Respiratory System

SYDNEE IS MY FAV

Consists of lungs and air passages

• Responsible for:

-Taking in oxygen (gas needed by all body cells)–Removing carbon dioxide (a gas

that is a metabolic waste product produced by cells when cells convert food into energy)

Parts of the Respiratory System

• Nose• Pharynx• Larynx• Trachea• Bronchi• Alveoli• Lungs

Nose

• Location of olfactory receptors for sense of smell

• Has two openings called nostrils and/or nares which is where air enters

• Has a nasal septum, which is a wall of cartilage that divides the nose into two hollow spaces

• These hollow spaces are called the nasal cavities

Nasal Cavities

• Lined with mucous membranes--- helps to trap pathogens and germs

• Have a rich blood supply• Air entering the nasal cavity is warmed,

filtered, and moistened• Has Cilia which are tiny hairlike structures that

filter inhaled air to trap dust and pathogens

Pharynx (throat)

• Air leaves the nose and enters the pharynx• Has three sections– Nasopharynx (upper portion)– Oropharynx (middle section)– Laryngopharynx (bottom section) • This section is what branches into the trachea—which

carries air to the lungs and esophagus which carries food to the stomach

Larynx (voice box)• Lies between the pharynx and trachea• Has nine layers of cartilage, largest is the thyroid cartilage

called the “Adam’s apple”• Has two folds called vocal cords• Opening between the vocal cords is called the glottis• As air leaves the lungs, vocal cords vibrate and produce

sound• Tongue and lips act on the sound to produce speech• Epiglottis--- piece of cartilage that closes the opening into

the larynx during swallowing and prevents food/liquids from entering the respiratory tract

Trachea (windpipe)

• Tube that extends from the larynx to the center of the chest

• Function is to carry air between pharynx and bronchi

• Has C shaped cartilage (which are opened on the dorsal (back) surface) that helps keep the trachea opened

Bronchi

• Trachea divides into two bronchi near the center of the chest--- a right bronchus and a left bronchus

• Each bronchus enters a lung and carries air from trachea to lungs

• In the lungs the bronchi continue to divide into smaller and smaller bronchi until they finally divide into smaller branches called bronchioles

• The smallest bronchioles (called terminal bronchioles) end in air sacs called alveoli

Alveoli (Air Sacs)

• Resembles a bunch of grapes• Adult lungs contain approx. 500 million• Contain a rich network of blood capillaries

which allows oxygen and carbon dioxide to be exchanged between blood and lungs

• Inner surface of alveoli are covered with surfactant, which is a fatty substance that keeps the alveoli from collapsing

Lungs

• Organs that contain the divisions of the bronchi and aveoli• Right lung has three sections or lobes– superior, middle, and

inferior• Left lung only has two sections or lobes-- superior and inferior• So, why is the left lung smaller??????• Each lung is enclosed in a membrane (sac) called Pleura

– Pleura has two layers• Visceral pleura is attached to the surface of the lung• Parietal pleura is attached to the chest wall• SPACE BETWEEN THESE TWO LAYERS IS CALLED THE PLEURA SPACE AND IT

IS FILLED WITH PLEURAL FLUID THAT LUBRICATES THE MEMBRANES AND PREVENTS FRICTION AS THE LUNGS EXPAND DURING BREATHING

• BOTH LUNGS (ALONG WITH YOUR HEART AND MAJOR BLOOD VESSELS) ARE LOCATED IN YOUR _______________ CAVITY

Ventilation

• What is ventilation?? – Process of breathing– Has two phases– inspiration and expiration

– INSPIRATION (inhalation)• Process of breathing in air• Diaphragm and intercostal muscles contract and enlarge the

thoracic cavity, which creates a vacuum• Air rushes in through airways to alveoli, where gas exchange takes

place

– Expiration (exhalation)• Air leaves the lungs• Diaphragm and intercostal muscles relax• Air is forced out of the lungs and air passages

Respiration

• What is respiration?

• What controls respiration?

Stages of Respiration

• 2 main stages– External respiration-- exchange of oxygen and

carbon dioxide between the lungs and bloodstream

– Internal respiration– exchange of carbon dioxide and oxygen between the tissue cells and bloodstream

Diseases of Respiratory System

• Asthma– Usually caused by sensitivity to an allergen such as

dust, pollen, animals, medications, or foods– Stress, overexertion, and infections can also cause

an asthma attack• Symptoms

– Occur when bronchospasms narrow openings of bronchioles, mucus production increases, and edema develops in mucosal lining

– Dyspnea and wheezing– Coughing with expectoration of sputum– Tightness in chest

• Treatment– Bronchodilators to enlarge the bronchioles– Epinephrine and anti-inflammatory medications–Oxygen therapy

**** Identification and elimination of allergens is important to prevent asthma attacks ****

• Bronchitis– Inflammation of the bronchi and bronchial tubes

• Acute bronchitis– Usually caused by and infection– Sx- productive cough, dyspnea, rales (bubbly/noisy breath sounds), chest

pain, fever– Tx- antibiotics, expectorants to remove excess mucus, rest, increase fluids

– Chronic bronchitis» Occurs after frequent attacks of acute bronchitis and long term

exposure to pollutants or smoking» Signs- chronic inflammation, damaged cilia, enlarged mucous glands» Sx- Excessive mucus resulting in productive cough, wheezing, dyspnea,

chest pain» Tx- (NO CURE) antibiotics, bronchodilators, respiratory therapy

• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)– Any chronic lung disease that results in obstruction of the

airways– Disorders such as chronic asthma, chronic bronchitis,

emphysema, and tuberculosis lead to COPD– Smoking is the primary cause, but allergens and chronic

respiratory infections are also factors– TX- bronchodilators, mucolytics, cough meds– Prognosis is poor because damage to the lungs causes a

deterioration of pulmonary function leading to respiratory failure and death

• Emphysema– Noninfectious chronic respiratory condition– Occurs when walls of the alveoli deteriorate and lose their elasticity (CO2

remains trapped in the alveoli/ poor exchange of gases)– Most common causes are heavy smoking and prolonged exposure to air

pollutants

– Sx: Dyspnea and a feeling of suffocation, pain and a barrel chest, chronic cough, cyanosis, rapid respirations with prolonged expiration, eventual respiratory failure and death

– Tx (NO CURE)

• Avoid smoking, bronchodilators, breathing exercises prompt treatment of respiratory infections, O2 therapy and respiratory therapy

• Epistaxis – Occurs when capillaries in nose become congested

and bleed• Causes: Injury, hypertension, chronic infections, blood

diseases

– Tx: Compress nostrils, elevate head and tilt it slightly forward, apply cold compresses, may have to do nasal pack

• Influenza– Highly contagious viral infection of upper respiratory

system with a sudden onset– Sx: chills, fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, muscle

pain, fatigue– Tx: bed rest, fluids, analgesics for pain, antipyretics for

fever

– *** FLU VACCINE ***» Different viruses every year» Yearly vaccine

• Laryngitis– Inflammation of the larynx and vocal cords,

frequently occurs with other respiratory infections– Sx: hoarseness or loss of voice, sore throat,

dysphagia (difficulty swallowing)– Tx: rest, fluids, limit use of voice, meds if infection

present

• Lung Cancer– Leading cause of cancer death in men and women– A preventable disease because the main cause is exposure to

carcinogens in tobacco through smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke

– Sx: none in the early stages, chronic cough, coughing up blood tinged sputum, dyspnea, chest pain, fatigue, and weight loss

– **Prognosis is poor since disease is usually advanced before it is diagnosed

– Tx: surgical removal of the cancerous sections, radiation, and/or chemotherapy

• Pleurisy– Inflammation of pleura– Usually occurs with pneumonia or other infections– Sx: sharp, stabbing pain while breathing, dyspnea,

fever– Tx: rest, pain meds, if fluid collects in the pleural

space- a thoracentesis (withrawal of fluid through a needle) is done to remove fluid

• Pneumonia– Inflammation or infection of the lungs with a

buildup of fluid in the alveoli– Usually caused by a bacteria, virus, chemicals– Sx: chills, fever, chest pain, productive cough,

dyspnea, fatigue– Tx: bedrest, Ox therapy, fluids, antibiotics,

respiratory therapy, pain meds

• Rhinitis– Inflammation of the nasal mucous membrane– Sx: runny nose, watery eyes, sneezing, soreness,

congestion– Causes: infections and allergens– Tx: fluids, meds to relieve congestion

• Sinusitis– Inflammation of the mucous membrane lining of

the sinuses– Usually caused by a bacteria or virus– Sx: headache, pressure, dizziness, thick nasal

discharge and congestion– Tx: antibiotics, pain meds, decongestants, surgery

in chronic sinusitis to open the cavities and encourage drainage

• Sleep Apnea– Condition in which an individual stops breathing

while asleep, causing a measurable decrease in blood oxygen levels

– 2 main kinds:• Obstructive sleep apnea: caused by blockage in air

passage that occurs when muscles that keep airway open relax and allow the tongue and palate to block the airway

• Central sleep apnea: caused by a disorder in the brain’s respiratory control center (Tx: meds to stimulate breathing)

• Sleep apnea (con’t)– More common in men– Risk factors include: obesity, hypertension, smoking,

alcohol, use of sedatives– Diagnosed when more than five periods of apnea

lasting at least ten seconds each occur during an hour of sleep• Periods of apnea lower the blood oxygen level; causes the

brain to awaken the individual, who then gasps for air and snores loudly; interruption of the sleep cycle leads to excessive tiredness/drowsiness during the day

• Sleep apnea (con’t)• Tx: lose weight, abstain from smoking, alcohol,

sedatives; sleep on side or stomach• In severe cases CPAP (continuous positive airway

pressure) is used to deliver pressure to the airway to keep it open while person sleeps– Mask fits securely against the face– Tubing connects the mask with a blower device that

can be adjusted to deliver air at different levels of pressure

• Tuberculosis (TB)• Infectious disease of the lungs caused by the

bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis• Sx: fatigue, chest pain, fever, night sweats,

weight loss, coughing up blood• Tx: Admin. of drugs for one or more years to

destroy the bacteria, good nutrition, rest

• Upper Respiratory Infection– Common cold– inflammation of the mucous

membrane lining of the upper respiratory tract– Sx: fever, runny nose, watery eyes, congestion,

sore throat, hacking cough– Tx: no cure, sx may last up to a week; take meds

for fever, rest, increase fluids, take meds to relieve congestion