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gaseous exchange essay grade 11
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Gas exchange is defined as the process by which oxygen is transported to cells and carbon dioxide is transported from cells (Giddens page 161). Gas exchange in the human body occurs in the lungs and as the primary function of the respiratory system it exchanges two gases, oxygen and carbon dioxide. The process of gas exchange happens as we breath through ventilation, transport and perfusion. As you inhale oxygen, the oxygen travels deep into the lungs until it reaches the alveoli. Here in the alveoli oxygen and carbon dioxide diffuse across the alveolar-capillary membrane. Oxygen is able to enter into the blood while carbon dioxide is leaving the blood as waste to be exhaled from the lungs and out of the body. This oxygenated blood is then …show more content…
A reduction or lack of oxygen and/or buildup of waste leads to demise. For this reason, gas exchange is critical. Gas exchange is compromised when there is impairment of ventilation, altered transport of oxygen, or inadequate perfusion. Impaired ventilation may occur in conditions such as inadequate muscle or nerve function to move air into the lungs, such as cervical spinal cord injury; narrowed airways from bronchoconstriction like in asthma, or from obstruction like in chronic bronchitis; poor gas diffusion in the alveoli, such as pulmonary edema, acute respiratory distress syndrome or pneumonia. Altered transport of oxygen occurs when sufficient red blood cell are not available to carry oxygen, like in anemia. Inadequate perfusion develops when cardiac output is reduced, like in myocardial infarction (Giddens page 164). Asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pneumonia, aspiration, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), bronchiolitis, croup, tracheal esophageal fistula are the exemplars of gas …show more content…
Emphysema is an enlargement of the alveoli and bronchioles, and destroys the alveolar walls. Symptoms of emphysema can include the use of accessory muscles while breathing and wheezing upon exhalation, thin appearance with weight loss, barrel chest and favoring the tripod position. Chronic bronchitis is an inflammation of the bronchial tubes causing wheezing and chronic production of excess mucus, producing a cough and making it difficult to breath leading to cyanosis. Also the human body can appear normal or overweight. There may be an enlargement of the heart or cor pulmonale (right sided heart failure). Both emphysema and chronic bronchitis contribute to the destruction of the lung tissue and obstruction of the airway, which causes and impaired gas
Additionally, some of the general diagnostic and pulmonary function tests are distinct in emphysema in comparison to chronic bronchitis. In the case of R.S. the arterial blood gas (ABG) values are the following: pH=7.32, PaCO2= 60mm Hg, PaO2= 50 mm Hg, HCO3- = 80mEq/L. R.S.’s laboratory findings are indicative of chronic bronchitis, where the pH and PaO2 are decreased, whereas PaCO2 and HCO3- are increased, when compare to normal indices. Based on the arterial blood gas evaluation, the physician can deduce that the increased carbon dioxide is due to the airway obstruction displayed by the hypoventilation. Furthermore the excessive mucus production in chronic bronchitis hinders proper oxygenation leading to the hypoxia. On the other hand, in emphysema the arterial blood gas values would include a low to normal PaCO2 and only a slight decrease in PaO2 which tend to occur in the later disease stages.
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,
I only chose respiratory as an answer. However, the correct answers are respiratory and cardiovascular because of the pulmonary circulatory system. Gas exchange occurs at pulmonary capillary beds.
The circulatory system and respiratory system share a highly important relationship that is crucial to maintaining the life of an organism. In order for bodily processes to be performed, energy to be created, and homeostasis to be maintained, the exchange of oxygen from the external environment to the intracellular environment is performed by the relationship of these two systems. Starting at the heart, deoxygenated/carbon-dioxide (CO2)-rich blood is moved in through the superior and inferior vena cava into the right atrium, then into the right ventricle when the heart is relaxed. As the heart contracts, the deoxygenated blood is pumped through the pulmonary arteries to capillaries in the lungs. As the organism breathes and intakes oxygenated air, oxygen is exchanged with CO2 in the blood at the capillaries. As the organism breathes out, it expels the CO2 into the external environment. For the blood in the capillaries, it is then moved into pulmonary veins and make
In the lungs gas exchange occurs to re-oxidize the blood. Air travels through the respiratory tract to reach the lungs and back up to be exhaled into the environment. At the termination point of the respiratory tract lays the alveoli. The alveoli have a sac-like structure. In biological systems, the structure and functions of components are related. The alveoli have a structure specialized for efficient gaseous exchange. In the structure of the alveoli (alveolus), it looks as if it has the form of a hollow cavity that is paired with elastic fibers...
Chronic bronchitis differs from emphysema in that it affects the bronchioles. There are two forms of bronchitis: chronic and acute. We are going to focus on chronic bronchitis. In this disease, the bronchioles become thick and inflamed. The affected person might cough up thick mucus which can also block the bronchioles.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is preventable disease that has a detrimental effects on both the airway and lung parenchyma (Nazir & Erbland, 2009). COPD categorises emphysema and chronic bronchitis, both of which are characterised by a reduced maximum expiratory flow and slow but forced emptying of the lungs (Jeffery 1998). The disease has the one of the highest number of fatalities in the developed world due to the ever increasing amount of tobacco smokers and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality (Marx, Hockberger & Walls, 2014). Signs and symptoms that indicate the presence of the disease include a productive cough, wheezing, dyspnoea and predisposing risk factors (Edelman et al., 1992). The diagnosis of COPD is predominantly based on the results of a lung function assessment (Larsson, 2007). Chronic bronchitis is differentiated from emphysema by it's presentation of a productive cough present for a minimum of three months in two consecutive years that cannot be attributed to other pulmonary or cardiac causes (Marx, Hockberger & Walls, 2014) (Viegi et al., 2007). Whereas emphysema is defined pathologically as as the irreversible destruction without obvious fibrosis of the lung alveoli (Marx, Hockberger & Walls, 2014) (Veigi et al., 2007).It is common for emphysema and chronic bronchitis to be diagnosed concurrently owing to the similarities between the diseases (Marx, Hockberger & Walls, 2014).
The surface area for gas exchange decline and lung mass decrease, residual volume increases as the alveoli enlarge. In addition, the speed of breathing out with maximal effort gradually diminishes, and coughing becomes less effective which also increase the risk of pulmonary illness (Bickley &Szilagyi, 2016). There is a decrease in arterial pO2, but the O2 saturation normally remains above 90% (Bickley &Szilagyi, 2016). When the patient has COPD - a disease state characterized by the presence pf airway obstruction that is not fully reversible , with chronic inflammation found in the airways, lung parenchyma, and blood vessels- as they age the disease becomes more progressive due to the natural changes of aging to the pulmonary system (Lewis, 2007). The defining features of COPD are irreversible airflow limitation during forced echalation caused by loss of elastic recoil and airflow obstruction caused by mucus hypersecretion, mucosal edema, and brochospasm (Lewis, 2007). Gas exchange abnormalitites result in hypoxemia and hypercarbia (Lewis, 2007). Air trapping worsen and alveoli are destroyed (Lewis, 2007).There is a siginificant ventilation/perfusion mismatch and hypoxemia resutlts (Lewis, 2007). Pulmonary hypertension may occur late in the course of COPD leading to hypertrophy of the right ventricle
Emphysema causes the patient to use more muscles to push the air out of the alveoli which causes barrel chest. Other symptoms that can occur includes shortness of breath and dyspnea that will increase. Circumoral cyanosis and symptoms of right ventricular heart failure can also occur as the disease progresses. Emphysema diagnosis is normally symptomatic, which helps in the proper diagnosis. Emphysema can be diagnosed by patient history and clinical exam, pulmonary function studies and radiologic chest studies also help in the diagnosis. Due to the fact that emphysema is not asymptomatic, the diagnosis is much easier when present in the medical office. Certain signs that doctors look for any breathing difficulties, hypertension, polycythemia, wheezing and barrel chest appearance. Other symptoms that can occur include hepatomegaly, edema, blue-ish discoloration around the mouth and clubbed fingers which encourages treatment options that need to be considered. Drug therapy treatment options for emphysema includes adrenergic sympathomimetic drug or can be used in combination with corticosteroid. Other treatment options include medications for GERD, oxygen therapy and in certain cases surgery could be considered. Treatment methods encourage the patient to avoid any pulmonary irritants, getting their flu shot annually, and pulmonary rehabilitation. Unfortunately, the prognosis for emphysema is very poor. This disease is actually one of the most common causes of death in the U.S.. Prevention of emphysema is basic education about health risk that can occur from long-term smoking. Also parents should make sure to prevent repeated respiratory infection from occurring to limit the
The respiratory system is a complex organ structure of the human body anatomy, and the primary purpose of this system is to supply the blood with oxygen in order for the blood vessels to carry the precious gaseous element to all parts of the body to accomplish cell respiration. The respiratory system completes this important function of breathing throughout inspiration. In the breathing process inhaling oxygen is essential for cells to metabolize nutrients and carry out some other tasks, but it must occur simultaneously with exhaling when the carbon dioxide is excreted, this exchange of gases is the respiratory system's means of getting oxygen to the blood (McGowan, Jefferies & Turley, 2004).
Shortness of breath or dyspnea in COPD happens because the demand for ventilation exceeds the person’s ability to meet the demand (Mitchell, 2015). The basics behind breathlessness in COPD is an increased ventilatory demand with a decreased capacity of the respiratory muscles to relax and generate forceful and efficient ventilation (Brashier & Kodgule, 2012). CD8+ lymphocytes release enzymes causing apoptosis of bronchial epithelial cells and pulmonary capillaries, creating a ventilation-perfusion mismatch as the body becomes hypoxic and hypercarbic (Brashier & Kodgule, 2012). Decreased lung elasticity and compliance from fibrotic damage to air sacs are responsible for the inability to expand and recoil to generate effective ventilation. This loss of elasticity also causes air trapping, as the lungs are less effective at removing air (Brashier & Kodgule, 2012). The lungs become hyperinflated and contribute to dyspnea. Loss of parenchymal tissue causes decreased pressure and inability of alveoli to remain open. Less oxygen is able to pass the alveoli-capillary membrane into the red blood cells and less C02 is able to transfuse to be removed from the blood. Inflammation, mucus, apoptosis, fibrosis, loss of elastic recoil all lead to decreased oxygenation and ventilation causing the person to feel short of breath, particularly during exertion (Brashier & Kodgule,
Haas, D. F. (1990). The Chronic Bronchitis And EMPHYSEMA. New York,NY: John Wiley and Sons, Inc.
Here, deep in the lungs, oxygen diffuses through the alveoli walls and into the blood in the capillaries and gaseous waste products in the blood—mainly carbon dioxide—diffuse through the capillary walls and into the alveoli. But if something prevents the oxygen from reaching t...
The clinical manifestation one may see in patients with chronic bronchitis are chronic cough, weight loss, excessive sputum, and dyspnea. Chronic cough is from the body trying to expel the excessive mucus build up to return breathing back to normal. Dyspnea is from the thickening of the bronchial walls causing constriction, thereby altering the breathing pattern. This causes the body to use other surrounding muscles to help with breathing which can be exhausting. These patients ca...
Emphysema is a type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease where the alveoli weaken and lose their ability expanding. Air stays trapped inside the lungs because the damaged lung sacs can't empty causing some to break. This can make breathing difficult and ultimately