Pulmonology The medical specialty that studies the anatomy and physiology of the respiratory system and uses diagnostic tests, medical and surgical procedures,

Pulmonology

• The medical specialty that studies the anatomy and physiology of the respiratory system and uses diagnostic tests, medical and surgical procedures, and drugs to treat respiratory diseases.

Figure 4-1 Respiratory system

Anatomy and Physiology

• Consists of the right and left lungs and the air passageways that connect the lungs to the outside of the body

• The upper respiratory system is in the head and neck and includes the nose, nasal cavity, and pharynx (throat).

• The upper respiratory system shares structures with the ears, nose, and throat (ENT) system.

Anatomy and Physiology (cont’d)

• The lower respiratory system is in the neck and thoracic cavity and includes the larynx (voice box), trachea (windpipe), bronchi, bronchioles, and alveoli (in the lungs).

• The lungs fill much of the thoracic cavity.• Brings oxygen into the body and expels the

waste product carbon dioxide

Anatomy of the Respiratory System

• Nose and Nasal Cavity– The nose contains the nasal cavity, which is

divided in the center by the nasal septum. – Each side of the nasal septum has three long, bony

projections: the superior, middle, and inferior turbinates, or nasal conchae, which jut into the nasal cavity and slow down inhaled air so that it can be warmed and moistened.

Anatomy of the Respiratory System (cont’d)

• The nasal cavity is lined with mucosa, a mucous membrane that humidifies the air and produces mucus.

• Mucus and hairs in the nose trap inhaled particles of dust, pollen, smoke, and bacteria and keep them from entering the lungs.

Figure 4-2 Nasal cavity


• Pharynx– Mucous membranes of the pharynx warm and

moisten inhaled air and trap particles. – A common passageway for inhaled air, exhaled air,

and food.

• Larynx– At its inferior end, the pharynx divides into two

parts: the larynx which leads to the trachea; and the esophagus which leads to the stomach.

– Remains open during respiration and speech, allowing air to pass in and out through the vocal cords.


• Larynx (cont’d)– During swallowing, muscles in the neck pull the

larynx up to meet the epiglottis, which seals off the larynx, so that swallowed food moves across the epiglottis and into the esophagus, not into the trachea.


Figure 4-3 Larynx

• Trachea– Below the vocal cords, the larynx merges into the

trachea, which is about 1 inch in diameter and 4 inches in length.

– A passageway for inhaled and exhaled air – A column of C-shaped rings of cartilage provide

support to the trachea.


• Trachea (cont’d)– On the posterior surface where there is no

cartilage, the trachea is flexible and can flatten to make room when food passes through the esophagus.


• Bronchi– The trachea ends at the top of the inverted Y of

the right and left primary bronchi.– The primary bronchi have cartilage rings that

provide support.– Each primary bronchus enters a lung and branches

into smaller bronchioles.


• Bronchi (cont’d)– The smallest bronchioles (diameter 1 mm or less)

have smooth muscle around them, but no cartilage.

– The lumen is the central opening in the bronchi and bronchioles through which air passes.

– Bronchopulmonary refers to the bronchi and the lungs.


• Bronchi (cont’d)– The bronchial tree includes the trachea, bronchi,

and bronchioles.– The bronchial tree is lined with cilia, small hairs

that move in coordinated waves to carry mucus and trapped particles toward the throat where they can be expelled.


Figure 4-4 Trachea, lung, bronchi, bronchioles, and alveoli

• Lungs– Spongy, air-filled structures– Each lung contains lobes, large divisions whose

dividing lines are visible on the outer surface of the lung.


• Lungs (cont’d)– The right lung, which is larger, has three lobes:

• The right upper lobe (RUL)• The right middle lobe (RML)• The right lower lobe (RLL)

– The left lung has two lobes:• The left upper lobe (LUL) • The left lower lobe (LLL)


• Lungs (cont’d)– The rounded top of each lung is the apex.– The base of each lung lies along the diaphragm.– A bronchus enters the lung at the hilum (an

indentation on the medial surface of the lung).– Inside the lung, the bronchus branches into

bronchioles, which branch into alveoli.


• Lungs (cont’d)– Oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged

between the alveolus and a nearby small blood vessel (capillary).

– Alveolus secretes surfactant, a protein-fat compound that reduces surface tension and keeps the walls of the alveolus from collapsing with each exhalation.


• Lungs (cont’d)– Collectively, the alveoli are the pulmonary

parenchyma, the functional part of the lung, as opposed to the connective tissue framework around them.


Figure 4-5 Diaphragm and pleura

• Thoracic Cavity– The thorax is a bony cage that consists of the

sternum (breastbone), the ribs, and the spinal column; it surrounds and protects the thoracic cavity.

– The mediastinum, an irregularly shaped area between the lungs, contains the trachea (and the heart and esophagus).


• Thoracic Cavity (cont’d)– The diaphragm, a sheet of skeletal muscle, is

active during normal or forceful inhalation.– Intercostal muscles pull the ribs up and out, or

down and in, during forceful inhalation/exhalation.

– Each lung is surrounded by the pleura, a double-layered serous membrane.


• Thoracic Cavity (cont’d) – The visceral pleura is the layer next to the lung

surface, while the parietal pleura is the layer next to the wall of the thorax.

– The pleura secretes pleural fluid, a slippery, watery fluid that allows the two layers to slide smoothly past each other as the lungs expand and contract during respiration.


Physiology of Respiration

• Respiration consists of breathing in and breathing out.

• Breathing in is inhalation or inspiration. • Breathing out is exhalation or expiration.

Physiology of Respiration (cont’d)

• Breathing is normally an involuntary process.• The respiratory control centers in the brain

regulate the depth and rate of respiration.• Receptors in large arteries in the chest and

neck send these centers information about the blood level of oxygen; receptors in the brain send information about the blood level of carbon dioxide.


• The respiratory control centers send nerve impulses to the phrenic nerve, causing the diaphragm to contract and begin inspiration.

• A normal depth and rate of respiration is known as eupnea.


• Respiration involves five separate processes:– Ventilation―Movement of air in and out of the

lungs – External respiration―Movement of oxygen from

the alveoli into the blood and movement of carbon dioxide from the blood into the alveoli


– Gas transport―Blood transports oxygen and carbon dioxide; oxygenated blood travels from lungs to heart, where it is pumped throughout the body

– Internal respiration―Movement of oxygen from blood into cells and movement of carbon dioxide from cells into blood

– Cellular respiration―Oxygen is used by the cells to produce energy in the process of metabolism

Figure 4-6 Exhalation(Jim Corwin/Photo Researchers, Inc.)

Figure 4-7 Gas exchange

Diseases and Conditions

• Nose and Pharynx– Upper respiratory infection (URI)

• Trachea, Bronchi, and Bronchioles– Asthma– Bronchitis– Bronchiectasis

Asthma Animation

Click on the screenshot to view an animation on the topic of asthma.

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Figure 4-8 Upper respiratory infection(Mednet/Phototake NYC)

Diseases and Conditions (cont’d)

• Lungs– Abnormal breath sounds– Adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)– Atelectasis – Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

Rhonchi Lung Sounds

Click on the screenshot to view an animation on the topic of lung sounds.

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Stridor Lung Sounds


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Vesicular Lung Sounds


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Figure 4-9 Adult respiratory distress syndrome


• Lungs (cont’d)– Cystic fibrosis (CF)– Empyema– Influenza– Legionnaire’s disease

Figure 4-10 Cystic fibrosis(Pearson Education/PH College)

Figure 4-11 Postural drainage and percussion(Hattie Young/Photo Researchers, Inc.)


• Lungs (cont’d)– Lung cancer– Occupational lung diseases


• Lungs (cont’d)– Aspiration pneumonia– Bacterial pneumonia– Bronchopneumonia– Double pneumonia

Figure 4-12 Tar deposits in the lungs(James Stevenson/Photo Researchers, Inc.)

Figure 4-13 Lung cancer(St. Bartholomew’s Hospital/Photo Researchers, Inc.


• Lungs (cont’d)– Lobar pneumonia– Pneumococcal pneumonia– Pneumocystic jiroveci pneumonia– Viral pneumonia – Walking pneumonia

Figure 4-14 Pneumonia(Custom Medical Stock Photo, Inc.)


• Lungs (cont’d)– Pulmonary edema– Pulmonary embolism– Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)– Tuberculosis (TB)

Figure 4-15 Pulmonary embolus


• Pleura and Thorax– Hemothorax– Pleural effusion– Pleurisy– Pneumothorax


• Respiration– Apnea– Bradypnea– Cough– Dyspnea– Orthopnea– Tachypnea


• Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide Levels– Anoxia– Asphyxia– Cyanosis– Hypercapnia– Hypoxemia

Laboratory and Diagnostic Procedures

• Arterial blood gases (ABG)• Carboxyhemoglobin

Laboratory and Diagnostic Procedures (cont’d)

• Oximetry• Pulmonary function test (PFT)

Figure 4-16 Pulse oximeter(O’Brien/Custom Medical Stock Photo, Inc.)

Figure 4-17 Pulmonary function test(BSIP/Phototake NYC)


• Sputum culture and sensitivity (C&S)• Tuberculosis tests

Figure 4-18 Culture and sensitivity(Science Heritage/Custom Medical Stock Photo, Inc.)


• Radiology and Nuclear Medicine Procedures– Chest radiography – CT scan and MRI scan– Lung scan

Medical and Surgical Procedures

• Medical Procedures– Auscultation and percussion – Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)– Endotracheal intubation

Figure 4-19 Endotracheal intubation

Medical and Surgical Procedures (cont’d)

• Medical Procedures– Heimlich maneuver– Incentive spirometry– Oxygen therapy – Vital signs

Figure 4-20 Nasal cannula(©Ray Kemp/911 Imaging)

Figure 4-21 Endotracheal tube and Ambu bag(Pearson Education/PH College)


• Surgical Procedures– Bronchoscopy – Chest tube insertion – Lung resection

Figure 4-22 Lobectomy


• Surgical Procedures– Thoracocentesis – Thoracotomy – Tracheostomy

Figure 4-23 Tracheostomy(©Jenny Thomas/Pearson Education)

Drug Categories

• These categories of drugs are used to treat respiratory Diseases and Conditions:– Antibiotic drugs – Antitubercular drugs– Antitussive drugs– Bronchodilator drugs– Antiviral drugs

Drug Categories

• These categories of drugs are used to treat respiratory Diseases and Conditions:– Corticosteroid drugs– Expectorant drugs– Leukotriene receptor blocker drugs– Mast cell stabilizer drugs

Figure 4-24 Metered-dose inhaler(Custom Medical Stock Photo, Inc.)

Abbreviations

Abbreviations (cont’d)

Documents

Pulmonology The medical specialty that studies the anatomy and physiology of the respiratory system and uses diagnostic tests, medical and surgical procedures,