Respiratory System

Sinuses structure and function

Structure: Cavities within bones surrounding the nasal cavity

Function: lighten the skull, act as resonance chambers for speech, produce mucus that drains into nasal cavity

Epiglottis structure and function

Structure: made of elastic cartilage

Function: When you breath it stays open but when you swallow it folds down over the laryngeal opening, preventing food/liquid from entering the airway

Bronchioles structure and function

Structure: small, branching airways inside the lungs, have smooth muscle inside the walls

Function: Carry air from bronchi to the aveoli, smooth muscle controls how much air reaches the alveoli by changing airway diameter

Alveoli structure and function

structure: tiny air sacs at the ends of bronchioles

Function: gas exchange (oxygen move from alveoli to blood, carbon dioxide moves from blood to alveoli)

Pleura structure and function

Structure: double layered membrane surrounding each lung

Function: reduces friction as the lungs expand and contract and keeps the lungs close to the chest wall.

What are the events of respiration

1. pulmonary venilation: moving air in and out the lungs

2. External respiration: gas exchange between the pulmonary blood and alveoli

3. Respiratory gas transport: transport of oxygen and carbon dioxide via the blood stream

4. Internal respiration: gas exchange between blood and tissue cells

What is the mechanical process of inspiration

The diaphram contracts (moves down/flattens, external intercostal muscles contract (ribs move up and out), chest volume increases, intrathoracic pressure decreases, air moves into the lungs

what is the mechanical process of expiration

diaphragm relaxes (moves up/domes), external intercostal muscles relax (ribs move down and in), chest volume decreases, intrathoracic pressure increases, air moves out of the lungs

what is the normal respiratory rate per minute

12 to 20 respirations per minute

What is the cause of crackles

Caused by air moving through fluid/secretions in small airways/alveoli and is common with inspiration

what is dyspnoea

difficult breathing/can’t get enough air in, breathing quickly

Hypoxia and hypoxaemia meaning

Hypoxia: not enough oxygen reaching the body’s tissues

Hypoxaemia: abnormally low oxygen level in the blood

Cyanosis and cystitis meaning

Cyanosis: bluish colouring of skin due to large amounts of deoxygenated haemoglobin

Cystitis: inflammation of the bladder

Haematemesis and haemoptysis meaning

Haematemesis: vomitting blood

Haemoptysis: coughing up blood

Pneumonia signs/symptoms/definition

Inflammation of the bronchioles and alveoli caused by an infection by bacteria or virus, sometimes fungi, causing fluid/pus to build up in the alveoli, making gas exchange more difficult

signs/symptoms: cough, fever, dyspnoea, chest pain, fatigue, crackles

what is asthma? signs/symptoms

it’s a chronic respiratory condition in which the airways become inflamed, narrow and overly sensitive, making breathing difficult.

Histamine is released causing inflammation and narrowing of airways (causes bronchospasm, odemea, increased mucus production)

signs/symptoms: cough, anxiety, difficulty breathing, diaphoresis, wheezing

what is chronic bronchitis? signs/symptoms

Permanent inflammation of lower respiratory passages (excess mucus, airways become stiff). Cause is mainly smoking, infections and irritants.

signs/symptoms: dysponea, recurrent productive cough for more than 3 months, use of accessory muscles, often leads to pneumonia,

What is emphysema? signs/symptoms

Disease of alveoli and is caused by air becoming trapped in alveoli during expiration due to inflammation of bronchi and bronchioles.

Leads to large inflated aveolar air spaces which rupture and lose their elasticity. Alveoli fuse into large air spaces which reduces surface area. 90% due to smoking.

signs/symptoms: dyspnoea, weight loss, productive cough in later stages

What is COPD? signs/symptoms

It is a group of common chronic respiratory disorders characterised by by progressive tissue degeneration and obstruction of the airways of the lungs. (example: chronic asthma, emphysema, chronic bronchitis)

Signs/symptoms: dyspnoea, coughing, increased pulmonary infections, hypoxia

what is pulmonary oedema?

Fluid collecting in the alveoli which reduces the amount of oxygen diffusing into the blood because the alveoli become filled with fluid preventing gas exchange. Most commonly caused by left sided heart failure.

signs/symptoms: shortness of breath, crackles, hypoxaemia

What is pneumothorax

Air entering the pleural space, causing partial or complete collapse of the lung. Can be caused spontanous or caused by lung disease, tumor, tear or trauma.

Signs/symptoms: sudden chest pain, dysponea, shallow respirations

What is pulmonary embolism

Sudden blockage of the pulmonary artery, mainly caused by blood clot, often from dislodged deep vein thrombosis.

signs/symptoms: shortness of breath. chest pain, anxiety, hypotension, clammy skin, hypoxia, haemopytsis

what is anaphylaxis

severe, potentially life threatening allergic reaction that develops rapidly and can affect multiple body systems.

signs/symptoms: difficulty breathing, throat/tongue swelling, low bp, dizziness, vomitting