Common Obstructive Respiratory Conditions

Question 1

describe the internal structure of the trachea

Answer 1

• anteriorly has c-shaped cartilagenous rings
• posteriorly has smooth muscle
• pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelial cells (cilia)
• goblet cells
• mucous glands

Question 2

describe the internal structure of bronchi

Answer 2

• cartilage rings and smooth muscle
• pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelial cells
• gobet cells
• mucous glands

Question 3

describe the internal structure of bronchioles

Answer 3

• no cartilage
• well defined smooth muscle
• cuboidal epithelial cells
• no goblet or mucous glands

Question 4

which cell structures make up an airway

Answer 4

• ciliated cells
• goblet cells
• mucous glands

Question 5

what is the function of cell structures that amke up an airway

Answer 5

• production of mucus
• movement of mucus

Question 6

why is effective mucociliary transport important

Answer 6

• ensures no blockages of sputum so gas exchnage can occur
• and helps prevent infection

Question 7

what can impair effective mucociliary transport

Answer 7

• smoking
• air pollution
• anaesthesia
• pathologies/ disease/ infections

Question 8

what problems can things like smoking, anaesthesia, air pollution and infections cause

Answer 8

• blockages in airways
• stagnent secretions
• can in turn cause infections

Question 9

how is an obstructive CVR conditon characterised

Answer 9

a limitation of airflow due to a partial or complete obstruction

Question 10

what are the charactersitics of an obstructive CVR condition

Answer 10

• initially total lung capacity is normal
• normal FVC
• reduced expiratory flow rate
• FEV1/ FVC <0.80
• inflammation and/ or thickening in/ of airway walls
• decrease of tissue mass
• loss of lung parenchyma (a.k.a. alveoli)

Question 11

what are common causes of an obstructive CVR condition

Answer 11

• COPD
• brochiectasis
• cystic fibrosis
• asthma

Question 12

what are common sites for infection

Answer 12

• sinuses (sinusitis)
• tonsils (tonsilitis)
• pharynx (pharyngitis - sore throat)
• larynx (laryngitis)
• trachea (tracheitis)
• pleura (pleurisy - inflammation of pleura often vaused by infection)
• bronchioles (brochiolitis)
• bronchi (brochitis)
• alveoli & surrounding lung (pneumonia)

Question 13

what are the two types of chest infections

Answer 13

• upper respiratory tract infection (URTI)
• lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI)

Question 14

how are URTIs often caused

Answer 14

infection of sinuses, airways or throat

Question 15

how are LRTIs often caused

Answer 15

acute bronchitis or pneumonia

Question 16

how can chest infections spread

Answer 16

direct and indirect contact via droplets

Question 17

what are symptoms of a chest infection

Answer 17

• increased productivity of cough
• dyspnoea
• coryzal symptoms

Question 18

what are coryzal symptoms

Answer 18

• nasal stuffiness
• runny nose
• sneezing
• sore throat
• cough

Question 19

what is dyspnoea

Answer 19

sensation of running out of the air and of not being able to breathe fast enough or deeply enough

Question 20

describe pneumonia
(obstructive)

Answer 20

is the inflammation of lung tissue usually due to infection with bacteria

Question 21

what are the 2 types of pneumonia

Answer 21

1. lobar pneumonia: specific area of consolidation
2. bronchial pneumonia: inflames alveoli

Question 22

what is consolidation

Answer 22

infected tissue whihc is stuck together

Question 23

describe how the severity of pneumonia is determined

Answer 23

using CURB-65 score
- 0 = low severity, likely for home treatment.
- 1-2 = moderate severity, consider hodpital referral
- 3-4 = high severity, rgent hospital admission

Question 24

describe bronchitis
(obstructive)

Answer 24

inflammation and infection of the bronchi

Question 25

what is bronchitis most often caused by

Answer 25

smoking

Question 26

what are the symptoms of bronchitis

Answer 26

- increased sputum production (usually discoloured) - wheeze - similar to URTIs

Question 27

define emphysema (obstructive)

Answer 27

damage to the alveoli causing them to lose thier elasticity.

Question 28

what does emphysema result in

Answer 28

alveoli... - collapse - destruction - narrowing - overinflation - stretching

Question 29

What is bronchiectasis defined by (obstructive)

Answer 29

Permanent and abnormal widening of the bronchi

Question 30

Why does bronchiectasis occur

Answer 30

Due to chronic airway infection and inflammation

Question 31

How is bronchiectasis characterised.

Answer 31

Mild to moderate airflow obstruction that tends to worsen over time

Question 32

What are some symptoms of bronchiectasis

Answer 32

- Intermittent episodes of expectoration - infection localised to the region of lung that is affected - persistant expectoration of large volumes of purulent sputum (causing blockages)

Question 33

what is prulent sputum

Answer 33

off-white, yellow or green, and opaque. - usually indicates the presence of large numbers of white blood cells,

Question 34

what is asthma caused by (obstructive)

Answer 34

inflammation of the airway due to smooth muscle contracting, causing the lumen to narrow

Question 35

what causes the inflammation of airways for asthma

Answer 35

- smooth muscle contracts and causes lumen to narrow

Question 36

how can asthma occur

Answer 36

randomly or in response to a trigger

Question 37

what are some asthma triggers

Answer 37

- allergies (dust mites, animal fur, pollen) - smoke - pollution - cold air - exercise - infections like colds or flu

Question 38

what are the main symptoms of asthma

Answer 38

- wheeze - breathlessness - chets ightness - coughing

Question 39

how do people get cystic fibrosis (obstructive)

Answer 39

the recessive gene has to be inhertied form both parents

Question 40

what gene causes cystic fibrosis

Answer 40

a faulty gene (CFTCR) which impairs the movement of salt and water betwene cells in the body which results in sticky mucus build up in the lungs and digesitve system