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Patho Exam #3 Study GuidePatho Exam #3 Study Guide
Typology: Exams
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Structures of pulmonary system – NOT ON STUDY GUIDE Lobes (3 on right, 2 on left) - segments – lobules Blood vessels serve the pulmonary system Chest wall/thoracic cage Diaphragm: involved in ventilation – dome shaped muscle that separates the thoracic and abdominal cavities Mediastinum: space between lungs containing heart, great vessels, and esophagus Conducting airways o Upper airways: warms and humifies air Nasopharynx and oropharynx o Larynx: connects upper and lower airways o Lower airways Trachea, bronchi, terminal bronchioles Carina: ridge where the trachea divides into the right and left bronchi Hila: where the right and left bronchi enter the lungs, along with blood and lymph vessels Goblet cells: produce mucus Cilia: hair-like structures – work with goblet cells to propel foreign material up and enable it to be coughed up Pleura: serous membrane – adheres firmly to the lungs and folds over itself o Visceral: covering the lungs; Parietal: lining the thoracic cavity o Pleural space: fluid lubricates the pleural surfaces allowing them to slide over each other Pressure in pleural space: negative (-4 to –10); keeps lungs from collapsing Inspiration – chest cage pulled outward on lungs creates greater negative pressure Understand basic structure and function of alveoli Gas exchange airways: acinus - “berry” o Respiratory bronchioles o Alveolar ducts o Alveoli Primary gas exchange units Oxygen enters the blood and carbon dioxide is removed Epithelial cells Type 1 alveolar cells: provide alveolar structure Type 2 alveolar cells: surfactant production – prevents lung collapse Contain alveolar macrophages: ingest foreign material and remove it through lymphatic system Surfactant – its function and where it comes from Detergent like substance secreted by type 2 alveolar epithelial cells in lungs Keeps alveoli open and free of fluid and pathogens (collectins) Decrease surface tension by blocking H20 and H+ binding in alveolar space – prevents collapse – allow airflow in more easily Understand the mechanics of the pulmonary circulation and how it relates to systemic circulation Pulmonary circulation functions:
o Facilitate gas exchange o Deliver nutrients to lung tissue o Acts as a blood reservoir for the left ventricle o Serves as a filtering system that removes clots, air, and other debris from the circulation o Pulmonary system pressure is 18 mmHg compared to systemic circulation of 90 mmHg o Gas exchange airways are served by the pulmonary circulation Low pressure system, high flow – Supplies venous blood from all parts of the body to the alveolar capillaries where O2 is added and CO is removed; contains 100% of CO o Bronchi and other lung structures are served by systemic circulation – bronchial circulation High pressure system, low flow – supplies blood to trachea, bronchial tree, bronchioles, and out coats (adventia) of pulmonary arteries and veins; contains 1-3% of CO Pulmonary circulation o Begins at the pulmonary artery, which receives venous blood from the right side of the heart. The pulmonary artery divides into the left and right branches and forms the capillaries that surround the alveoli. After blood is oxygenated via gas exchange, blood returns to the left side of the heart through the pulmonary veins. Pulmonary artery and accompanying smaller arteries and arterioles have large diameter; systemic vessels are small o Gives the pulmonary artery tree large compliance - accommodate stroke volume and pressure from RV Pulmonary capillaries surround the acinus Alveolocapillary membrane o Formed by shared alveolar and capillary walls o Contains the pulmonary capillaries o Where gas exchange occurs Mechanics of breathing o Major and accessory muscles – The major muscle of breathing is the diaphragm, which performs 80% of the work of breathing. External intercostals function as accessory muscles to raise the ribs up and out, often during respiratory distress. o Alveolar surface tension –Surfactant plays a major role in alveolar surface tension,
tendency of the lungs to return to the normal resting state after inspiration. Compliance is the measure of the lung and chest wall distensibility. Increased compliance indicates the lungs are abnormally easy to inflate and has lost some elastic recoil. A decrease in compliance indicates the lungs are abnormally stiff and difficult to inflate. o Airway resistance – Airway resistance is the resistance of the respiratory tract to airflow during inspiration and expiration. Airway resistance is increased with bronchitis, asthma, mucous, edema, or spasm. o Work of breathing – The work of breathing is the amount of work that must be performed to overcome the elastic and resistive properties of the lung, determined by lung recoil, chest wall recoil, and surface tension of the alveoli Lymphatics o Lymph vessels present in all supportive tissues of the lung o Particulate material entering the alveoli is partly removed by the lymph channels – plasma protein leaking from lung capillaries is removed from lung tissue Helps prevent pulmonary edema and supports the negative pressure in the lungs to help them from collapsing – sucking motion Understand the role of the ANS on the pulmonary system Phrenic nerve (c3-c5) innervates the diaphragm o Receives voluntary and involuntary respiratory messages from CNS Respiratory center o Located in the brainstem o Dorsal respiratory group : sets the basic automatic rhythm Receives impulses from peripheral chemoreceptors in the carotid and aortic bodies – detects the PaCO2 and the amounts of oxygen in the arterial blood o Ventral respiratory group : contains inspiratory and expiratory neurons Becomes active when increased ventilatory effort is required o Pneumotaxic and apneustic centers : are located on the pons Modifiers of the inspiratory depth and rate are established by the medullary centers Brainstem receives feedback o Carbon dioxide and hydrogen Increased blood CO2 or H+ (decreased pH – acidic) stimulate brainstem respiratory centers to increase respiration to allow blowing off CO2 and decrease blood acidity Increased CO2 and H+ (decreased pH – acidic) stimulate increased firing of aortic and carotid bodies (peripheral chemoreceptors) - relay messages to brainstem via CN9 and CN10 to increase respiration o Oxygen Decreased PaO2; carotid and aortic bodies increase signaling to brainstem o Exercise Motor cortex send direct innervation to stimulate brainstem Proprioceptive info from contracting skeletal muscle or nerve impulses generated locally for skeletal hypoxia return to brainstem to stimulate respiratory center o Hering-Breuer inflation reflex Stretch receptor in bronchiolar and bronchial tree send inhibitory impulses to brain stem that limit excessive inspiration Central chemoreceptors
o Reflects PaCO o Stimulated by H+ (pH) in CSF – low pH/acidosis o Increases respiratory rate and depth
o Diffusion of oxygen from systemic capillaries into cells Carbon dioxide removal
o Diffusion of carbon dioxide from the cells into systemic capillaries o Perfusion of the pulmonary capillary bed by venous blood o Diffusion of carbon dioxide into the alveoli o Removal of carbon dioxide from the lung by ventilation o Carbon dioxide transport Amount of CO2 in blood is a significant factor in acid-base balance Retaining too much CO2 will cause an increase in respiratory rate 3 ways: dissolved in plasma, bicarbonate, carb-amino compounds Bicarbonate: as CO2 moves into the blood is diffuses intothe RBC’s - carbonic anhydratse combines CO2 and H2O to form carbonic acid – carbonic acid dissocaites into HCO3 and H+ - H+ binds to hgb and the HCO3 moves out of the RBC into the plasma 60% venous CO2 is in bicarbonate form 90% arterial CO2 is in bicarbonate form Alveolar oxygen o Oxygen absorbed from alveoli to blood – alveolar oxygen determined by rate of absorption into blood and rate of entry of new oxygen o Partial pressure normally 104 mmHg Alveolar carbon dioxide o Removed from alveoli o Partial pressure normally 40 mmHg; increases directly in proportion to rate of CO excretion; decreases in inverse proportion to alveolar ventilation Principles of gas exchange o Diffusion in response to concentration gradients – pressure proportional to concentration CO2 20 times as soluble as O o Diffusion depends on partial pressure of gas o Haldane Effect: Oxygenation of blood in the lungs displaces carbon dioxide from hemoglobin which increases the removal of carbon dioxide Understand basic concepts of the oxyhemoglobin curve and what it represents Oxyhemoglobin association and dissociation o Hemoglobin molecules bind with oxygen – oxyhemoglobin Binds in areas of high partial pressure and released in areas of low partial pressure Continues to bind until hgb binding sites are saturated Diffusion across alveolocapillary membrane – partial pressure of oxygen molecules is much greater in alveolar gas than it is in capillaries – promotes rapid diffusion from the alveolus into the capillary Determinants of arterial oxygenation : rate of oxygen transport to the tissues in blood and rate at which oxygen is used by the tissues o When hemoglobin saturation and desaturation are plotted one graph, the result is a distinctive S-shaped curve known as the oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve Oxyhemoglobin shift o Shift to the left/up Hemoglobin's increased affinity for oxygen – promotes association in the lungs and inhibits dissociation in the tissues Alkalosis (high pH) and hypocapnia and hypothermia o Shift to the right/down Hemoglobin's decreased affinity for oxygen – increase in the ease with which oxyhemoglobin dissociates and oxygen moves into the cells
Acidosis (low pH) and hypercapnia and hyperthermia o Bohr effect: shift in the oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve caused by changes in CO2 and H+ concentration in the blood Understand and be able to identify and define abnormal breathing patterns Kussmaul respirations (hyperpnea) o Slightly increased ventilatory rate, very large tidal volume, no expiratory pause Cheyne-Stokes respirations o Alternating periods of deep and shallow breathing; apnea lasting 15- seconds, followed by ventilations that increase in volume until a peak is reached, after which ventilation decreases again to apnea o Occurs with decreased brainstem blood flow Hypoventilation o Alveolar ventilation is inadequate in relationship to the metabolic demands o Leads to respiratory acidosis from hypercapnia (CO2 >44) o Causes: airway obstruction, chest wall restriction, altered neurologic control of breathing Hyperventilation o Alveolar ventilation exceeds the metabolic demands o Leads to respiratory alkalosis from hypocapnia (CO2 <36) o Causes: anxiety, panic attacks, head injury, severe hypoxemia Know how to identify and define hypercapnia, hypocapnia, hypoxia, and hypoxemia Hypercapnia o Increased CO2 in the arterial blood (PaCO2>44) o Occurs from decreased drive to breathe or an inadequate ability to respond to ventilatory stimulation/hypoventilation - retain too much CO2 – respiratory acidosis o Ex: drugs, brainstem (medulla) injury, spinal cord injury, NMJ dysfunction, respiratory muscle disfunction (myasthenia gravis), thoracic cage abnormalities, airway obstruction, sleep apnea Hypocapnia o Decreased CO2 in the arterial blood (PaCO2<36) o Caused by hyperventilation – blowing off too much CO2 – respiratory alkalosis o See hyperventilation above Hypoxemia o Hypoxemia is decreased PaO2 in blood; hypoxia is decreased O2 in
cells/reduced level of tissue oxygenation o Most common cause: ventilation-perfusion abnormalities
Pressure volume relationship is no different – except when breathing rapidly, greater pressure is needed to overcome the resistance to flow and the volume of each breath gets smaller o Causes: asthma, bronchitis, emphysema Mechanical obstruction, increased resistance, increased tendency for airway closure
Pulmonary function tests o VC = vital capacity o IRV = inspiratory reserve volume o ERV = expiratory reserve volume o RV = residual volume o TLC = total lung capacity Know typical s/s of obstructive and restrictive diseases so that you can identify which one a patient is presenting with Restrictive o Cough, sputum, dyspnea, decreased lung volumes, hypoxemia, orthopnea, increased WOB, poor response to oxygen supplementation Obstructive o Increased WOB, ventilation-perfusion mismatching, decreased forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), use of accessory muscles, expiratory wheezing, coughing, prolonged expiration - pursed lip breathing, tachypnea, decreased exercise tolerance, SOB, tripod positioning, increased AP diameter Understand pathogenesis of asthma, COPD, emphysema, bronchitis. PE, pulmonary hypertension, bronchogenic cancers, absorption and compression atelectasis, ARDS, pneumothorax types Asthma o Chronic inflammatory disorder of the bronchial mucosa - causes bronchial hyperresponsiveness , constriction of the airways, and variable airflow obstruction that is reversible o Episodic attacks from allergen or irritant exposure - activation of immune system releasing interleukins and IgE production – causes mast cell degranulation – release of inflammatory mediators (histamine, prostaglandins, and leukotrienes)
o Hypersecretion of mucus and chronic productive cough that lasts at least 3 months of the year and for at least 2 consecutive years o Inspired irritants increase mucous production, size and number of mucus glands, and bronchial edema – thick mucus compromised lungs defenses o Hypertrophied bronchial smooth muscle o Hypoxemia (V/Q mismatch) and hypercapnia o Airways collapse early in expiration – gas trapped in lungs o S/Sx: decreased exercise tolerance, wheezing and SOB, copious productive cough, polycythemia from chronic hypoxemia, decreased FEV1, increased infections o Acute bronchitis: acute infection or inflammation of airways or bronchi commonly following viral illness Symptoms similar to pneumonia but no consolidation or chest infiltrates – nonproductive cough occurs in paroxysms and is aggravated by cold, dry, or dusty air Emphysema o Permanent enlargement of the gas-exchange airways accompanied by the destruction of the alveolar walls without obvious fibrosis o Loss of elastic recoil o Destruction of the alveoli occurs through the breakdown of elastin in the septa as s result of an imbalance between proteases and antiproteases, oxidative stress, and apoptosis of the lung’s structural cells – also produces large air spaces within the lung parenchyma (bullae) and air spaces adjacent to pleurae (blebs) o Types: Centriacinar (centrilobular): septal destruction occurs in the respiratory bronchioles and alveolar ducts; upper lobes Alveolar sac remains intact Tends to occur in smokers with chronic bronchitis Panacinar (panlobular): involves the entire acinus; damage is more randomly distributed; involves lower lobes o Primary: inherited deficiency of the enzyme a1-antitrypsin o Secondary: caused by cigarette smoke, air pollution, occupational exposures, and childhood respiratory infections o S/Sx: dyspnea on exertion, at rest when progressed, little coughing with little sputum, thin, tachypnea, prolonged expiration, use of accessory muscles, pursed lips, increased AP diameter, tripod positioning COPD o Airflow limitation that is not fully reversible; usually progressive and associated with an abnormal inflammatory response of the lung to noxious particles or gases o Chronic bronchitis + emphysema o Risk factors: tobacco smoke, occupational dusts and chemicals, indoor and outdoor air pollution, any factor that affects lung growth during gestation and childhood, alpha1 antitrypsin gene mutation
Pulmonary HTN o Mean pulmonary artery pressure above 25 mmHg at rest o Causes: elevated left ventricular pressure, increased blood flow through the pulmonary circulation, obliteration or obstruction of the vascular bed, active constriction of the vascular bed produced by hypoxemia or acidosis o Patho: overproduction of vasoconstrictors (thromboxane) and decreased production of vasodilators (NO and prostacyclin); remodeling of pulmonary artery intima; resistance to pulmonary artery blood flow increasing the pressure in the pulmonary arteries; workload of the right ventricle increases and subsequent right ventricular hypertrophy – may be followed by failure and eventually death o S/Sx: masked by primary pulmonary or CV disease; chest x-ray shows enlarged pulmonary arteries and right heart border – echo shows right ventricular hypertrophy o Cor pulmonale – secondary to PAH – pulmonary HTN creating chronic pressure overload in right ventricle S/Sx: heart appears normal at rest; decreased cardiac output and chest pain with exercise Bronchogenic cancers o Most frequent cause of cancer death in the US; most common cause: cigarette smoking o Laryngeal Risk factors: smoking, heightened with smoking and alcohol consumption, GERD, HPV S/Sx: progressive hoarseness, dyspnea, cough o NSCLC 85% of all lung cancers Squamous cell carcinoma: nonproductive cough or hemoptysis Adenocarcinoma: tumor arising from glands – asymptomatic or pleuritic chest pain and SOB Large cell carcinoma: chest wall pain, pleural effusion, cough, sputum, hemoptysis, airway obstruction resulting in pneumonia o SCLC – neuroendocrine 10-15% of all lung cancers Worst prognosis – rapid growth and early metastasis Strongest correlation with smoking Arise from neuroendocrine tissue – ectopic hormone secretion – paraneoplastic syndromes Hyponatremia (ADH); Cushing syndrome (ACTH); hypocalcemia (calcitonin); gynecomastia (gonadotropins); carcinoid syndrome (serotonin)
o Collapse of lung tissues Absorption: gradual absorption of air from obstructed or hypo-ventilated alveoli Compression: external compression on the lung Surfactant impairment: decreased production or inactivation of surfactant o S/Sx: dyspnea, cough, fever, leukocytosis (inflammatory process) Pulmonary edema o Excess water in the lung from disturbances of capillary hydrostatic pressure, capillary oncotic pressure, or capillary permeability – increased capillary hydrostatic pressure leads to fluid leaking into lung o Most common cause: left sided heart failure o Post-obstructive pulmonary edema: negative pressure pulmonary edema Rare, life-threatening complication that can occur after relief of upper airway obstruction – obstruction causes negative pressure to build and build as breathing attempts occur S/Sx: dyspnea, orthopnea, hypoxemia, increased WOB, pink frothy sputum ARDS o Characterized by acute lung inflammation and diffuse alveolocapillary injury – injury to pulmonary capillary endothelium, increased capillary permeability, inflammation, surfactant inactivation, edema, atelectasis o Dyspnea and hypoxemia with poor response to oxygen supplementation – hyperventilation and respiratory alkalosis – decreased tissue perfusion, metabolic acidosis, organ dysfunction – increased WOB, decreased TV, and hypoventilation – hypercapnia, respiratory acidosis, worsening hypoxia – decreased cardiac output, hypotension, death Pulmonary embolism o Occlusion of a portion of the pulmonary vascular bed by a thrombus, embolus, tissue fragment, lipids, or air bubble o Virchow triad: venous stasis, hypercoagulability, and injuries to the endothelial cells that line the vessels o Results in widespread hypoxic vasoconstriction, decreased surfactant, release of neurohumoral substances, atelectasis of affected lung segments further contributing to hypoxemia, pulmonary edema, pulmonary HTN, shock, and even death o S/Sx: sudden onset of pleuritic chest pain, dyspnea, tachypnea, tachycardia, unexplained anxiety Pneumothorax – see above
Understand the basics of cardiac muscle contraction Resting membrane potential is similar to skeletal muscle (- 85 to –95mV) - threshold potential is + Caused by opening of fast sodium channels and slow sodium channels Slow sodium channels are sodium-calcium channels – open slower and remain open for longer – allows for influx of large quantity of calcium and sodium ions to
the interior of the cardiac muscle fiber – maintains prolonged period of depolarization causing the plateau in the AP – calcium ions enter during plateau phase activating the contractile process Cardiac muscle has low permeability to potassium after onset of AP (not like skeletal) o Decreases the outflux of potassium; prevents early return of AP to resting value