Shelby County ATCSherry Allen, RN

• Works closely with circulatory system, exchanging gases between air and blood:• Takes up oxygen from air and supplies it

to blood (for cellular respiration).• Removal and disposal of carbon dioxide

from blood (waste product from cellular respiration).

Homeostatic Role:– Regulates blood pH.– Regulates blood oxygen and carbon dioxide

levels.

• Ventilation– exchange of air between lungs and

atmosphere• Gas Exchange in pulmonary capillaries• Breathing largely involuntary activity

• All cells require oxygen for metabolism• All cells require means to remove carbon

dioxide• Gas exchange at cellular level

OxygenCarbon Dioxide

• upper respiratory tract– nose, mouth, pharynx, epiglottis, larynx and

trachea• lower respiratory tract

– bronchial tree and lungs

• nasal cavity• nasal septum• mucous

membrane– mucus– cilia– olfactory receptors

• Nasopharynx– Posterior to the nose– Contains adenoids or pharyngeal tonsils

• Oropharynx– Posterior to the mouth– Palatine tonsils

• Laryngopharynx– Superior to the larynx

• Oropharynx and laryngopharynx serve as a common passageway for both food and air

• Epiglottis acts as a lid or flap that covers the larynx and trachea (airway) so food does not enter the lungs.

• Also known as the voice box• Glottis (vocal apparatus)

– vocal bands or vocal cords

• Windpipe or airway• Mucous membrane lining with cilia• Smooth muscle with

c-shaped cartilage rings• divides into two branches:

– Right bronchi– Left bronchi

• Bronchus, singular• C-shaped cartilage rings with smooth

muscle• Each bronchi divides into

bronchioles • Terminate in air sacs

called alveoli

• Resembles a small balloon as it expands and contracts with the flow of air

• CO2 diffuses from the blood in the capillaries, enters the alveoli, and is exhaled

• On inspiration, O2 diffuses from the alveoli to enter the capillaries

• thoracic• thorax• mediastinum

– heart– aorta– esophagus– bronchi– thymus

Right-3 lobes Left-2 lobes

Lungs

trachea

• each lung enclosed in pleura• parietal pleura (inner)• visceral pleura (outer)• pleural space or pleural cavity• lubricating fluid

• muscle separating chest and abdomen• inspiration, diaphragm contracts and

increases thoracic space– air flows in

• expiration, diaphragm relaxes and decreases thoracic space– air flows out

• phrenic nerve

• External respiration - exchange of gases in lungs

• Internal respiration - exchange of gases within cells of the body organs and tissues

• Ventilation - movement of air – One inspiration and one exhalation = one Ventilation

• Adult normal 12 -20 breaths per minute (bpm)

• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary DiseaseCOPD – Term used to describe any chronic lung disease that results in obstruction of the ariways

• Dyspnea-Difficulty breathing• Bradypnea – less than 12 bpm• Tachypnea-greater than 20 bpm

• Asthma –usually caused by a sensitivity to an allergen– Bronchospasms –narrow the opening of the

bronchioles, productive cough, tightness in the chest– mucolytics, bronchodilators

• Chronic Bronchitis-inflammation of the bronchi & bronchiole tubes– mucosal swelling, productive cough, chest pain– expectorants, bronchodilators, steroids

• Emphysema-noninfectious, chronic; walls of the alveoli deteriorate & lose their elasticity. Co2 remains trapped in the alveoli (suffocating feeling)– barrel-chest, dyspnea, orthopnea, can lead to

respiratory failure and death

• Acute infectious respiratory disease; highly contagious

• Viral• Fever, chills,

headache, myalgia, anorexia, sore throat

• Avoid aspirin in children

• Pleurisy – Inflammation of the pleura or membranes of the lungs Usually occurs with pneumonia or other

lung infections Symptoms: sharp stabbing pain while

breathing , crepitation, dyspnea and fever

If fluid collects – thoracentesis can be done

• Infectious, highly communicable disease

• aerosol transmission• primary tuberculosis,

tubercles• immunocompromised• effects other organ systems• drug resistant strains

Inflammation or infection of the lungs – fluid in alveoli

lobar, bilateral• Hemoptyisis Pneumocystis carinii • lavage

• Hereditary disorder, affects exocrine glands

• systemic involvement– lungs, pancreas, digestive tract

• Viscous mucus blocks bronchioles• Gas exchange impaired

• Surfactant– decreases the surface tension

of the alveoli– needed for alveoli to fill with

air and expand (compliance)• Infant respiratory distress

syndrome (hyaline membrane disease)

• Adult respiratory distress syndrome

• Primary Pulmonary Cancer• Smoking is leading cause of ALL

TYPES OF LUNG CANCERS• common site: epithelium of

bronchi– bronchogenic carcinoma– masses form and block air passages– metastasizes frequently to lymph

noes, liver, bones, brain, or kidney

Laryngitis – inflammation of the larynx and vocal cords.

• Upper Respiratory Infection – common cold

• Inflammation of the mucus membranes• Caused by viruses and are highly

contagious• No cure last 7-10 days

Internist Perfusionist Respiratory Therapist Respiratory Therapy Technician Thoracic Surgeon