Respiratory System

Respiratory System Consists of the respiratory and conducting parts Respiratory part Site of gas exchange Consists of bronchioles, alveolar ducts, and alveoli Conducting part Provides rigid conduits for air to reach the sites of gas exchange Includes all other respiratory structures (e.g., nose, nasal cavity, pharynx, trachea) Respiratory muscles: diaphragm and other muscles that promote ventilation

Major Functions of the Respiratory System To supply tissues with oxygen and dispose of carbon dioxide Respiration: four distinct processes must happen Pulmonary ventilation: moving air into and out of the lungs External respiration: gas exchange between the lungs and the blood Internal respiration: gas exchange between blood and tissues Transport: transport of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the lungs and tissues

General Anatomy Upper respiratory tract: The nose, Mouth, pharynx, and Larynx. Lower respiratory tract: The trachea, Bronchi, Alveoli, and Lungs. The thoracic cavity consists of: Right and left pleural cavities (the parietal pleura lines the thoracic cavity, and the visceral pleura adheres directly to the lung tissue. Mediastinum.

Respiratory Zone Begins as terminal bronchioles, feed into respiratory bronchioles. Respiratory bronchioles lead to alveolar ducts, then to terminal clusters of alveolar sacs composed of alveoli Approximately 300 million alveoli: Account for most of the lungs’ volume Provide great surface area for gas exchange

Respiratory Zone

Gross Anatomy of the Lungs Lungs occupy all of the thoracic cavity except the mediastinum Root or Hilum: site of vascular and bronchial attachments Costal surface: anterior, lateral, and posterior surfaces in contact with the ribs Apex: narrow superior tip Base: inferior surface that rests on the diaphragm

Hilum of the lungs

Blood Supply to Lungs Lungs are perfused by pulmonary and bronchial arteries. 1- Pulmonary arteries: Supply systemic venous blood to be oxygenated Ultimately feed into the pulmonary capillary network surrounding the alveoli Pulmonary veins: carry oxygenated blood back to the heart 2- Bronchial arteries: Provide systemic blood to the lung tissue Arise from aorta and enter the lungs at the hilus Supply all lung tissue except the alveoli

Pleurae Thin, double-layered serosa Parietal pleura Covers the thoracic wall and superior face of the diaphragm Continues around heart and between lungs Visceral pleura Covers the external lung surface Divides the thoracic cavity into three chambers The central mediastinum Two lateral compartments, each containing a lung

Mediastinum Divided into: anterior, middle, and posterior portions. Anterior mediastinum contains: the thyroid and thymus glands. Middle mediastinum contains: heart and great vessels, esophagus, and trachea. Posterior mediastinum contains: descending aorta and spine.

Chest X-Ray Review Imaging techniques used to investigate chest pathology include: Plain X-Ray film Computed Tomography (CT Scan) Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Ultrasound (US) Angiography

Radiographic signs Silhouette sign: opacity near the heart so you can not detect the heart boarder easily. Notes from the radiographs: opacity frontal and heart frontal so lesion is frontal.

Negative Silhouette Lesion Posterior.

Q. Lesion anterior or posterior?

Air Bronchogram Opacity in the lung contains a tree filled with air (bronchi contains air but alveoli opaque). Lesion arises from the lung not chest wall or pleura or mediastinum. Air bronchogram=alveolar pathology=consolidation (lung filled with liquid).

Pulmonary nodule: well defined lesion less than 3cm. Mass: well defined lesion more than 3cm.

To interpret chest x-ray differentiate between Focal lesion Diffuse lesion

Focal lesions Nodules Masses Cavities: sphere filled with air. Patches: opacity contains air bronchogram.

Nodules maybe due to most common Tuberculoma Hamartoma Bronchogenic carcinoma Metastases (multiple nodules or solitary) AVM Hydatid cyst

Benign nodule (Hamartoma and Tuberculoma): If we have pulmonary nodule and the edge is smooth and contains calcification.

Bronchogenic carcinoma Speculated margin nodule= malignancy. Upper lobe distribution 70%.

Bronchogenic carcinoma Lateral view showing the speculated margin.

Hydatid cyst Single or multiple lesions filled with water. Thin non enhancing margin. Abscess: thick enhancing margin, usually contains air.

X- ray lung abscess

CT is needed to show if the lesions are cystic or solid

Patch An ill defined lesion with air bronchogram. Air bronchogram: air filled bronchi passing through opaque lung. Pulmonary lesion. Alveolar pathology. Consolodation. Patch may be due to: Pneumonia or infarction.

Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung affecting primarily alveoli. It is usually caused by infection with viruses or bacteria. Typical symptoms include a cough, chest pain, fever, and difficulty breathing  

Pneumonia is accompanied by Consolidation

Diffuse lung disease We have 4 radiographic pattern: Reticular pattern e.g. Pneumonia, Bronchitis: Confluent small ill-defined densities produce a reticular pattern.

2. Ground glass pattern: increase in density in areas of ground glass and air trapping in lower lobes in patients with hypersensitivity pneumonitis (inflammation of lung tissue). Pneumonia is pneumonitis combined with consolidation (is a region of (normally compressible) lung tissue that has filled with liquid) due to infection.

3. Cystic lesions: air filled cysts.

4. Nodular pattern