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9A - Gas Exchange and Smoking PDF
9A - Gas Exchange and Smoking PDF
Several different types of tissues made of specialised cells work together to form
a functional unit whose purpose is to deliver air to and remove air from the gas
exchange surface of the alveoli
(b) [PA] describe the distribution of
cartilage, ciliated epithelium, goblet
cells and smooth muscle in the
trachea, bronchi and bronchioles;
Airway Number Approximate Cartilage Goblet Smooth Cilia Site of gas
diameter cells muscles exchange
Ciliated epithelium
Smooth Muscle
Longitudinal Muscle
Elastic Tissue
Goblet Cells
Pseudostratified ciliated
columnar epithelium
Pseudostratified ciliated
columnar epithelium
Simple squamous epithelium
Submucosa
Elastic fibre
- Found in connective tissue, the
fibre can stretch up to 1.5 times its
normal size and springs back. It
works in conjunction with smooth
muscle to maintain a ‘stressed’
airway. It is said to give the
structure “recoil” ability to return
back to its usual shape and size.
Bronchus Artery Pair
Bronchus
Bronchiole
Respiratory Bronchioles
Respiratory Bronchioles
Respiratory Bronchiole with
alveolar duct
(d) describe the process of gas
exchange between air in the
alveoli and the blood;
Alveoli
• Alveoli have a very thin epithelial lining
• surrounded by many blood capillaries that
carry deoxygenated blood.
• They provide a short distance and a large surface
area over which oxygen and carbon dioxide can be
exchanged.
• They also contain elastic fibres which expand to
allow air in and snap back to help force out air.
Features of the mammalian lung that enable efficient gas
exchange
Fatty
material is
deposited in
vessel wall. Narrowed
artery
Atheroma
becomes
deposits in blocked by
the inner a blood clot
wall and
roughening
the artery
Stroke
• A stroke occurs when an artery in the brain
(a) Bursts so that blood leaks into brain tissues
(brain haemorrhage)
(b) Is blocked due to artherosclerosis or a
thrombus.
Stroke
• The brain tissue in the area supplied by the
artery is starved of oxygen and dies (cerebral
infarction)
• A stroke may be fatal or cause mild or severe
disability.
• Depending on how large the area of brain
infected.
Coronary Heart Disease
• Two coronary arteries branch from the aorta
to supply all the muscles of the atria and the
ventricles.
• Coronary heart disease is a disease of these
arteries that causes damage to or malfunction
of the heart.
• Three forms of coronary heart disease:
(a) Angina pectoris
(b) Heart attack
(c) Heart failure
Angina pectoris
• Severe chest pain brought on by exertion (e.g.
exercise)
• Pain is caused by severe shortage of blood to the
heart muscle, but there is no death to the heart
tissue.
Heart Attack
• A.k.a myocardial infarction.
• Part of the heart is starved of oxygen and dies
• Causes sudden and severe chest pain
• May survive if treated immediately.
Heart failure
• Due to blockage of a main coronary artery
• Result in gradual damage of heart muscle
• The heart weakens and fails to pump
efficiently.
(j) discuss the difficulties in
achieving a balance between
preventions and cure with
reference to coronary
heart disease, coronary by-pass
surgery and heart transplant
surgery;
Treatment to coronary heart
disease (CHD)
• Drugs.
• Coronary artery by-pass surgery.
• Heart Transplant.
• Angioplasty.
Drugs
• Used to lower blood pressure, decrease risk of blood clotting,
prevent abnormal heart rhythms, reduce retention of fluids and
decrease the cholesterol
– ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme) inhibitors. ACE inhibitors
are commonly used to treat high blood pressure. Examples
include captopril and enalapril.
– If you have a high blood cholesterol level, cholesterol-lowering
medicine called statins may be prescribed. Examples include
simvastatin, pravastatin and atorvastatin. They work by blocking
the formation of cholesterol and increasing the number of LDL
receptors in the liver, which help to remove the LDL cholesterol
from your blood
Coronary artery bypass surgery
• Invasive surgery involves replacing the
damaged artery by blood vessels from the
leg.
• The bypass carries blood from the aorta to
a place on the heart beyond the blockage
in the coronary artery. Sometimes two or
three bypass is necessary.
Heart Transplant
• Very high cost
• Difficulties in finding suitable donor
• Make sure that the host do not reject donor’s tissue.
• Drugs are used to suppress the immune system
after the transplant which may produce unpleasant
side effects and may not entirely prevent rejection.
• There are strict rules on deciding who should
receive transplant. Smokers who didn’t listen to
advice will be rejected from being in the transplant
list.
Angioplasty
• Less invasive procedure.
• Involves stretching the coronary arteries
by inserting a deflated balloon in the
femoral artery in the leg, positioning it in
the narrowed coronary artery and
expanding the balloon several times.
Prevention of CHD
• Prevention is more cost effective than
treatment.
• Two major ways;
– Screen for population at risk
– Adopting healthy lifestyle