The Respiratory System

By: Rebecca BickneseCMA Review

MA 230 Tuesday Night Class

The parts of the Respiratory System

Function of the Respiratory System

• Primary function is the inhalation of oxygen from the air which supplies oxygen to the blood. The blood then travels through the body delivering the oxygen to the rest of the body.

• Through exhaling of air, carbon dioxide is also exhaled carrying the gas away from the body.

Where does the gas exchange take place?

• Gas exchange only takes place in the alveolus in the lungs

• An adult has around 300 million alveoli between their two lungs

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

• COPD is one of the most common lung diseases

• There are two forms of COPD though most people have a combination of both forms–Chronic bronchitis– Emphysema

What Causes COPD?

• Smoking is the main cause of patients with COPD

• Exposure to certain gases or fumes in the patients place of employment

• A person that is exposed to heavy amounts of secondhand smoke and pollution is at risk of COPD

• Frequent use of gas stoves for cooking with out proper ventilation can also cause COPD

Symptoms of COPD

• Cough with mucus• Shortness of breath that

gets worse with mild activity

• Fatigue• Frequent respiratory

infections• Wheezing

Complications of COPD

• Irregular heart beats• Need for breathing machine and oxygen

therapy• Right sided heart failure or heart swelling• Pneumonia• Severe weight loss and malnutrition

Diagnosing COPD

• The Spirometry lung function test is the best way to diagnose COPD

Other ways to Diagnose COPD

• Using a stethoscope to listen to the lungs can sometimes be helpful, but in some cases lungs with COPD sound normal

• A Chest X-ray can be performed, but sometimes comes back looking normal when the patient actually has COPD

• A blood test or a “Blood Gas” may be taken to measure the oxygen and carbon dioxide in the patients blood

Is there a cure for COPD?

There is no cure for COPD. Patients with COPD can only use

medication, life style changes, and surgical treatment to relieve symptoms and keep the disease

from getting worse.

Medication

• Inhalers• Steroids by mouth or intravenously may be

administered during a flare up• Antibiotics are given during flare ups to

prevent infections that could progress the condition

• Home oxygen is prescribed for patients with low levels of oxygen in their blood

Life Style Changes

One must stop smoking when diagnosed with COPD. Quitting smoking is the

best way to slow down lung damage.

Other Life Style Changes

• Avoiding Very cold air• Making sure no one smokes in your house • Eat a healthy diet to keep your weight up– Doctors and Dietitians are available to help with

finding food with more calories to help keep your weight up

• Reducing air pollution by eliminating fireplace smoke and other irritants in the home– Use an air purifier to reduce the amount of dust and

other pollutants in the air

Surgical Treatments

• Surgery can be done to remove parts of the diseased lung. This procedure is for the patients suffering from emphysema.

• A lung transplant can be performed in severe cases.

References• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. (n.d.). Google Health. Retrieved

January 8, 2011, from https://health.google.com/health/ref/Chronic+obstructive+pulmonary+disease

• Gaseous Exchange In Humans | Tutorvista.com. (n.d.). Tutorvista.com - Online Tutoring, Homework Help for Math, Science, English from Best Online Tutor. Retrieved January 8, 2011, from http://www.tutorvista.com/content/biology/biology- iv/respiration-animals/gaseous-exchange-humans.php

• Respiratory System. (2010, December 16). RCN D.C. Metro | High-Speed Internet, Digital Cable TV & Phone Service Provider. Retrieved January 8, 2011, from http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultranet/BiologyPages/P/Pulmonary.html