Oxygenation - Fundamentals

Upper Airway Structures

Nose and mouth
Pharynx
Nasopharynx
Larynx

Lower Airway Structures

larynx, trachea, bronchi, bronchopulmonary segments, terminal bronchioles, alveoli

Sterile section of respiratory system

Lower Airway

Pharynx

throat

Larynx

voice box; passageway for air moving from pharynx to trachea; contains vocal cords

Trachea

windpipe

Lungs

soft, spongy, cone-shaped organs in the thoracic cavity; main organs of the respiratory system

The right lung has how many lobes?

3 lobes

Left lung has how many lobes?

2 lobes

apex of the lung

tip or uppermost portion of the lung

Alveoli

tiny sacs of lung tissue specialized for the movement of gases between air and blood

Base

lower portion of the lungs

Surfactant helps to prevent the alveoli from collapsing by ________.

lowering the surface tension of the alveoli, allowing them to inflate during breathing

Ventilation

movement of air in and out of the lungs; breathing

respiration/gas exchange

-oxygen is taken from the lungs and to the tissues
-Carbon dioxide diffuses into the alveoli and is then expelled out these tubes when we exhale

Hypoxemia

deficient amount of oxygen in the blood

Hypoxia

deficiency in the amount of oxygen reaching the tissues

Eupnea

normal breathing

Apnea

temporary cessation of breathing

Dypsnea

difficulty breathing

Room air O2 concentration

21%

pneumonia

Infection of the lungs caused by bacteria, fungi, or virus; this may lead to filling of fluid in the lungs

bronchitis

inflammation of the bronchi (in adults)

Bronchiolitis

Inflammation of the bronchioles that usually occurs in children younger than 2 years and is often caused by the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)

pulmonary embolism

clot or other material lodges in vessels of the lung

Pulmonary hypertension

elevated pulmonary pressure resulting from an increase in pulmonary vascular resistance to blood flow through small arteries and arterioles.

inadequate oxygenation may cause feelings of

anxiety, fear, and panic

Tachypnea

fast breathing

bradypnea

abnormally slow breathing

Kussmaul respirations

regular but abnormally deep and rapid respirations

Biot's respirations

varying depth and rate of breathing, followed by periods of apnea; irregular

Cheyne-Stokes respiration

gradual increase in respirations followed by a gradual decrease in depth, then a period of apnea

stridor

strained, high-pitched sound heard on inspiration caused by obstruction in the pharynx or larynx

Wheezing

Difficult breathing with a high-pitched whistling or sighing sound during expiration

arterial blood gases

a test performed on arterial blood to determine levels of oxygen, carbon dioxide, and other gases present

chest physiotherapy

a series of maneuvers including percussion, vibration, and postural drainage designed to promote clearance of excessive respiratory secretions.

tracheostomy

surgical creation of an opening into the trachea through the neck