ASTHMA EDUCATOR CERTIFICATION
Name the five things for moderate persistant Asthma (adult) - Answers -Daily
Symptoms
Daily use of inhaler
Nighttime awakenings more than once/week, but not nightly
Moderate limitation to activities
Lung function is < predicted
Define Asthma - Answers -Asthma is a chronic, inflammatory, obstructive, non-
contagious airway disease with varying levels of severity.
Lungs are a pair of ______ shaped organs - Answers -Cone
Lie in the pleural cavity separated by _________ - Answers -Mediastinum
Lungs extend from the ________ to 1-2 cm above the _______ - Answers -Diaphragm,
Clavicles
These four things enter the lungs at the Hilum - Answers -Mainstem bronchi, blood
vessels, lymphatic vessels, and nerves
Thin layer of tissue that covers the lungs? - Answers -Visceral pleura
Thin layer on the inside of the chest wall? - Answers -Parietal Pleura
Area between the chest wall, and the lungs? Which contains a small amount of what? -
Answers -Pleural Space
Fluid
The average trachea is how long? - Answers -10-12 cm long
What area of the airways no longer have cartilage to hold them open? - Answers -
Bronchioles
Explain in relation to inhalation, and exhalation what the smooth muscle is doing. -
Answers -On inhalation the smooth muscle relaxes allowing the air to enter the alveoli,
and on exhalation the smooth muscle contracts.
Name the areas of gas exchange - Answers -Terminal Bronchioles,Respiratory
bronchioles these lead to alveolar ducts, then sacs, then to the alveoli themselves
What are the three tissue layers in the wall of the airways - Answers -Mucosa
Submucosa
Adventitia
, What is the main cell type in the airways are? - Answers -Pseudostratified, ciliated
columnar epithelum
Which type of cells are responsible for secreting Mucous? - Answers -Goblet Cells
The Cilia is responsible for what in the airway? - Answers -Clearing and defending the
conducting airways
What does the submucosal layer contain? - Answers -Bronchial glands which are the
major source of respiratory tract secretions.
(An increase in bronchial glands = increase in secretion production in the airways)
Mast Cells
When the mast cells are stimulated they excrete mediators such as? - Answers -
Histamine, Leukotrienes
Eosinophilia - Answers -increase in the number of eosinophils in the blood, occurring in
response to some allergens, drugs, and parasites, and in some types of leukemia
Histamines cause what to happen in the airways? - Answers -The histamines cause
constriction of the smooth muscle that surround the airway, which leads to
bronchospasm and SOB.
It also contributes to the development of inflammation by increasing the permeability of
blood vessels.
Leukotrienes cause what to happen in the airways? - Answers -Bronchoconstriction,
and they also promote inflammation by attracting and activating eosinophils
Three primary changes that occur during asthma attack - Answers -Bronchial smooth
muscle constriction
Mucosal inflammation (edema)
Hypersecretion of mucus
Bronchoconstriction is due to - Answers -Stimulus such as dust, cold air, animal dander
etc.
Process of mucosal inflammation - Answers -Goblet cells increase, and bronchial
glands enlarge which produce excessive mucus causing mucus plugging.
Mucosa is infiltrated with eosinophils, such as lymphocytes and mast cells, causing
tissue to become swollen.
Cilia become damaged and basement membrane of the mucosa becomes thicker than
normal
Inflammation leads to _________, _________, and _________ - Answers -airway
obstruction, air trapping, and alveolar hyperinflation
Name the five things for moderate persistant Asthma (adult) - Answers -Daily
Symptoms
Daily use of inhaler
Nighttime awakenings more than once/week, but not nightly
Moderate limitation to activities
Lung function is < predicted
Define Asthma - Answers -Asthma is a chronic, inflammatory, obstructive, non-
contagious airway disease with varying levels of severity.
Lungs are a pair of ______ shaped organs - Answers -Cone
Lie in the pleural cavity separated by _________ - Answers -Mediastinum
Lungs extend from the ________ to 1-2 cm above the _______ - Answers -Diaphragm,
Clavicles
These four things enter the lungs at the Hilum - Answers -Mainstem bronchi, blood
vessels, lymphatic vessels, and nerves
Thin layer of tissue that covers the lungs? - Answers -Visceral pleura
Thin layer on the inside of the chest wall? - Answers -Parietal Pleura
Area between the chest wall, and the lungs? Which contains a small amount of what? -
Answers -Pleural Space
Fluid
The average trachea is how long? - Answers -10-12 cm long
What area of the airways no longer have cartilage to hold them open? - Answers -
Bronchioles
Explain in relation to inhalation, and exhalation what the smooth muscle is doing. -
Answers -On inhalation the smooth muscle relaxes allowing the air to enter the alveoli,
and on exhalation the smooth muscle contracts.
Name the areas of gas exchange - Answers -Terminal Bronchioles,Respiratory
bronchioles these lead to alveolar ducts, then sacs, then to the alveoli themselves
What are the three tissue layers in the wall of the airways - Answers -Mucosa
Submucosa
Adventitia
, What is the main cell type in the airways are? - Answers -Pseudostratified, ciliated
columnar epithelum
Which type of cells are responsible for secreting Mucous? - Answers -Goblet Cells
The Cilia is responsible for what in the airway? - Answers -Clearing and defending the
conducting airways
What does the submucosal layer contain? - Answers -Bronchial glands which are the
major source of respiratory tract secretions.
(An increase in bronchial glands = increase in secretion production in the airways)
Mast Cells
When the mast cells are stimulated they excrete mediators such as? - Answers -
Histamine, Leukotrienes
Eosinophilia - Answers -increase in the number of eosinophils in the blood, occurring in
response to some allergens, drugs, and parasites, and in some types of leukemia
Histamines cause what to happen in the airways? - Answers -The histamines cause
constriction of the smooth muscle that surround the airway, which leads to
bronchospasm and SOB.
It also contributes to the development of inflammation by increasing the permeability of
blood vessels.
Leukotrienes cause what to happen in the airways? - Answers -Bronchoconstriction,
and they also promote inflammation by attracting and activating eosinophils
Three primary changes that occur during asthma attack - Answers -Bronchial smooth
muscle constriction
Mucosal inflammation (edema)
Hypersecretion of mucus
Bronchoconstriction is due to - Answers -Stimulus such as dust, cold air, animal dander
etc.
Process of mucosal inflammation - Answers -Goblet cells increase, and bronchial
glands enlarge which produce excessive mucus causing mucus plugging.
Mucosa is infiltrated with eosinophils, such as lymphocytes and mast cells, causing
tissue to become swollen.
Cilia become damaged and basement membrane of the mucosa becomes thicker than
normal
Inflammation leads to _________, _________, and _________ - Answers -airway
obstruction, air trapping, and alveolar hyperinflation
