Respiratory anatomy and physiology questions

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1. Construct ten critical thinking questions that reflect your knowledge of the alveoli, lungs and structures of the thorax. These are questions that are based on concepts rather than book information. They may be in riddle or story problem format. Allow us time to solve the problems, but be able to explain to us your solutions and their significance to our learning.

2. What do our alveoli, lungs, structures of the thorax do for the body? How many alveoli are there? How many structures are there? How many uses are there for each? Create a report that reflects the importance of these components. It must be at least 3-5 pages in length, easy to understand with proper citing. Pictures may be included.

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Explanation & Answer

Attached.

Answers to Respiratory System Clinical Case Study
1. . What is a normal respiratory rate?
A normal respiratory rate in adults is about 12-18 breath per minute. Women have
slightly higher rates than men.
2. Albuterol is a Beta 2 Agonist. Explain its mechanism of action.
The smooth muscle lining the bronchioles has two major receptors on it: Beta 2
(stimulated by sympathetics) and ACh (stimulated by parasympathetics). A beta 2
agonist is a drug that stimulates beta 2 receptors; it causes bronchodilation.
3. Another very important laboratory value should be obtained in someone with dyspnea
of this severity. What is this laboratory value?
When an individual experiences dyspnea of this severity, the physician should test the
arterial blood gases to examine the arterial partial pressure of oxygen, pH, and
partial pressure of carbon dioxide. The PO2 and PCO2 help assess the adequacy of
ventilation. As ventilation worsens in lung cancer, the PO2 will decrease and
the PCO2 will increase. The pH is determined by the PCO2 as well as other acids (and
bases) in the body. As lung disease progresses, the arterial pH declines due
to CO2 retention.
4. Which lobe of the lungs appears to be abnormal?
The right upper lobe appears to be infiltrated with tumor. However, a tissue specimen
(biopsy) should be obtained to confirm the diagnosis and determine the type of
cancer. Distinguishing between tumors and pneumonia can be difficult. However, the
clinical history is often helpful. Pneumonias often present more symptoms of
fever, chills, and cough.
5. Is there a single disease that can account for symptoms, physical exam findings, and
laboratory abnormalities? Explain. (Hint: look up paraneoplastic
syndromes).
John Borland is suffering from small-cell carcinoma of the lung (also called oat cell
carcinoma). The cancer is causing bronchial obstruction of the right upper lobe
(clues to this diagnosis are his cough, dyspnea and hemoptysis, decreased breath sounds,
and markedly abnormal chest x-ray). He is most likely hypoxic; clues to this
diagnosis are his cyanosis and polycythemia. His tumor is secreting antidiuretic hormone,
which is the cause of his paraneoplastic syndrome. His paraneoplastic
syndrome is characterized by a syndrome of inappropriate ADH secretion (SIADH),
which is causing his hyponatremia and confusion. Hypoxemia is another cause
of confusion.

6. Discuss the importance of smoking in the etiology of lung cancer.
Lung cancer causes 30% of all cancer deaths in the USA and is the leading cause of
cancer deaths in this country.. Cigarette smoking causes 85% of lung cancers.
The average risk of developing lung cancer is increased 13-fold by active cigarette
smoking. However, an exact figure is impossible to quote because the risk
depends on the amount smoked. For example, the risk of developing lung cancer is
increased about 10-fold for men who smoke one pack per day for several years,
and about 25-fold for men who smoke two packs per day. Long-term exposure to secondhand smoke also increases the risk of developing lung cancer.
Cigarettes also contribute to the cause of laryngeal, oral, esophageal, bladder, kidney,
pancreatic, stomach, and uterine cancer, as well as one type of leukemia.


Respiratory anatomy and physiology questions

1. During your rotations, you observed the resident in the surgery ward perform
thoracentesis as
To aspirate pleural fluid. He inserted the needle near the lower border of the eighth rib at the
right anterior axillary line. Why do you think the needle is inserted in the eighth intercostal
space?
Ans: the needle should be inserted below the level of the lungs, in the cardiophragmatic recess
which is the eighth or lower interspace. One should remember that at the midaxillary line, the
recess lies between 8 and 10 rib spaces.
Therefore, this question helps us know the right place for performing thoracentesis without
injuring the lungs.
2. Johnny and Sammy, second year medical students were overheard discussing loudly.
Johnny was arguing that during inhalation, air travels to the conducting zone through the
respiratory zone in the order of; trachea, bronchioles, bronchi, alveolar ducts, respiratory
bronchioles and finally to the alveolar sacs, but Sammy would not agree with him.
Johnny therefore asked Sammy to tell him what he thought was the right order. If you
were Sammy, how would you arrange the air conduction pathway?

1

Respiratory anatomy and physiology questions

Ans: first, the air inhaled travels from the conducting zone to the respiratory zone, and not the
vice versa. Second, the correct order would be the trachea, bronchi, bronchioles, respiratory
bronchioles, alveolar ducts and finally alveolar sacs.
We get to learn that air will travel smoothly through this pathway, as they narrow to the alveolar
sacs. But in case a particle is inhaled, it will be captured long before it reaches the respiratory
zone.
3. Mr. F is a tall and thin young man who presents to the clinic with symptoms of sudden
chest pain that is sharp in nature, shortness of breath, rapid breathing and rapid heart rate.
He further says that he has experienced the same symptoms four months ago. On
examination, there is deviation of the trachea to the left. What would be your immediate
diagnosis from Mr. F history and why?
Ans: pneumothorax, (tension) because of the tracheal deviation, history of recurrent
pneumothorax and the physique of Mr. F
We get to learn that people who are thin and tall are at risk of pneumothorax, and that
pneumothorax can recur.
4. During the anatomy clinical practical exams, a first year medical student is given a
human organ. This organ has its landmarks labelled as groove for esophagus and groove
for azygous vein. Which organ was this, and why?
Ans: the right lung. Both the right and ...


Anonymous
Very useful material for studying!

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