70 year-old woman has difficulty breathing because of viral infection in lungs and pneumonia

Lung anatomy

Gas Laws

partial pressure

effects of inflammation

Respiratory physiology at the alveoli level

Age: become more susceptible to infections

Viral infection: body is susceptible to developing another infection because the body is busy fighting off the viral infection

Location: the air in higher altitudes is colder, less dense, and contains fewer oxygen molecules.

Boyle's law: at a constant temperature, the pressure of a gas decreases if the volume of the container increases

Dalton's law: the sum of all partial pressure is equal to the total atmospheric pressure

Henry's Law: at a given temperature, the solubility of a as in a liquid is dependent upon the partial pressure of the gas in the air and the solubility coefficient of the gas in the liquid

  • Larynx
  • Trachea
  • Bronchi
  • Bronchioles
  • Respiratory bronchioles
  • Alveolar ducts
  • Alveoli
  • goblet cells secret and store mucus
  • epithelial cells sweep mucus into the nasopharynx
  • Alveolar Type 1 cells: make up 95% of alveolar surface area and are moist and prone to collapse due to high surface tension
  • Alveolar Type 2 cells: secrete pulmonary surfactant which opposes surface tension and prevent the collapse of alveoli

Gas exchange happens in the millions of alveoli in the lungs. Inhaled oxygen moves from the alveoli to the blood in the capillaries. Carbon dioxide moves from the blood in the capillaries to the air in the alveoli.

  • partial pressure is the pressure exerted by each gas within a picture of gases
  • it is measured in mmHg
  • a partial pressure gradient exists when the partial pressure for a gas is higher in one region than another

how elevation affects P.P.

all work together to cause an infection such as pneumonia

Pulmonary edema:
can be caused due to higher elevations and/or a viral infection

  • this would explain the wheezy cough and fluid in the lungs

Acute Bronchitis: inflammation in the bronchial tubes and is sometimes caused by a viral infection

Pneumonia:
inflammation of the lungs

  • this would explain most of her symptoms such as the fast, shallow breathing and wheezing

the fall in atmospheric pressure at a higher altitudes decreases the partial pressure of inspired oxygen and drives pressure for gas exchange in the lungs

laryngitis: inflammation of the larynx

  • hoarse voice, sore throat, and sometimes fever
  • swelling of epiglottis may lead to airway obstruction

Bronchitis: Inflammation of the bronchi

  • acute: develops quickly and resolves in 2 weeks or less
  • chronic: results from long term exposure to irritants
  • you have large amounts of mucus and a cough that last 3 months

Pleurisy: Inflammation of the pleural membranes

  • severe chest pains associated with breathing
  • occurs when excess fluid accumulates in the pleural cavity

can be caused by a problem in the heart- the left ventricle isn't able to pump out the blood that enters it from the lungs, this causes the fluid backup and increased pressure

if left untreated the infection can move from the airways into the lungs causing...

if left untreated, the pleura can become swollen, creating sharp pains while breathing. Because of the patients age, this could lead to respiratory failure and ultimately death