The Respiratory System

The Respiratory system is divided into two portions:

• Conducting part = nasal cavity to the terminal bronchioles
• Respiratory part (gas exchange) = respiratory bronchioles, alveolar ducts and alveoli

Between trachea and branching there are 20-25 generations of airways as we move down the system meaning that the surface area of the system steadily increases from 2-3 cm² in the trachea to 12,000 cm² in the alveoli.  This huge surface area is for gas exchange. 

Below is my collection of notes on the Respiratory System from medical school.  Each lecture is followed by a brief description of it's contents.  However, there are many diseases covered other than those listed.  If you are looking for something specific, you can search MedSkool.Net to find it. 

General Respiratory System Topics:

Mediastinum and Diaphragm - Causes, Symptoms, and Diagnosis

Pleural Diseases 1 - Pleural Effusion and Pneumothorax

Pleural Diseases 2 - Pleuritis, Malignant Mesolthelioma, and Mediastinal Germ Cell Tumors

Respiratory Failure Overview - Definitions and Descriptions

Respiratory Failure Case Study - Acute Lung Injury and ARDS

Pulmonary Vascular Diseases - Pulmonary Embolism and Pulmonary Hypertension

Pulmonary Vascular Diseases - Pulmonary Edema, Pulmonary Embolism, Atelectasis, etc.
 

Infectious Diseases of the Lungs:

Infectious Diseases of the Respiratory System  - Influenza, Bronchopneumonia, etc.

Pneumonia Overview - Signs, Symptoms, and Classifications

Community Acquired Pneumonia - Presentation, Diagnosis, and Treatment

Tuberculosis Overview - Etiology, Causitive Organisms, and Clinical Manifestations

Fungal Lung Infections - Coccidiodes immitis, Cryptococcus neoformans, Pneumocystis carinii, etc.
 

Lung Cancer:

Lung Cancer Overview 1 - Clinical Manifestations, Staging, and Treatment

Lung Cancer Overview 2 - Presentation, Diagnosis, and Treatment

Lung Cancer Classifications -  - Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Adenocarcinoma, Small Cell Lung Cancer, etc.

Neuroendocrine Lung Neoplasms - Classifications and Paraneoplastic Syndromes

Obstructive Lung Diseases:

Obstructive Lung Diseases Overview - Case History and Definitions

Obstrucive Lung Diseases Classifications - Chronic Bronchitis, Emphysema, Bronchiectasis, Asthma

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (COPD) - Emphysema and Chronic Bronchitis

Asthma Overview - Presentation, Diagnosis, and Treatment

Asthma - Definition, Epidemiology, Classification, and Treatment

Cystic Fibrosis and Bronchiectasis - Definitions and Diagnoses

Interstitial Lung Diseases:

Interstitial and Infiltrative Lung Diseases - Pulmonary Fibrosis, Sarcoidosis, etc.

Interstitial Lung Diseases 1 - Silicosis, Pneumoconiosis, Anthracosis, etc.

Interstitial Lung Diseases 2 - Asbestos, Berryliosis, & Related Diseases (Malignant Mesothelioma)

Interstitial Lung Diseases 3 - Pneumonitits

Interstitial Lung Diseases 4 - Sarcoidosis and Bronciolitis Obliterans Organizing Pneumonia