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Assignment theme - Respiratory System
Introduction
Question: What is Asthma and how does it affect the human lungs?
Aim: The aim of this assignment will be to research the basic structure and function of Human Lungs and the respiratory condition known as asthma, and how its effects on the human lungs, looking at the causes and treatments used to prevent and treat the illness.
Literature Review
The human lungs are a pair of large, sponge like organs that are optimised for gas exchange between the blood and oxygen. The human body requires oxygen in order to survive and function. The lungs are responsible for providing vital oxygen while also removing the carbon dioxide before hazardous levels are reached within the body.
The pleura are double-layered serous membranes that surround the lungs. The parietal pleura form an outer layer of the membrane and the visceral pleura forms the inner layer which covers the outside surface area of the lungs. Between the parietal and visceral pleura is the pleural cavity, this creates a space that enables the lungs to expand during inhalation.
Here is where serous fluid is secreted by the pleural membranes lubricating the inside of the pleural cavity therefore stopping possible irritation to the lungs during respiration. The lung is shaped like a cone-shaped, the superior end of the lung that forms the point and the inferior end at the base. The apex is found at the superior end of the lungs. And the inferior end known as the base rests on the diaphragm. The base of the lungs is concave which follows the contour of the diaphragm.
As the heart is located on the left hand side of the body the left lung is slightly smaller the left lung contains an indentation, known as the cardiac notch...
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...pecific leukotriene receptors on bronchial tissues, therefore preventing bronchoconstriction, mucus secretion, and oedema. These treatments also reduce the influx of eosinophils, which results the ability to limit inflammatory damage being caused in the airway. These oral, non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs reduce the incidence of acute asthma attacks when taken on a regularly basis. Although in cases of acute asthmatic attacks medical intervention and treatment is required. The type of intervention depends on the severity of the attack itself.
In conclusion there are holistic elements that can be used to help with the condition along with medical and preventative treatments asthma is a genetic incurable ongoing illness on the human lungs and even though it is reactive to environmental factors that causes inflammation that results in an asthmatic reaction.
When you breathe in, air containing carbon dioxide (CO2) and oxygen (O2) it moves down your trachea; a tunnel containing cartilage and smooth tissue. Air then travels through two hollow tubes called bronchi; narrow branches lined with smooth muscle, mucosal and ringed cartilage to support the structure. The bronchi divide out into smaller tunnels called bronchioles; are small branches 0.5-1mm, lined with muscular walls to help dilate and constrict the airway. At the end of the bronchioles are little air sacs called alveoli; which assist in gas exchange of O2 and CO2. (Eldridge, 2016) Towards the end of alveoli are small blood vessel capillaries. O2 is moved through the blood stream through theses small blood vessels (capillaries) at the end of the alveoli and the CO2 is then exhaled. (RolandMedically,
The lungs are located in the thoracic cavity above the diaphragm. They are large and cone-shaped in which the tip of the organs are called the apex. The anterior surface of the lungs is called the costal surface, the medial surface is called the mediastinal surface and the base is called the diaphragmatic surface. Both lungs are divided into lobes, lobules, and segments. The right lung has three lobes called the superior, middle, and inferior lobes. They are separated by the horizontal and oblique fissures. On the medial surface there is point called the hilus where the bronchi and blood vessels enter and leave. The left lung, being smaller, has two lobes called the superior and inferior lobes. They are separated by the oblique fissure.
Healthy lung tissue is predominately soft, elastic connective tissue, designed to slide easily over the thorax with each breath. The lungs are covered with visceral pleura which glide fluidly over the parietal pleura of the thoracic cavity thanks to the serous secretion of pleural fluid (Marieb, 2006, p. 430). During inhalation, the lungs expand with air, similar to filling a balloon. The pliable latex of the balloon allows it to expand, just as the pliability of lungs and their components allows for expansion. During exhalation, the volume of air decrease causing a deflation, similar to letting air out of the balloon. However, unlike a balloon, the paired lungs are not filled with empty spaces; the bronchi enter the lungs and subdivide progressively smaller into bronchioles, a network of conducting passageways leading to the alveoli (Marieb, 2006, p. 433). Alveoli are small air sacs in the respiratory zone. The respiratory zone also consists of bronchioles and alveolar ducts, and is responsible for the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide (Marieb, 2006, p. 433).
Mesothelioma is a very rare form of lung cancer that starts in the mesothelium. The mesothelium is made up of parietal and visceral membranes, thin layers of tissue, which surround organs and body cavities, such as the lungs or abdomen. The visceral membrane immediately surrounds the organ, and the parietal membrane is a sac covering the visceral membrane. The visceral and parietal membranes that make up the mesothelium. This fluid helps organs move easily among surrounding structures. In the case of the lung, it helps reduce friction between the lung and chest wall during normal breathing as the lung expands. The most common place for mesothelioma to develop is in the mesothelial membrane, also called the pleural lining, surrounding the lungs.
Person, A. & Mintz, M., (2006), Anatomy and Physiology of the Respiratory Tract, Disorders of the Respiratory Tract, pp. 11-17, New Jersey: Human Press Inc.
In normal breathing, the lungs expand and contract easily and rhythmically within the ribcage. To facilitate this movement and lubricate the moving parts, each lung is enveloped in a moist, smooth, two-layered membrane (the pleura). The outer layer of this membrane lines the ribcage, and between the layers is a virtually imperceptible space (the pleural space), which permits the layers to glide gently across each other. If either of your pleurae becomes inflamed and roughened, the gliding process is impeded and you are suffering from pleurisy. Pleurisy is actually a symptom of an underlying disease rather than a disease in itself. The pleurae may become inflamed as a complication of a lung or chest infection such as pneumonia or tuberculosis, or the inflammation may be caused by a slight pneumothorax or chest injury. The pleural inflammation sometimes creates a further complication by causing fluid to seep into the pleural space, resulting in a condition known as pleural effusion. However, pleurisy is not the only condition that can lead to pleural effusion, it may also be produced by diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, liver or kidney trouble or heart failure. Even cancer spreading from the lung, breast or ovary can cause pleural effusion. If you have pleurisy, it hurts to breathe deeply or cough, and chest pain is likely to be severe. Accompanying the pain are any other symptoms associated with the underlying disorder. The pain will disappear if a pleural effusion occurs as a consequence of pleurisy, because fluid stops the layers of the pleura from rubbing against each other; however, you may become breathless as the fluid accumulates. In most cases, the risks are those of the underlying cause. A big pleural effusion can compress the lungs and cause breathlessness. Any effusion may lead to empyema. A chest X-ray examination may be required.
The larynx prevents food and liquids from traveling down the air path ways which could result in choking. From the larynx, Bronchi trachea splits into two bronchi each leading to a lung, each lung is divided into lobes. The right lung has three lobes and the left has two lobes. The right lung is slightly larger than the left lung. The two lungs are mainly made of up connective tissue, which gives them their soft and spongy texture. The bronchi branch are smaller and are called bronchioles which are divided many more times in the lungs. The lungs is made up of connective tissue, blood, lymphatic tissue, air pathways and alveoli are at the end of the branches inside of the lungs. The alveoli sends oxygen and removes carbon dioxide. This is a basic view of how the respiratory system functions and if the respiratory system doesn’t do its job then this could lead to infectious diseases of the respiratory
Allows air to flow though the larynx and bronchi and divides air flow between the lungs and bronchioles.
Imagine a young child competing with his or her fellow classmates during recess and immediately losing the ability to breathe normally. He or she stops in the middle of the competition and falls to the ground while holding his or her chest trying to find air. When you are young, being able to keep up with your peers during recess and sporting events is very important, however, having asthma restricts this. Asthma has a significant impact on childhood development and the diagnosis of asthma for children 18 years and younger has dramatically increased over the years. Asthma is known as a “chronic inflammation of the small and large airways” with “evident bronchial hyper-responsiveness, airflow obstruction, and in some patients, sub-basement fibrosis and over-secretion of mucus” (Toole, 2013). The constant recreation of the lung walls can even occur in young children and “lead to permanent lung damages and reduced lung function” (Toole, 2013). While one of the factors is genetics, many of the following can be prevented or managed. Obesity, exposure to secondhand smoke, and hospitalization with pneumonia in the early years of life have all been suggested to increase children’s risk of developing asthma.
Diaphragm: Muscle forming the bottom of the chest cavity, becomes smaller when inhaling, larger when exhaling (separates thorax from
The airway includes the nose, mouth, pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, and bronchioles. It carries air between the lungs and the outside elements that surround the body. The lungs are the functional units of the respiratory system and they act as such. They pass oxygen into the body and remove carbon dioxide from the body. Then there are the muscles of respiration. These muscles include the diaphragm and intercostal muscles. They work simultaneously as a pump, pushing air into and out of the lungs during breathing.
Secondly, severe asthma can be life-threatening. Suffering from asthma can be frightening to experience and people often feel scared and anxious. The fear and scare can also lead to breathlessness and so mak...
The pharynx is a large cavity behind the mouth and between the nasal cavity and larynx. The pharynx serves, as an air and food passage but cannot be used for both purposes at the same time, otherwise choking would result. The air is also warmed and moistened further as it passes through the pharynx. The larynx is a short passage connecting the pharynx to the trachea and contains vocal chords. The larynx has a rigid wall and is composed mainly of muscle and cartilage, which help prevent collapse and obstruction of the airway.
Most of you may not think of asthma as a killer disease, yet more that 5,000 Americans die of asthma each year. According to the Mayo Clinic web page, asthma also accounts for more that 400,000 hospital discharges annually. As the number of people with asthma increases, the more likely you are to come in contact with a person who has the disease. As far as I can remember, I have had asthma my whole life. My mother and one of my sisters also have asthma, so I have a first hand experience with it. This morning, I will discuss some interesting facts about asthma, I will specifically focus on what it is, warning signs, symptoms, causes, and the treatments that are used.
The respiratory system is a biological system consisting of specific organs and a specific structure used for the process breathing. Respiration is accomplished through the nose, mouth, trachea, diaphragm and the lungs. The respiratory system is responsible for the inhalation of oxygen and exchanged to carbon dioxide when oxygen is exhaled. Respiration or ventilation takes place in the respiratory system. Organs of the respiratory system extend from the nose to the lungs. Respiration takes place in all living things. Each day the average adult breathes about 20000 times .Even if the air we breathe is dirty or polluted the respiratory system filters out the foreign matter and organisms that enter the body through the nose and mouth. Tiny hairs called cilia protect the nasal passageways and other parts of the respiratory track. The process of ventilation begins when oxygen enters the through the mouth and nose. The oxygen then passes through the larynx and then through the trachea. The trachea is a tube that enters the chest cavity which then splits into two smaller tubes known as the bronchi. Bronchus then divide again forming what we call the bronchial tubes. The bronchial tubes lead directly into the lungs where the tube then again divide into many smaller tubes called bronchioles. Bronchioles then connect to small sacs known as alveoli. Alveoli are responsible for exchanging oxygen into carbon dioxide. Inhaled oxygen passes into the alveoli and then diffuses through the capillaries then into the atrial blood. Meanwhile the waste rich blood from the veins then release carbon dioxide into the alveoli. The diaphragm pumps oxygen into and carbon dioxide out of the lungs. The respiratory system is divided into an upper and lower re...