Question

Two-week-old Tabitha has infant respiratory distress syndrome. Eighty-year-old Anthony has emphysema, and 50-year-old Jenny has pulmonary fibrosis.

In your initial post, explain why the mechanics of breathing are greatly compromised in each case.

Answer 1

A) INFANT RESPIRATORY DISTRESS(RDS) MECHANISM:-

- Neonatal RDS occurs in neonates whose lungs have not yet fully developed.
- It is caused by deficiency lung surfactant.
- Lung surfactant are produced in specialized lung cells called Type II cells or pneumocytes.
-surfactant reduce surface tension and prevent alveoli from collapsing.
- Neonates have difficulty in breathing.

B) RESPIRATORY MECHANISM IN EMPHYSEMA:-
-Emphysema is a progressive disease of the lungs caused by deficiency alpha-1-antitrypsin enzyme.
-Characterized by shortness of breath due to over-inflation of the alveoli, the lung tissue involved in exchange of gases is destroyed.

C) PULMONARY FIBROSIS:-
- It is a lung disease that occurs due to damaged and scarred.
- This thickened, stiff tissue makes it more difficult for lungs to work properly and cause shortness of breath.