Lecture Notes: The Respiratory System

Overview

• Focus on the respiratory system: organs, functions, pathological conditions, medical terms, clinical procedures, and abbreviations.
• External Respiration: Exchange of air in lung capillaries, oxygen inhaled, carbon dioxide exhaled.
• Internal Respiration: Gas exchange in cells, oxygen into tissues, carbon dioxide into bloodstream.

Anatomy of the Respiratory System

• Mediastinum: Middle of the chest where the trachea divides into bronchi.
• Organs:
  • Lungs: Right lung has 3 lobes, left has 2.
  • Nose, Nasal Cavities, and Paranasal Sinuses: Starting point of the air passage.
  • Pharynx, Larynx, Trachea: Conduct air.
  • Bronchi, Bronchioles, Alveoli, Lung Capillaries: Facilitate gas exchange.
• Hilum: Entry/exit point for blood vessels, nerves, lymphatic tissue, and bronchotubes.

Key Vocabulary and Concepts

• Adenoids: Lymphatic tissue in nasopharynx.
• Alveolus: Air sacs in the lungs.
• Apex/Base of the Lung: Apex is the uppermost tip, base is the lower part.
• Bronchioles and Bronchus: Passageways to the lungs.
• Diaphragm: Muscle that aids in breathing.
• Epiglottis: Cartilage preventing food from entering airways.
• Expiration/Inspiration: Breathing out (exhalation)/in (inhalation).
• Larynx and Glottis: Voice box and slit-like opening.
• Mediastinum: Region between the lungs containing vital structures.
• Pleura and Pleural Cavity: Membrane surrounding lungs and space between folds.

Medical Terminology

• Combining Forms: Learn prefixes and suffixes for medical terms.
• Common Terms:
  • Adenoidectomy: Removal of adenoids.
  • Bronchospasm: Involuntary contraction of bronchial muscles.
  • Hypercapnia: Excessive carbon dioxide in the blood.
  • Cyanosis: Blue discoloration due to lack of oxygen.
  • Lobectomy: Removal of a lung lobe.

Clinical Procedures and Conditions

• Spirometer: Instrument to measure breathing.
• Atelectasis: Incomplete expansion of the lungs.
• Tracheotomy: Incision into the trachea.
• Apnea and Dyspnea: Absence and difficulty of breathing.
• Hemoptysis: Spitting blood.

Common Abbreviations

• Oxygen (O2) and Carbon Dioxide (CO2): Primary gases involved in respiration.
• Miscellaneous: Suffixes like -ectomy (removal), -itis (inflammation), -osis (condition).

Summary

• Understanding of respiratory anatomy, functions, and medical terminology is crucial.
• Familiarity with clinical procedures can aid in diagnosing and treating respiratory conditions.