Nina Schulze and Giselle Foss
Respiratory System Notes Sheet
CASE STUDY
The condition of the patient: Asthma (Child)
Asthma is a chronic condition that causes swelling and narrowing in the airways. When they're
exposed to a trigger, such as physical activity, the airways swell and the muscles around them tighten,
causing children to cough, gasp, and wheeze.1
● The function of the Respiratory System
The Respiratory system supplies the blood with oxygen in order for the blood to deliver oxygen
to all parts of the body. The respiratory system does this through breathing. When we breathe, we inhale
oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide. This exchange of gases is the respiratory system's means of getting
oxygen to the blood.2
● What makes up the respiratory system?
● Nose
● Mouth
● Pharynx
● Larynx
● Lungs
● Sinuses
● Alveoli
● Trachea
● Bronchi
Organs
Lungs
● The lungs take in oxygen, which the body's
cells
need to live and carry out their normal functions. The lungs also get rid of carbon dioxide, a
waste product of the cells.
● The lungs are a pair of cone-shaped organs made up of spongy, pinkish-gray tissue.
Nose
● heats and humidifies the air that is drawn into the lungs as well as creating tubulance all of which
make the air cause less damage to the respiratory tract. 3
●
Mouth-The mouth is one of the main entry points for respiration. Oxygen enters the system here, and
carbon dioxide exits.4
Pharynx-The pharynx is also called the throat, and allows air to flow in and out of your lungs.5
Larynx- also known as the voice box, and it also helps protect the trachea by producing a strong cough
reflex if any solid objects pass the epiglottis.6
1
2
http://symptoms.webmd.com/default.htm#./conditionView
http://www.fi.edu/learn/heart/systems/respiration.html
3
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/
What_is_the_significance_of_the_pharynx_in_terms_of_the_respiratory_system
4
5
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/
What_is_the_significance_of_the_pharynx_in_terms_of_the_respiratory_system
6 http://www.teachpe.com/anatomy/respiratory_system.php
1
Trachea-Lets the air flow into the lungs for respiration through the trachea.7
Sinuses- Helps to regulate the temperature and humidity of air breathed in.
Nose-Preferred entrance for outside air into the respiratory system, and the hairs that line the wall are part
of the air-cleaning system.
Mouth- Air also enters through usually when one has a cold or during heavy physical activity.
Throat-collects incoming air from the nose and mouth and passes it downward to the windpipe. 8
Alveoli- Very small air sacs that are the destination of air breathed in.
Bronchi- Where the air entering the lungs are sent
Diseases
Inflammatory Lung Disease
Characterised by a high white blood cell count.
Symptoms:
1. Tightness of chest
2. Wheezing
3. Shortness of breath
4. Cough with mucus9
Pulmonary edema
Fluid accumulation in the lungs.
Symptoms:
1. Difficulty breathing
2. Coughing up blood10
7
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/trachea-function.html
http://www.lung.org/your-lungs/how-lungs-work/?gclid=CM6hge6zzrICFcXb4AodxW4AVw
9 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Respiratory_disease#Inflammatory_lung_disease
8
10
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulmonary_edema
2