RESPIRATORY ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY OF THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM

RESPIRATORY ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY OF THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM • Nose • Sinuses • Paranasal sinuses • Maxillary, frontal, ethmoid, & sphenoid • Throat (pharynx) • Larynx (voice box) • Trachea (windpipe) • bronchi • lungs • Mechanism of breathing • Inhalation • Expiration • Apnea, dyspnea, & othopnea • Respiratory center • Located in the medulla • Stimulated by changing levels of co2 & o2 in arterial blood AGE RELATED CHANGES TO THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM • Nose • Nasal cartilage softens • Mucous membrane • Thin, decreased mucus production • Smell declines • Pharynx & larynx • Muscles atrophy, loss of elasticity, vocal cords slacken • Esophageal sphincter weakens • Trachea deviation • Lungs • Decreased elasticity, bronchioles enlarge, decreased function of alveoli • Respiratory defense mechanisms less effective • Respiratory muscles atrophy • Rib cage is more rigid • Diaphragm flattens NURSING ASSESSMENT OF THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM HEALTH HISTORY • Reason for seeking care • Present & past health • Family history • Review of systems • Functional assessment PHYSICAL EXAM • Head & Neck • Trachea • Thorax • Abdomen • extremities DIAGNOSTIC TEST & PROCEDURES • Throat culture • Laryngoscopy • Fiberoptic bronchoscopy • Thoracentesis • Tuberculin skin test • Radiologic procedures • Chest x-ray, fluoroscopy, ventilation-perfusion scan (lung scan) • Imaging procedures • Computed tomography • Magnetic resonance imaging