza

respiratory infection cause by a virus

What does a mild form of influenza look like?

fever, muscle ache, and cough for several days

Legionnaires' disease

severe bacterial infection that starts with flu-like symptoms and progresses to severe pneumonia and liver/kidney degradation

occupation lung diseases

group of disease caused by constant workplace exposure to inhaled particles (disease, powder, gas)

example of occupation lung disease

Coal miners' "black lung"

Who is lung cancer most common among?

smokers

Lung cancer

tar deposits in the lungs become cancerous and spread

pneumonia

infection of lobes of the lungs where fluid, white blood cells and microorganisms fill passages

What are the types of pneumonia?

bacterial, viral, double, aspiration

What causes aspiration pneumonia?

food, vomit, saliva

aspir/o-

to breath in

pulmonary edema

build-up of fluid in the alveoli that prevents proper gas exchange

What can cause pulmonary edema?

LEFT-SIDED heart failure, chest wall trauma, or pneumonia

severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)

severe, communicable viral illness that is associated with close contact and enclosed spaces

pulmonary embolism

A blockage in the lung caused by a traveling clot or fat globule

Where does a pulmonary embolism originate?

from the veins of the body

What are the symptoms of a pulmonary embolism?

shortness of breath, chest pain, cough

In whom do pulmonary embolisms most commonly occur?

patients on bedrest AFTER A SURGERY

tuberculosis (TB)

communicable disease caused by bacteria

What does tuberculosis do to the lungs?

create nodules

How long is treatment for tuberculosis?

9 months

Why is treatment of tuberculosis so long?

waxy coating on bacteria makes it resistant to antibiotics and other forms of treatment

Thorax

bony cage between neck and diaphragm

what parts of the thorax protect the lungs and thoracic cavity?

sternum, ribs, and spine

what composes most of the thoracic cavity?

lungs

Where is the mediastinum located?

behind the sternum and between the lungs

What makes up the inferior border of the thoracic cavity?

diaphragm

hemothorax

blood in the thoracic cavity, usually due to trauma