Thorax & Lungs Flashcards
(48 cards)
What is the thoracic cage composed of?
sternum + 12 pairs of ribs + 12 thoracic vertebrae
Which ribs attach directly to the sternum? And how does it attach?
- ribs 1-7 attach directly to the sternum via costal cartilages
- ribs 8-10 attach directly to the costal cartilages above
- ribs 11-12 are floating
Costochondral junctions
the points at which ribs join their cartilages
why is the angle of Louis a good landmark?
- continuous w/ 2nd rib
- site of tracheal bifurcation
- upper border of the atria of the heart
What happens to the costal angle w/ emphysema
angle increases due to chronic inflammation
Normal costal angle should be less than 90 degrees
When the head is flexed, the most prominent bony protrusion at the neck is ___
spinous process of C7
What is the mediastinum and what does it contain?
- Middle section of the thoracic cavity
- includes the esophagus, trachea, heart, great vessels
What are the borders of the lungs?
apex
- highest point
- 3-4 cm above the inner third of the clavicles
base
- rests on the diaphragm
- 6th rib in the midclavicular line
lateral
- axilla
- 7th-8th rib
posterior
- C7 = apex of lung
- T10 = base of lungs –> extends to T12 w/ deep inspiration
How do you locate the right oblique fissure
crosses the 5th rib in the midaxillary line, and terminates at the 6th rib at the midclavicular line
How do you locate the right horizontal fissure?
extends from the 5th rib in the right midaxillary line to the 3rd intercostal space or 4th rib at the right sternal border
How do you landmark the lower lobe of the lungs
- assess from posterior back
- begins at T3/T4
- ends at T10 during expiration
- ends at T12 during inspiration
What is pleura?
The thin membrane that forms an envelope between the lungs and chest wall
- visceral pleura: lines the outside of the lungs and dips down into the fissures
- parietal pleura: continuous w/ visceral pleura, lines the inside of the chest wall and diaphragm
T/F: the trachea and bronchi is involved in gas exchange
FALSE - only transports the gas between the environment and lung parenchyma
What is the functional respiratory unit?
Acinus
- includes bronchioles, alveolar ducts, alveolar sacs, and aveoli
- gas exchange occurs in the alveolar ducts
List the FNs of the respiratory system
1) supply O2 to body
2) removes CO2 from body
3) maintains homeostasis of arterial blood
4) maintains heat exchange
What is the dominant stimulus to breathe?
Hypercapnia = increase in CO2 in the body
What is postnatal exposure to environmental tobacco smoke linked to?
increased rates of otis media, SIDS, lower respiratory tract infections, and childhood asthma
What are the risks of prenatal exposure to tobacco smoke
- chronic hypoxia and low birth rate
- sensitizes fetal brain to nicotine; increases risk for addiction later on in life
What are the changes associated with pregnancy?
- decreased vertical diameter of thoracic cage due to increased uterus
- increased estrogen relaxes the thoracic cage ligaments, allowing increase in transverse diameter by 2 cm
- widened costal angle
- increased tidal volume (deeper breathing)
- physiological dyspnea (increased awareness to breathe)
Changes in older adults
- calcification of costal cartilage = reduced mobility of thorax
- decreased strength of respiratory muscles
- decreased elasticity of lungs
- increase in small airway closure
- decreased vital capacity and increased residual volume
- less SA available for gas exchange
How long does a cough need to last for it to be acute vs chronic?
acute: less than 2-3 weeks
chronic: more than 2 months
What does the timing of cough suggest?
continuous throughout day - acute illness
afternoon/evening - may reflect exposure to irritants
night - nasal drip, sinusitis
early morning - chronic bronchial inflammation (common in smokers)
common causes of white/clear sputum
cold, bronchitis, viral infection
common causes of yellow/green sputum
bacterial infections
