Essays on Alveoli

‘Author’s name’

‘Institution’ Emphysema is an irreversible condition, wherein air spaces in the lungs are enlarged, specifically those beyond the terminal bronchioles and most notably in the alveoli resulting in alveolar wall damage and airflow obstruction. This is most common among chronic smokers. (Braun, 2007) The development of an inflammation in the small airways is mainly the source of obstruction. In moderate to severe emphysema, the primary cause of obstruction is the loss of elastic recoil in the alveoli. Along with the airway obstruction, vascular changes in the lungs can be noted that will make the lining of the arteries and ...

Cardiovascular system

The cardiovascular system is also known as the circulatory system, and it is the body’s transportation system that comprises the heart, blood vessels, and blood. The system does the work of transporting oxygen, hormones, cellular waste products and nutrients to all the parts of the body. The use of blood transports all the products, and it is approximated that the body of an adult makes use of five liters of blood to transport the products from one part to the other. Blood is pumped from the heart through the arteries then gets into body tissues through capillaries (Inner ...

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) refers to emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Stoller claims that COPD has been the interest of many researchers recently. The disease caused about 2.5 million deaths in 2000 (Stoller, 2012). Normally, there are two lungs in the chest. Lobes are sections that make up lungs. Ribcage protects the lungs. They remove carbon dioxide from the body and bring oxygen into it. The nose and the cough are the ways in which lungs protect themselves. People breathe in air through the mouse or nose (Thoracic.org, 2015). Then the air moves down the trachea. The epiglottis controls ...

A Proper understanding of the pathophysiology of diseases and conditions is essential in their treatment as well as management. Every disease has a way of affecting the normal functioning of the body. Some disorders attack the whole body while others affect specific organs. Therefore, it is crucial to study the pathophysiology of diseases. It is also essential to understand the relationship between related diseases. This helps in understanding the interactions between the diseases. This paper is set to examine the pathophysiology of pneumonia, hypoxemia, as well as thyroid cancer. Additionally, the paper analyses the relationship between these diseases.

Pathophysiology of Pneumonia

Pneumonia ...

Introduction

This paper aims at evaluating concepts of alteration in homeostatic state, secondary to temporal variables. It analyses the case study of Brad, a 45-year old coal cutter who has held the job for 25 years. Brad is experiencing a chronic cough due to prolonged exposure to coal. Importantly, he has not been attending yearly checkups because he fears that his lung is “black.” The disease leads to fibrosis, reduced diffusing ability, and dilation of the small airways. In the final stage, the airways, alveoli, and pulmonary capillaries become damaged.

How the disease described in the case study creates incongruous between ventilation and perfusion

Chronic lung disease may induce mismatch in ventilation and perfusion ...

Describe the underlying pathology of COPD and the common pathological characteristics of the condition. Discuss the impact these pathological changes have on normal function, including how alveolar ventilation might be different in Mr Wenham compared to a normal individual. The hallmark pathological attributes of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are one, poorly reversible airflow obstruction and two, a progressive atypical inflammatory response within the lungs. The abnormal inflammatory response denotes the responses of the innate and adaptive immune systems to long-standing exposure to noxious gases and particles especially cigarette smoke. Notably, all cigarette smokers have some degree of inflammation ...

Emphysema is a type of COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary disease) that progressively damages the alveoli (air sacs) in the lungs and is mainly associated with smoking (Wells et al., 2012). The disease mainly causes breathing difficulties whereby this is associated with over-inflation of the air sacs in the lungs. As such, “barrel chest” configuration is among the key characteristics for emphysema whereby individuals suffering from the disease usually develop a “barrel chest” following progression of the disease. Based on the case study, the nurse would obviously expect the patient to have a “barrel chest” since he has had the ...

This refers to moulds of a particularly microbial genus commonly found in the digestive system, decaying vegetable matter, plant surfaces, and soil. Depending on the route of infection, mucor can result in two types of infection (Ibrahim, Spellberg, Walsh, & Kontoyiannis, 2012). In the case of pulmonary exposure, the victim inhales fungal spores found in the environment which may cause an infection to develop in the sinuses, face, eyes and lungs. During cutaneous exposure, the fungus enters the skin via puncture wounds, cuts, or scrapes. Mucormycosis, though rare is an infection attributed to the organisms belonging to a group of ...

Introduction

The exchange of respiratory gas is limited by the capacity of the respiratory muscles to circulate air in the lung. Ventilation fails when muscles do not have the capacity to cope with the load brought by the mechanics of the pulmonary system. It is crucial to comprehend the mechanics of respiration/breathing not only for purposes of diagnosing how the system has failed and to offer the correct prescription for treatment of the failure, but to be capable of providing the most effectual temporary respiratory support through the use of a mechanical ventilator, as well. The first category explains the ...

Pulmonary emphysema is a pathological condition of the lung tissue, which is characterized by its increased airiness due to the expansion of the alveoli, as well as the destruction of alveolar walls. This disease happens with males twice as often than with females. The risk of development of emphysema among people with chronic obstructive pulmonary illnesses is very high, especially after 55 years (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2014).

Factors that Provoke the Development of Emphysema

At the present time there are many causes and risk factors of pulmonary emphysema, with which a person meets almost every day. Some of them we will consider now. The main cause ...

The process of inhalation or inspiration can be explained simply by the intake of air. In some cases, this process is further described as the transfer of the oxygen to the bloodstream and then to the blood cells. Further, this is followed by the release of the carbon dioxide from the cells to the bloodstream and pumping it to the lungs, from where the waste carbon dioxide is expelled to the environment. The oxygen enters into the body from the outside environments through inspiration. This process of inspiration includes the contraction of the diaphragm along with the internal and ...

Introduction

Studies relating to lung cancer treatment can save lives and make the lives of cancer patients more comfortable besides increasing the quality of life. According to Lardinois et al., (2003), there are three primary types of lung cancer; they include non-small cell, small cell, and carcinoid lung cancer. Statistically, non-small cell lung cancer, for example, Squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, and large cell carcinoma account for the highest occurrences of all lung cancers to a tune of 85% [1]. It has been established that both environmental and genetic factors do contribute to lung cancer significantly. Continued exposure to carcinogens, ionizing ...

Introduction

Research in lung cancer treatment can save lives and improve a patient’s quality of life. There are three main types of lung cancer: Non-small cell, small cell, and lung carcinoid cancer. Non-small cell lung cancer, such as Squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, and large cell carcinoma make up about 85% of all lung cancers (Molina, Yang, Cassivi, Schild, & Adjei, 2008). Both environmental and genetic factors are significant in the cause of lung cancer. Chronic exposure to carcinogens, ionizing radiation, and viral infections can lead to alterations of the DNA in tissue lining the bronchial epithelium of the lungs. Furthermore, ...

Introduction

Approximately 2.5 million individuals in the United States contract pneumonia annually, and 55,000 of those individuals die as a result. In fact, pneumonia was the eighth prominent cause of morbidity and is the number one communicable disease in the United States. Pneumonia is the leading deadly hospital-contracted disease and contributes to a sizable amount of deaths in unindustrialized countries as well. It is a grave illness that can impact individuals in all age groups, but it is especially serious in adolescents, the elderly population, and in people with fundamental medical issues such as ischemia, low blood sugar, and ...

Health issues

Nearly all the body parts are affected by smoking. Starting from the head all the way down, smoking affects the functioning of these body organs. To begin with, as a person smokes, the smoke passes through the mouth to the other parts of the respiratory system. The mouth is therefore the first organ to be exposed to risk of infection. Cancer of the mouth is one of the most common types of diseases affecting smoking individuals (Anderson 15). This is because the chemicals contained in cigarettes causes the antibodies on the surfaces of the mouth to die. This thus leaves ...