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Respiratory System Flashcards

1
Q

What stimulates us to breathe and why?

A

CO2 = byproduct of perfusion and creates acid = body needs to get rid of the acid

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2
Q

What are the 3 main parts of the upper airway?

A

nasopharynx, oropharynx and larynx

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3
Q

How does air get inhaled in the nasopharynx?

A

passes through the nasal turbinates

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4
Q

What is the function of the nasal turbinates?

A

helps create airflow and moves air down air passages

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5
Q

What are the 5 structures of the oropharynx?

A

hard pallet, soft pallet, tongue, tonsils and uvula

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6
Q

What is the function of the soft pallet?

A

close nasal passages when you swallow

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7
Q

What is the function of the hard pallet?

A

structure and rigidity

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8
Q

What is the purpose of tonsils?

A

lymph nodes of the oropharynx

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9
Q

What part of the airway is the vallecula part of? Why is the vallecula important?

A

upper airway | landmark for intubation

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10
Q

What is the function of the epiglottis?

A

separate food and air, make sure food doesn’t go down airway tract

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11
Q

What are the 2 parts located at the superior portion of the trachea?

A

vocal cords and glottic opening

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12
Q

What structure separates the upper and lower airways?

A

glottic opening

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13
Q

What is the purpose of the upper airway?

A

filter, warm and humidify air

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14
Q

Why is it important to humidify air?

A

adds more moisture content making it easier to breathe in = don’t want our structures to dry out

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15
Q

What is the main vessel that takes air from the upper airway to the lower airway?

A

trachea

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16
Q

How many C-shaped rings does the trachea have?

A

9

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17
Q

What is the cricoid cartilage?

A

located in trachea | only ring that is NOT C-shaped

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18
Q

What is the purpose of the C-shape rings of the trachea?

A

to give it flexibility

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19
Q

What is the bone in the larynx that aids with stricture and stability?

A

hyoid bone

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20
Q

What is the biggest structure in the larynx that gives the larynx its structure?

A

thyroid cartilage

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21
Q

What is a carina?

A

the end portion of the trachea

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22
Q

What does the carina lead to?

A

branches off into the Left and Right main-stem bronchus

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23
Q

Is the trachea part of the upper or lower airway?

A

lower

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24
Q

What does the mainstem bronchus branch into?

A

bronchi > bronchioles > alveoli

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25
Where are the alveoli located?
at the capillary beds on the ends of the bronchioles
26
What are alveoli?
air-filled sacs where gas exchange takes place
27
What is the functional unit of the respiratory system?
alveoli
28
What is surfactant?
the lubrication of the airway system
29
Why do our airway structures need to be moist?
prevent from drying up , give elasticity
30
How do you know when your epiglottis is working?
intact gag reflex
31
What are the 4 protective structures of the airway?
epiglottis, rib cage, cilia and mucous membranes
32
What structures does the rib cage proctect?
heart and lungs
33
What is the function of cilia in airway movement?
filters and moves air throughout body
34
What are the 2 mucous membranes of the lower airway?
visceral pleura and parietal pleura
35
What does the visceral pleura line/encase?
lungs
36
What does the parietal pleura line/encase?
chest cavity
37
What is the function of the 2 mucous membranes?
prevent friction during inhalation/exhalation
38
What is the process of respiration in the alveolar/capillary beds? (cellular level)
O2 diffuses through semi-permeable membrane > capillary vessel = attaches to Hb | CO2 detaches out from Hb > diffuses through semi-permeable membrane into the alveolar air sac
39
What is the process of inspiration?
draw air from environment down into our negative pressure environment >>> bronchus mainstems = lungs and chest wall expands
40
What does the intercostal muscles do during inspiration?
contract up and out = make more room
41
What does the diaphragm do during inspriation?
relaxes downward = make room for air
42
What do the intercostal muscles do during expiration?
relaxes down and in = decrease lung volume
43
What does the diaphragm do?
contracts upward = forces air upward and out the air passages
44
What are the 2 main muscles used in normal ventilation?
diaphragm and intercostals
45
What are the 4 accessory muscles for breathing?
sternocleidomastoid | pectorals | trapezius | extra abdominal use
46
When using accessory muscles to breathe, what do you see the sternocleidomastoid muscles do?
(neck muscles) constricts in
47
When using accessory muscles to breathe, what do you see the pectoral muscles do?
retractions through chest wall
48
When using accessory muscles to breathe, what do you see the trapezius muscles do?
indentations present
49
Define ventilation
mechanical movement of air in and out of the lungs and environment
50
Define respiration
cellular gas exchange of oxygenation
51
Define tidal volume
amount of air inhaled in 1 breath
52
Define minute volume
amount of air inhaled in 1 minute
53
What is the equation for minute volume?
tidal volume x RR
54
What is tachypnea?
fast breathing
55
What is bradypnea?
slow breathing
56
Define dead space.
inhaled air that does not participate in gas exchange and perfusion | present in airway passages
57
What is vital capacity?
max amount of air you can exhale
58
What is residual volume?
air remaining AFTER expiration/exhaling
59
What does the residual volume help with?
keeping the airways open and patent
60
What is the tidal volume of an average adult?
500 mL (cc)
61
What compound do we mostly breathe?
nitrogen
62
How much O2 is inhaled and how much of it is exhaled?
inhale 21% | exhale 16%
63
What explains the low O2 output in exhalation?
part of the inhaled O2 is used for perfusion of the tissues in body
64
What is the Medulla Oblongata part of in the nervous system and what does that mean?
autonomic nervous system = don't need to think about doing a function
65
What structure in the nervous system controls and regulates our breathing?
medulla oblongata
66
What monitors the O2 and CO2 levels in the body?
medulla oblongata
67
What type of receptors measure the levels of CO2 and O2 in the body? Where are they located?
chemoreceptors in the brain (CSF), aorta, and carotids
68
What nerve carries the signal to and from the medulla oblongata?
phrenic nerve
69
Where is the medulla oblongata located?
brainstem
70
Along what part of the spine is the brainstem located?
C-spine
71
What initiates ventilation cycles?
brainstem --> medulla oblongata
72
What is the average RR for adults?
12-20 breaths/minute
73
How do you know if the breathing rhythm is normal?
consistent chest rise and fall
74
What do you look for to asses the quality of respirations?
depth of chest rise/fall
75
What is an abnormal quality of respirations?
shallow or very deep chest rise/fall
76
What are the 3 types of lung sounds?
wheezing | crackles/rales | rhonchi
77
What are the 4 parts of the respiratory assessment?
RR, rhythm, quality, and lung sounds
78
What is a sign of wheezing?
prolonged expiratory phase and a distinct wheeze sound during expiration
79
What causes wheezing?
constriction of bronchioles/bronchi due to inflammation = narrowing of the bronchioles/bronchi = pushing air through narrow tubes makes wheeze sound
80
What is a sign of crackles/rales?
crackling/popping sound
81
What is the cause of crackles/rales?
fluid in the lungs
82
What condition does crackles/rales indicate?
CHF
83
What causes rhonchi?
dried out mucus due to a recent fever = high body temp dried out the mucus in lower airways
84
What is a possible sign of rhonchi?
productive coughing
85
What disease does rhonchi indicate?
pneumonia
86
What is considered normal respiration patterns?
mountainous and even waves, rate is consistent, adequate tidal volume
87
What may a Cheyne Stokes respiration pattern indicate?
severe head trauma | swelling in brain pushes down on brainstem/medulla = affects signals to breathe
88
How does Cheyne Stokes respirations sound like?
intermittent hyperventilation
89
How does Kussmaul's respirations sound like?
huge huffing sounds
90
What does Kussmaul's respirations indicate?
diabetic ketoacidosis
91
What RR is indicative of patient losing ability to manage their own airway?
< 8/min or > 30/min
92
How do you assess for tidal volume?
adequate chest rise/fall
93
What muscle use indicates inadequate breathing?
accessory
94
What skin signs indicate inadequate breathing
cyanosis, cool, clammy
95
What facial signs that indicate inadequate breathing?
nasal flaring and cyanosis on mouth
96
What are the 8 signs of Respiratory Distress?
dyspnea | Increased HR/RR | retractions | tripoding/upright position | 2-3 word-dyspnea | noisy breathing/lung sounds | restlessness | normal mental status
97
What are the 4 signs of Respiratory Failure?
shallow depth of respirations | cyanotic | HR/RR decreases | altered mental status
98
What is the treatment for respiratory Distress and why?
O2 via NRB or nasal cannula | patient is able to breathe for themselves
99
What is the treatment for respiratory Failure?
O2 via BVM = breathe for them
100
What type of breathing is indicative of respiratory distress in kids?
seesaw breathing
101
Define seesaw breathing.
chest and abdomen move opposite directions (up and down)
102
Why is seesaw breathing specific to kids?
kids are belly-breathers
103
Why are kids belly breathers?
chest walls and intercostals are not completely developed = rely on diaphragm
104
How is the structure of the trachea and upper airway in kids?
very flexible and not rigid = can break easily

UCLA EMT (10 decks)

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