MEDICAL
Medical/Educational program content
Respiratory/Pulmonary Unit
By Carol Bryant, CMT, Product Development
A symbiotic relationship exists between the cardiovascular system and the respiratory system, so much so that often times you will hear the term cardiorespiratory used in medical literature, meaning a relationship of the two. The series of events which take place when oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged is known as respiration; that is, the gas exchange between air, blood, and cells. When nerve impulses prompt the breathing process along, this is known as ventilation. Simply stated, ventilation involves air movement between the lungs and the atmosphere.
Gases are exchanged between the lungs and blood in a process called external respiration. Gases exchanged between blood and the cells of tissues is called internal respiration. Air flow follows a specific pattern throughout the body, which we will explore more in the section on structure and anatomy of the respiratory/pulmonary system.
[SIDE BARl Internal respiration: Carbon dioxide leaves the body’s cells and enters the blood while oxygen from blood moves into the body’s cells. Think of the letters “IBT”: internal-blood-upper (respiratory system)-tissues. External respiration: Ventilation and the exchange of oxygen in the lungs with carbon dioxide. Think of the letters “BEL”: blood, external, lungs]
The respiratory system is responsible for important secondary functions as well. These include vocalization (speech), or the production of sound as air passes over the vocal cords, assistance with abdominal compression which occurs during micturition (urination), defecation, and parturition (childbirth), and the natural reflexes of coughing and sneezing, which assure that the respiratory system is kept clean.
Briefly, the main areas of the respiratory system are the:
Lungs: Main organs of respiration
Trachea: Also known as the windpipe; filters air and branches to the bronchi
Bronchi: Air tubes (2) off the trachea which carry air to the lungs
Diaphragm: The major muscle of respiration, which is located below the lungs.
As you work through this unit and all others, you will be exposed to a multitude of specialties in areas connected to respiratory and pulmonary, such as physical medicine and rehabilitation, alternative and preventative medicine, geriatrics, ENT, and others, as the interconnectedness of the body to itself is not an isolated specialty, but a network of many systems joined in a give-and-take fashion. Once again, keep in mind that you will be asked questions regarding concepts and content that might not be specifically covered in the unit material. This is done intentionally in an effort to prepare you for the CMT examination, since you already have a strong working knowledge of medical transcription.
Medical/Pharmacologic program content
Exercises/Quizzes
By Carol Bryant, CMT, Product Development
TRUE OR FALSE.
Mark the following true or false.
1 The sagittal plane divides the body into left and right. [t]
2 Any organ of the thoracic and abdominal cavity is called viscera. [t]
3 The drug doxycycline is an anticoagulant. [f]
4 The plural form of meatus is meati. [f]
5 If a normal opening is lacking, this is called atresia. [t]
6 Turning of the palm backward is known as supination. [f]
7 Myos/o means mild. [f]
8 The pectoralis major muscle flexes and rotates the shoulder forward. [t]
9 A muscle’s connection to stationary bone is called its origin. [t]
10 Another name for Lou Gehrig disease is ALS. [t]
MULTIPLE CHOICE.
Choose the best answer.
1 Celebrex is an example of a/an [COX-2 inhibitor*, antiemetic].
2 The drug [paroxetine*, omeprazole] is used to treat fibromyalgia.
3 A drug that lessens inflammation or itching by its effect on the immune system is considered a/an [corticosteroid*, analgesic].
4 Shoulder impingement is classified according to the [Slater-Harris, Neer*] staging system.
5 A [sprain, strain*] generally causes no serious damage.
6 Drugs classified as [antiemetics, antipyretics*] are used to treat gout.
7 A [ganglion cyst*, rhabdomyoma] is a tumor of the tendon sheath, usually located in the wrist.
8 A [ligament*, tendon] connects bone to bone.
9 Most narcotics are not straight [NSAID, opioid*].
10 An inflammation of muscle tissue is called [myopathy, myositis*].
Medical/Educational program content
The Urinary System: Introduction
By Carol Bryant, CMT, Product Development
The excretory system, also called the urinary system or the genitourinary system, works closely with the cardiovascular system and the digestive system. The excretory system is responsible for eliminating metabolic wastes from the body in the form of urine. However, there are three additional important functions for which the excretory system is responsible:
* The regulation of the fluid content (water) in the body.
* Controlling the acid-base balance in the body.
* Maintaining electrolyte balance.
The urinary system is responsible for volume maintenance in the body along with excreting waste. The urinary system does not act alone in its removal of waste from the body. The lungs, skin, and liver are all organs that excrete waste products. The urinary system performs more than excretion. The balance of pH in the body and electrolyte balance are both integral functions involving this system. As you can imagine, there is a symbiotic network with other aspects of body mechanisms. For example, the nervous system helps to regulate waste emptying from the bladder and control blood pressure of the kidneys. In turn, pH is regulated and electrolytes are balanced. In order for bones to grow and be properly maintained, the urinary system conserves calcium while the skeletal system protects the organs necessary to do so.
As we age, become ill, or get injured, the urinary system is affected. Thus, the wastes that the body must rid itself of become toxic and can enter the bloodstream, affect other organs, and cause great harm or even death. During catabolism (when oxygen and food combine in the body), smaller waste particles are formed into gases, water vapor, and carbon dioxide. Understanding the anatomy of the urinary system is important in understanding how these wastes exit the body as well as the disease processes that occur when functionality is disturbed.
Many different problems are treated by urologists. Among these are:
testicular torsions or other testicular problemsherniasbladder incontinenceurinary tract infections (UTIs)bladder, prostate, and rectal cancersinability to urinateimpotence and other sexual dysfunctionsbladder and urinary tract obstructionskidney stonesvarious kidney diseases such as nephritis or nephrosisWhere appropriate, these problems are treated with such procedures and surgeries as:
cystoscopiesureteroscopiesorchiopexiesresections of the prostatetransurethral resection of the bladder or bladder tumor (TURB/TURBT)herniorrhaphiescircumcisionsstent placementscatheter placementspenile prosthesesvasectomieskidney transplants
Contact: Carol Bryant
Phone: 570-540-3341
Email: CarolBWriter@yahoo.com
Carol Bryant
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