obstructive airway disease

Question 1

• Describe the symptoms and clinical patterns of asthma, and show how this affects the O2 alveolar gas.

Answer 1

Air becomes trapped in the alveoli (air sacs at the end of the bronchioles). This trapped air cannot provide for the proper exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide. Trapped air leads to hypoxia (low oxygen content) in the body. Air trying to pass through the narrowed tubes filled with mucus may produce wheezing.

Question 2

Describe the term ‘shunt’.

Answer 2

this is a condition where blood vessels bypass your lungs and the blood is not properly oxygenated. This results in a lower than normal level of oxygen in your blood. occurs during severe acute infective exacerbation

Question 3

Features of obstructive lung disease

Answer 3

There is airflow limitation, PEFR is reduced, FEV1 is reduced, FCV is less reduced, FEV1 is less than 70% of FVC

Question 4

bronchial asthma

Answer 4

inflammation and oedema, mucus and plasma exudation

Question 5

morphological changes in chronic bronchitis

Answer 5

cough productive of sputum of 2 years in at least 3 consecutive months of the year
large airways- mucosa gland hyperplasia, goblet cell hyperplasia
small airways- goblet cells appear, inflammation and fibrosis in long standing disease

Question 5

morphological changes in chronic bronchitis

Answer 5

cough productive of sputum most days in at least 3 consecutive months of the year for 2 or more years
large airways- mucosa gland hyperplasia, goblet cell hyperplasia
small airways- goblet cells appear, inflammation and fibrosis in long standing disease

Question 6

emphysema

Answer 6

increase beyond normal in the size of airpspaces distal to the terminal bronchiole arising from dilation or destruction of their walls- loss of alveolar attachments is most important

Question 7

centri-acinar emphysema

Answer 7

begins with bronchiolar dilation, then alveolar tissue is lost

Question 8

hypoxic cor pulmonale

Answer 8

pulmonary hypertension
chronic- hypertrophy of right ventricle resulting from disease affecting the function or structure of lung

Question 9

how does smoking increase emphysema

Answer 9

increases elastase which leads to tissue destruction.