b. The cough reflex is used to clear sputum and irritants that are in the nasal passages and pharynx. There are cilia in her trachea that is moving mucus up from the lungs. When the mucus becomes abundant it triggers the cough reflex.
c. There are macrophages found in the terminal bronchioles and alveoli that normally would protect Cari’s lungs from infectious pathogens and particulate matter.
d. The excess mucus and fluid in the lungs would raise the resistance of Cari’s airways because of the small diameter the build-up would cause. The fluid would have some of alveoli under water where they could not function properly and there would also be more friction from the buildup.
e. Cari’s lung compliance would increase from trying force gases into and out of the alveoli. Those are filled with fluid due to he pneumonia.
f. The fluid in Cari’s lungs would lower her total lung capacity by not allowing the space that is taken up by the fluid to be filled with air.
g. The elevation in her respiratory rate would alter her minute ventalization by raising it. Minute ventilization is determined by timesing respiratory rate by total volume.
h. The clinical finding of 90% oxygen saturation level and a Po2 of mmHg would show that the arteries are having too much oxygen, since a normal Po2 of a resting person is 40mmHg and excercises lower Po2 levels. A normal resting oxygen level should be about 94% with no added oxygen.
i. Cari’s symptoms of “painting like a dog” are due to the lack of oxygen and reduces oxygen exchange at her tissues.
j. The oxygen carrying capacity of hemoglobin with rising Pco2 will decrease
k. When her pH and Pco2 were decreased her rate of breathing would also be decreased