The Respiratory System

Pneumonia

Acute infection or inflammation of the alveoli. The alveolar sac fills up with fluid and dead white blood cells, reducing the amount of air space in the lungs. Oxygen has difficulting diffusing through the inflamed alveoli.

Emphysema

Alveolar walls disintegrate, producing abnormally large air spaces that remain filled with air during expiration. The name means "blown up or full of air"

Residual Volume

Approx 1200ml of air remains in the lungs even after the most strenuous expiration and cannot be voluntarily expelled. This allows gas exchange to go on continuously even between breaths and helps to keep the alveoli open (inflated)

Name the muscles that are involved with the mechanics of breathing

Diaphragm and External Intercostals

Expiration

Diaphragm and intercostals relax, thoracic cavity gets smaller, lungs "stick" to throacic wall, lungs (alveoli) get smaller and air pressure inside is greater than outside, air rushes out (from high to low pressure)

External Respiration

Gas exchange between the blood and alveoli (between blood and body exterior)

Internal Respiration

Gas exchange between the blood and tissue cells (between the blood and cells inside the body)

Tidal Volume (TV)

Is the amount of air (approx 500ml) moved into and out of lungs with each breath during normal, quiet breathing.

What can we as nurses do to prevent and treat respiratory infections?

Medication (analgesia, antibiotics, oxygen, bronchodialators), Physio, DB&C (deep breathing and coughing), ambulation, SOBB (Sit out of bed), Rest, Nutrition, Education (smoking DB&C ambulation), monitor (x-ray, oxygen levels, chest auscultation, clinical appearance, spirometry), therapies, (BIPAP - bi level positive air pressure/CPAP continuous positive airway pressure)

Describe several protective mechanisms of the respiratory system

Nasal Hairs - (traps large airborne particles), Mucus (produced by the epithelium and lines the respiratory tract above the bronchioles) Cilia of the Epithelium - small hair like particles that move mucous and trapped particles towards the throat Sneezing - reflex stimulated when the nasal mucosa is irritated Coughing - reflex mechanism for removing excess mucous or other irritants from the air passageways beyond the nose

Explain what diffusion is and draw a diagram

Net movement of molecules from area with high concentration to area with lower concentration

Name the organs forming the Respiratory Passageway from the Nasal Cavity to the Alveoli

Nose/Nasal Cavity, Pharynx, Larynx, Trachea, Bronchi, Bronchioles and Alveoli

Name the gases that are transported in the blood

Oxygen and carbon dioxide

Briefly describe how oxygen is transported in the blood

Oxygen is picked up in the lungs by hemoglobin (found in RBCs) it is then carried to cells that need it and released, oxygenating the cells

Briefly describe the movement of gases into and out of the blood capillaries and the alveoli inside the lungs

Oxygen passes from the alveoli into the capillary blood, carbon dioxide passes from the blood and enters the gas filled alveoli

Peak Flow

The highest forced expiratory flow (maximum speed of expiration)

What is Pneumothorax and how can it be treated?

The presence of air in the pleural space disrupts the fluid bond between the pleurae. Pneumothorax is reversed by drawing air out of the intrapleural space with chest tubes, which allows the lung to reinflate.

Minute Volume (MV)

The volume of gas inhaled (inhaled minute volume) or exhaled (exhaled minute volume) from a persons lungs per minute

What is the function of the Respiratory System

To supply the body with oxygen and dispose of carbon dioxide

Vital Capacity (VC)

VC = The total volume of exchangeable air (4800ml). The sum of TV + IRV + EVR

Asthma

chronic inflammatory disorder that produces sporadic narrowing of the airways. Attacks are brought on by spasms of the smooth muscle in the walls of the smaller bronchi and bronchioles, causing the passageways to close partially or completely (bronchoconstriction)

Inspiration

diaphragm and intercostals contract, thoracic cavity enlarges, lungs "stick" to thoracic wall, lungs (alveoli) enlarge and the air pressure outside is greater than inside the alveoli, air rushes in. (From low to high pressure)