Unit VI Assessment SEE FILE
QUESTION 7
- List the actions and function of respiratory muscles involved with breathing.
Your response must be at least 75 words in length.
13 points
QUESTION 8
- Explain the respiratory physiology of pulmonary ventilation (inspiration and expiration).
Your response must be at least 75 words in length.
13 points
QUESTION 9
- As you treat patients, it is important to understand the difference between Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and asthma. What is the difference, and why is one reversible and the other is not?
Your response must be at least 75 words in length.
13 points
QUESTION 10
- In your own words, explain how gases are diffused in the alveoli.
Your response must be at least 75 words in length.
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction: Respiratory physiology is an important topic for medical college students to understand as it is relevant to many aspects of patient care. In this assignment, students will be required to list the actions and functions of respiratory muscles involved with breathing, explain the respiratory physiology of pulmonary ventilation, discuss the difference between Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and asthma, and explain how gases are diffused in the alveoli.
Answer 7: The respiratory muscles involved with breathing include the diaphragm, intercostal muscles, and accessory muscles. The diaphragm contracts during inspiration, causing it to flatten and pull air into the lungs. The intercostal muscles, which are found between the ribs, also contract during inspiration, causing the ribcage to expand and pull air into the lungs. The accessory muscles, such as the sternocleidomastoid and scalene muscles, help to increase the size of the chest cavity and aid in deep breathing during exercise or other strenuous activities.
Answer 8: Pulmonary ventilation is the process of breathing, which involves both inspiration and expiration. During inspiration, the diaphragm and intercostal muscles contract, which increases the size of the chest cavity and decreases the pressure inside the lungs. This creates a pressure gradient that allows air to flow into the lungs. During expiration, the diaphragm and intercostal muscles relax, which decreases the size of the chest cavity and increases the pressure inside the lungs. This creates a pressure gradient that allows air to flow out of the lungs.
Answer 9: COPD and asthma are both respiratory disorders that can cause difficulty breathing, but they have different underlying causes. COPD is often caused by smoking or long-term exposure to irritants in the air, which can lead to chronic inflammation and damage to the airways. Asthma is often caused by allergies or other triggers that cause the airways to become inflamed and narrow. While both disorders can cause irreversible damage to the lungs, asthma is often reversible with medication or other treatments, while COPD is generally considered irreversible.
Answer 10: Gases are diffused in the alveoli through a process called passive diffusion. When air enters the alveoli, the oxygen in the air diffuses across the alveolar membrane and into the capillaries, where it binds to hemoglobin and is transported to the body’s tissues. At the same time, carbon dioxide from the body’s tissues diffuses across the capillary membrane and into the alveoli, where it is exhaled out of the body. This process is facilitated by the thinness of the alveolar membrane and the high concentration gradient between the air in the alveoli and the blood in the capillaries.
