NURS 3234 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Bronchus, Adventitiousness, Nasopharyngeal Airway
Document Summary
Factors essential to normal functioning of the respiratory system. Upper airway: function: warm, filter, humidify inspired air, components, nose, pharynx, larynx, epiglottis, no anatomy questions, more applying the symptoms to what disease you should look for. Lower airway: functions: conduction of air, mucociliary clearance, production of pulmonary surfactant, components, trachea, right and left mainstem bronchi, segmental bronchi, terminal bronchioles. Inspiration: the active phase of ventilation: involves movement of muscles and the thorax to bring air into the lungs, expiration: the passive phase of ventilation, movement of air out of the lungs. Process of ventilation: the diaphragm contracts and descends, lengthening the thoracic cavity, the external intercostal muscles contract, lifting the ribs upward and outward, the sternum is pushed forward, enlarging the chest from front to back. Increased lung volume and decreased intrapulmonic pressure allow air to move from an area of greater pressure (outside lungs) to lesser pressure (inside lungs): the relaxation of these structures results in expiration.
