Respiratory System HOSA MED TERM

Functions

• deliver air to the lungs

• transport oxygen from the inhaled air to the blood for delivery to the blood cells

• expel waste products (carbon dioxide and small amound of water) returned to the lungs by the blood thrug exhalation

• produce airflow through the larynx that makes speech possible

Respiration (breathing)

• exchange of oxygen for carbon dioxide that is essential to life

• a single respiration is one inhalation and one exhalation which is reffered to as ventilation (ari moving in and out of the lungs)

Inhalation

act of taking in air as the diaphragm contracts and pulls downward, causes the thoraic cavity to expand

Exhalation

acct of breathing out, as the diaphragm relaxes it moves upward causing the thoraic cavity to become narrower (forces ir out of the lungs)

External Respiration

act of breathing air in and out of the lungs from the outside enviornment while going through the process of exchanging oxygen for carbon dioxide

Internal Respiration

cellular respiration

• exchange of gases within the cells of the blood and tissue

The Upper Respiratory Tract

Nose, Mouth, Pharynx, Epiglottis, Larynx, Trachea

Nose (nostrils)

air enters the body through the nose and passes through the nasal cavity, interior portion of the nose

Mouth

known as the oral cavity, allows food and air to enter the body

Pharynx

• commonly known as the throat, made up of 3 divisions

• recieves the air after it passes through the nose or mouth

Epiglottis

lid-like structure located at the base of the tongue, closes off the laryngopharynx so food does not enter the trachea and lungs

Larynx

• commonly known as the voice box

• triangular chamber located between the pharynx and trachea

Trachea

• transport air to and from lungs, commonly known as the windpipe

• located directly in front of the esophagus

Nasal Septum

a wall of cartilage that divides the nose into two equal sections

Nostrils

external openings of the nose

Cilia

thin hairs located just inside the nostrils that filter incoming air to remove debris

Mucous Membrane

specialized tissues that line the nose, as well as, the digestive, reproductive, urinary, and other parts of the respiratory system

Mucus

slippery secretion produced by the mucous membranes that protects and lubricates these tissues

Olfactory Receptors

nerve endings that act as the receptors for the sense of smell and taste

Tonsils and Adenoids

part of the lymphatic system that help protect the body from infection coming through nose or mouth

Palatine Tonsils

located at the back of the mouth

Nasopharyngeal Tonsils

higher up, behind the nose and the roof of the mouth

Paranasal Sinuses

air-filled cavities lined with muscous membrane, are located in the bones of the skull that help to make the bones of the skull lighter, help produce sound by giving resonance to the voice and to produce mucus to provide lubrication for the tissues of the nasal cavity

Frontal Sinuses

located in the frontal bone just above the eyebrows

Sphenoid Sinuses

located in the sphenoid bone behind the eye

Maxillary Sinuses

largest of the paranasal sinuses, located in the maxillary bones under the eyes

Ethmoid Sinuses

located in the ethmoid bones between the nose and the eyes

Nasopharynx

transport of air and opens into the oropharynx

Oropharynx

transports air, food, and fluids downward to the laryngopharynx

Laryngopharynx

air, food, fluids continue downward to the openings of the esophagus and trachea where air enters the trachea and food and fluids flow into the esophagus

The Lower Respiratory Tract

Bronchial Tree and Lungs

Bronchial Tree

• two large tubes, also known as primary bronchi, which branches out from the trachea and conveys air to the lungs

• tach primary bronchus divides and subdivides into increasingly smaler bronchioles; smallest branches of the bronchi

Lungs

• essential organs of respiration and divided into lobes

• located and protected within the thoracic cavity, thorax or also known as the rib cage

Right Lung: larger with 3 lobes

Left Lung: 2 lobes due to space restriction of the heart

• upper and lower respiratory tract; bronchial tree, are commonly reffered to as the airway

Alveoli

• air sacs, very small grape-like clusters found at the end of each bronchiole, where the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide takes place

Surfactant

detergent-like substance that reduces the surface tension of the fluid in the lungs, making the alveoli more stable so they do not collapse when an individual exhales

Mediastinum

middle section of the chest cavity and is located between the lungs

Pleura

thin, moist and slippery membrane that covers the outer surface of the lungs and lines the inner surface of thoracic cavity

Parietal Pleura

outer layer that lines the walls of the thoracic cavity, covers the diaphragm and forms the sac containing each lung

Visceral Pleura

inner layer that covers each lung and is directly attached to the lungs

Pleural Cavity

thin fluid-filled space between the parietal and visceral pleural membranes, allowing for the membranes to slide easily over each other during respiration

Diaphragm

dome-shaped sheet of muscle that seperates the thoracic cavity from the abdomen, the contraction and relaxation makes breathing possible

Otolaryngologist

also known as an ENT, (ears, nose, throat) is a physician with specialized training in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases and disorders of the head and neck

Pulmonologist

physician who speciaizes in diagnosing and treating diseases and disorders of the respiratory system

Thoracic Surgeon

performs operations on the organs inside the thorax, or chest including the heart, lungs and esophagus

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

• a group of lung diseases in which the bronchial airflow is obstructed, making it difficult to breathe

• oftenly caused by long-term smoking, generally permanent and progressive

• individuals with COPD may also suffer from chronic bronchitis and eohysema

Chronic Bronchitis

• disease in which the airways have become inflamed due to recurrent exposure to an inhaled irritant, usually cigarette smoke

• this may cause chronic coughing, difficulty getting air in and out of the lungs and sometimes also bacterial lung infections

Emphysema

• progressive, long-term loss of lung function, usually due to smoking

• characterized by a decrease in the total number of alveoli, the enlargement of the remaining alveoli which results in rapid, shallow and difficulty breathing

Asthma

• chronic inflammatory disease of the bronchial tubes, often triggered by an allergic reaction

• charcaterized by episodes of difficulty breathing, coughing and wheezing

Upper Respiratory Infections (URI)

also known as the common cold which can be caused by any one of the 200 different viruses

Allergic Rhinitis

also known as an allergy that causes an allegic reaction to airborne allergens that causes an increased flow of mucus

Croup (KROOP)

acute respiratory infection in children and infants resulting in a barking cough and stridor

Diphtheria

acute bacterial infection of the throat and upper respiratory tract

Epistaxis

also known as a nosebleed that may be caused by dry air, injury, medication to prevent blood clotting or high blood pressure

Influenza

also known as the flue as it is an acute, highly contagious viral infection characterized by respiratory inflammation, fever, chills and muscle pain

Pertussis

also known as the whopping cough as it is a contagious bacterial infection of the upper respiratory tract

Rhinorrhea

also known as a runny nose, is the watery flow of mucus from the nose

Sinusitis

is an inflammation of the sinuses

Pharyngitis

inflammation of the pharynx, often a symptom of a cold, flue, or sinus infection

Laryngospasm

sudden spasmodic closure of the larynx, sometimes associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease

Aphonia

loss of the ability of the larynx to produce normal speech sounds

Dysphonia

difficulty in speaking, which may include any impairment in vocal quality

Laryngitis

inflammation of larynx, also commonly used todescribe voice loss caused by this inflammation

Tracheorrhagia

bleeding from the mucous membranes of the trachea

Bronchiectasis

permanent dilattion of the bronchi, caused by chronic infection and inflammation

Bronchorrhea

excessive discharge of mucus from the bronchi, often caused by chronic bronchitis

Pleurisy/Pleuritis

inflammation of the pleura (membranes that cover lungs and line the pleural cavity), causes pleurodynia

Pleurodynia

sharp pain that occurs when the inflamed membranes rub against each other with each inhalation

Pleural Effusion

excess accumulation of fluid in the pleural space, produces a feeling of breathlessness as it prevents the lung from fully expanding

Pyothorax

known as the empyema of the pleural cavity, presence of pus in pleural cavity between the layers of the pleural membrane

Empyeme

a collection of pus in a body cavity

Hemothorax

a collection of blood in the pleural cavity, often results from chest trauma, disease, or surgery

Pneumothorax

accumulation of air in the pleural space resulting in a pressure imbalance that causes the lung to fully or partially collapse

Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

lung condition usually caused by trauma pneumonia, smoke or fumes, inhaled vomit, or sepsis, inflammation in the lungs and fluid in the alveoli lead to low levels of oxygen in the blood

Atelectasis

known as a collapsed lung, incomplete expansion of part of all of a lung due to a bloackage of the air passages or pneumothorax

Pulmonary Edema

accumulation of fluid in lung tissues, especially the alveoli, often a sympton of heart failure

Pulmonary Embolism

sudden blockage of a pulmonary artery by foreign matter or by an embolus that has formed in the leg or pelvic region

Pneumorrhagia

bleeding from the lungs

Tuberculosis

infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium Tuberculosis, usually attacks the lungs, however it can also affect other parts of the body, coughing up blood (hemoptysis) is a common sympton of TB in the lungs

Pneumonia

serious inflammation of the lungs in which the alveoli and air passages fill with pus and other fluids, commonly caused by an infection and often follows a cold, flu chronic illness or other condition that weakens the immune system

Cystic Fibrosis

life-threatening genetic disorder in which the lungs and pancreas are clogged with large quantities of abnormally thick mucus resulting in damage to the lungs, poor growth and nutritional deficiencies

Lung Cancer

condition in which cancer cells form in the tissues of the lungs, important risk factors for lung cancer are smoking and inhaling secondhand smoke

Apnea

temporary absence of spontaneous respiration, common respiratory problem in premature infants

Bradypnea

abnormally slow rate of respiration, usually less than 10 breaths per minute

Cheyne-Stokes Respiration

irregular pattern of breathing characterized by alternating rapid or shallow respiration followed by slower respiration or apnea

Tachypnea

abnormally rapid rate of respiration usually of more than 20 breaths per minute

Dyspnea

known as shortness of breath, is difficult or labored breathing, often a symptom of heart failure

Hyperpnea

breathing that is deeper and mroe rapid than is normal at rest, may occur at high altitude or caused by anemia or sepsis

Hypopnea

shallow or slow respiration

Hyperventilation

abnormally rappid rate of deep respiration that is usually associated with anxiety, decreasing the level of carbon dioxide in the blood and causinng dizziness and tingling in the fingers and loss

Sleep Apnea

potentially serious disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep for long-enough periods to cause a measureable decrease in blood oxygen levels

Expectoration

act of coughing up and spitting out saliva, mucus, or other body fluid

Hemoptysis

expectoration of blood or blood-stained sputum derived from the lungs or bronchial tubes as the result of pulmonary or bronchial hemorrhage

Airway Obstruction

commonly known as choking, occurs when food or a foreign object partially or completely blocks te airway and prevetns air from entering or leaving the lungs

Anoxia

absence of oxygen from the body’s tissues and organs even though there is an adequate flow of blood

Hypoxia

condition of having deficient oxygen levels in the body’s tissues and organs, though less severe than anoxia

Asphyxia

loss of consciousness that occurs when the body cannot get the oxygen it needs to function

Cyanosis

bluish discolouration of the skin and mucous membranes caused by a lack of adequate oxygen in the blood

Hypercapnia

abnormal buildup of carbon dioxide in the blood

Hypoxemia

condition of having low oxygen levels in the blood, usually due to respiratory diroders or heart conditions

Respiratory Failure

known as respiratory acidosis, condition in which the level of oxygen in the blood becomes dangerously low or the level of carbon dioxide becomes dangerously high