Cari's Story
A) How could an infection in Cari’s nasal passages and pharynx spread into her sinuses?
The infection in Cari’s nasal passages and pharynx was able to spread into her sinuses due to the sinuses being a drainage area for the nasal passages.
B) What is the cough reflex? Describe the process that Cari’s respiratory system is using to clear her lungs by coughing.
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) Which structures found in the terminal bronchioles and alveoli normally would protect Cari’s lungs from infectious pathogens and particulate matter?
There are macrophages found in the terminal bronchioles and alveoli that normally would protect Cari’s lungs from infectious pathogens and particulate matter.
D) How would the resistance of Cari’s airways be affected by excess mucus and fluid in her lungs?
The excess mucus and fluid in the lungs would raise the resistance of Cari’s airways because of the small diameter the buildup 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) How would Cari’s lung compliance be altered as her alveoli fill with fluid due to pneumonia?
Cari’s lung compliance would increase from trying to force gases into and out of the alveoli. Those are filled with fluid due to the pneumonia.
F) How would fluid in Cari’s lungs affect her total lung capacity?
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) How does the elevation of Cari’s respiratory rate alter her minute ventilation?
The elevation in her respiratory rate would alter her minute ventilation by raising it. Minute ventilation is determined by times ing respiratory rate by total volume.
The infection in Cari’s nasal passages and pharynx was able to spread into her sinuses due to the sinuses being a drainage area for the nasal passages.
B) What is the cough reflex? Describe the process that Cari’s respiratory system is using to clear her lungs by coughing.
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) Which structures found in the terminal bronchioles and alveoli normally would protect Cari’s lungs from infectious pathogens and particulate matter?
There are macrophages found in the terminal bronchioles and alveoli that normally would protect Cari’s lungs from infectious pathogens and particulate matter.
D) How would the resistance of Cari’s airways be affected by excess mucus and fluid in her lungs?
The excess mucus and fluid in the lungs would raise the resistance of Cari’s airways because of the small diameter the buildup 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) How would Cari’s lung compliance be altered as her alveoli fill with fluid due to pneumonia?
Cari’s lung compliance would increase from trying to force gases into and out of the alveoli. Those are filled with fluid due to the pneumonia.
F) How would fluid in Cari’s lungs affect her total lung capacity?
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) How does the elevation of Cari’s respiratory rate alter her minute ventilation?
The elevation in her respiratory rate would alter her minute ventilation by raising it. Minute ventilation is determined by times ing respiratory rate by total volume.