Chapter 7 Medical Terminology and Chapter 17 Body Structures THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM

Chapter 7 Medical Terminology

andChapter 17 Body

Structures

THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM

Functions of the Respiratory System

Deliver oxygen-rich air to the blood cells

Expel waste products (CO2 and water)

Produce air flow through the larynx that makes speech possible

Structures of the Respiratory System – divided into upper and lower tracts

Upper Respiratory Tract– Nose– Mouth– Pharynx– Epiglottis– Larynx– Trachea

• Lower Respiratory Lower Respiratory TractTract

• Bronchial treeBronchial tree• LungsLungs

www.sirinet.net/~jgjohnso/ respiratory.html

The Nose

Nasal Cavity: air enters nose and passes through the nasal cavity

Nasal Septum: wall of cartilage that divides the nose into two equal sections

Mucous membrane: epithelial tissue that lines the nose and respiratory system

Mucus: helps moisten, warm, and filter the air as it enters the nose

Cilia: thin hair inside nostrils, filter incoming air to remove debris

Olfactory receptors: receptors for the sense of smell

The Tonsils

Function to protect the body from invading organisms

Form a protective circle around the entrance to the respiratory system

The Sinuses - Air-filled cavities within a bone that is lined with mucous membrane

Functions – To make the bones of

the skull lighter– To help produce sound

by giving resonance to the voice

– To produce mucus that drains into the nasal cavity

Paranasal Sinuses – named for the bones in which they are located

Maxillary: largest of the paranasal sinuses

Frontal: in the frontal bone just above the eyebrows

Ethmoid: irregularly shaped air cells, separated from the orbital cavity by a thin layer of bone

Sphenoid: close to the optic nerves, infection here can damage vision

The Pharynx - throat

Three divisions:– Nasopharynx: posterior to the

nasal cavity and continues downward to behind the mouth

– Oropharynx: the portion that is visible when looking into the mouth, shared by both the respiratory and digestive systems

– Laryngopharynx: continues downward to the openings of the esophagus and trachea

Protective Swallowing Mechanisms:

– Soft palate: moves up and backward to close off the nasopharynx, prevents food from going up into the nose

– Epiglottis: lid-like structure at the base of the tongue, swings down and closes off the laryngopharynx so food does not enter the trachea and the lungs –

The Larynx – voice box

Located between the pharynx and the trachea

Thyroid cartilage: largest of nine cartilages that hold open and protects larynx (Adam’s Apple)

Vocal cords: during breathing, separated to allow air passage, during speech, together and sound is produced as air is expelled from the lungs- the cords vibrate against each other

The Trachea - windpipe

Anterior to the esophagus, passes from the neck into the chest, flexible for movement due to elastic wall between C-shaped cartilage rings

Lower Respiratory TractThe Bronchial Tree

Trachea divides into 2 branches called bronchii, one branch into each lung

Once inside the lung, bronchii divide into smaller bronchioles

Alveoli: grapelike clusters of air sacs found at the end of bronchioles

The Lungs

Lobes: division of lungs– RT Lung: 3 lobes

Superior Middle Inferior

– LT Lung: 2 lobes Superior inferior

Mediastinum: between the lungs

– Heart– Aorta– Esophagus– Trachea– Bronchial tubes– Thymus gland

MEDIASTINUM:

1. Superior Vena Cava

2. Rt Atrium

3. Inferior Vena Cava

4. Arch of the Aorta

5. Lt Pulmonary trunk

6. Lt Pulmonary artery

7. Auricle of Lt atrium

8. Left Ventricle

9. Left Cardiophrenic

angle

The Pleura – multilayered membrane surrounding each lung

Parietal Pleura: outer layer of the pleura

– Lines the thoracic cavity and forms the sac containing each lung

Visceral Pleura: inner layer of pleura

– Closely surrounds the lung tissue

Pleural space: between the folds of the pleural membranes, contains lubricating fluid to prevent friction during respiration

The Diaphragm

Muscle that separates the thoracic cavity from the abdomen, contraction/relaxation makes breathing possible

Phrenic nerve: stimulates diaphragm to contract during respiration

Respiration

External Respiration– Inhalation: taking in air as the

diaphragm contracts and pulls downward, causing the thoracic cavity to expand

– Expiration: breathing out as the diaphragm relaxes and moves upward causing the thoracic cavity to become narrower

The Exchange of Gases within the Lungs

– Air inhaled into the alveoli forces Oxygen (O2) to pass into the surrounding capillaries and is carried by the erythrocytes to all body cells

– CO2 is produced and passes from the capillaries into the airspaces of the lungs to be exhaled

Internal Respiration

• Exchange of gases Exchange of gases within the cells of all the within the cells of all the body organs and body organs and tissuestissues

• Oxygen passes from Oxygen passes from the bloodstream into the bloodstream into the tissue cells as the tissue cells as carbon dioxide passes carbon dioxide passes from the tissue cells in from the tissue cells in the blood streamthe blood stream

Medical Specialties Related to the Respiratory System

Otorhinolaryngologist Pulmonologist Respiratory Therapist Allergist

Pathology of the Respiratory System

COPD: general term used to describe a group of respiratory conditions characterized by chronic airflow limitations

Asthma

Chronic allergic disorder characterized by episodes of severe breathing difficulty, coughing, and wheezing

Breathing difficulties during an attack is caused by:

– Swelling and inflammation of the lining of the airways

– Production of thick mucus– Tightening of the muscles that

surround the airways

Bronchiectasis

Chronic dilation of bronchi or bronchioles resulting from an earlier lung infection that was not cured

Emphysema

Progressive loss of lung function due to:

– Decrease in the total # of alveoli

– The enlargement of the remaining alveoli

– Progressive destruction of their walls

Breathing becomes rapid, shallow, and difficult

Lungs expand, barrel shape chest

Upper Respiratory Diseases

Allergic rhinitis Croup Diphtheria Epistaxis Influenza Pertussis Rhinorrhea Sinusitis Upper Respiratory infection

Pharynx and Larynx

Pharyngitis Laryngoplegia Laryngospasm Voice disorders:

– Aphonia: loss of the ability to produce normal speech sounds

– Dysphonia: any voice impairment– Laryngitis: inflammation of the larynx

Pleural Cavity

Pleurisy: inflammation of pleura Pneumothorax: accumulation of air or gas in the pleural space

causing the lung to collapse (stab wound, perforation in the pleura surrounding the lung, etc.)

Pleural Effusion: abnormal escape of fluid into the pleural cavity that prevents the lung from fully expanding

Empyema: accumulation of pus in the pleural cavity Hemothorax: accumulation of blood in the pleural cavity Hemoptysis: spitting of blood or blood-stained sputum

Lungs

ARDS: lung failure resulting from many different disorders that cause pulmonary edema

Pulmonary edema: accumulation of fluid in the lung tissue

Atelectasis: collapsed lung, lung fails to expand because air cannot pass beyond the bronchioles that are blocked by secretions

TB: tuberculosis – making a come back Pneumonia: infection of the lung Aspiration Pneumonia: infection of the lung caused by

breathing something into the lungs

Breathing Disorders

Tachypnea: abnormally rapid rate of respiration >20 bpm

Bradypnea: abnormally slow rate of respiration <10 bpm

Apnea:absence of spontaneous respiration AKA - SAS (sleep apnea)

Dyspnea: SOB, difficult breathing or labored breathing

Hyperventilation: abnormally rapid deep breathing, resulting in decreased levels of CO2 at cellular level

Lack of Oxygen

Airway obstruction: foreign object blocks the airway and prevents air from entering or leaving lungs

Anoxia Asphyxia Cyanosis: bluish discoloration of the skin caused by

a lack of adequate oxygen Hypoxia Respiratory failure: the level of oxygen in the blood

becomes dangerously low or the level of CO2 becomes dangerously high

Diagnostic Procedures of the Respiratory System

Respiratory Rate: # respirations/min – normal range = 15-20 rpm

PFT’s: measures capacity of the lungs and ability to move air in/out and to exchange O2 and CO2

Bronchoscopy Laryngoscope Chest Imaging

Treatment Procedures of the Respiratory System

Medications – Bronchodilator is a medication that can be

aerosolized to relax the airways.– MDI is also called a rescue inhaler, it delivers a

puff of medication that is inhaled.– Nebulizer dispenses a larger dose of the

bronchodilator over a longer duration in the form of a mist that is breathed in.

bronchoscopy

Lung transplant

Chest tubes

ventilator

intubation

tracheostomy