Please Help me with My A & P II Homework

First read the book to see if there is any information at all. (I just had a burn case study that sucked b/c not much info was in the book!)

Then, I would look for the normal values.

Try to write down anything you can think that would answer these questions, search the internet, check out books at the library. etc

Sorry I can't help, but I do know how you feel.

Good luck.

Hello I am Jessica. I feel embarrassed coming here to find help and answers but I don't know what else to do. My A&P teacher gives us a homework for each subject we are covering. The first one was hard but I finally got it. This one is beyond me. Please dont think I am trying to have my homework done for me. I just want ideas or just guide me in the right direction. The homework looks as follows:

A 22-year old man was in a motorcycle accident resulting with neck injuries that led to partial paralysis of the upper and lower limbs. Almost immediately his chest felt heavy and he became dyspneic. His pulmonary values are as follows:

vital capacity (supine) 650 ml

minute ventilation (supine) 6L/min

respiratory rate (supine) 30 b/min

P arterial O2 61 mm Hg

P arterial CO2 47 mm Hg

IS THIS HARD OR WHAT?????? I am so overwhelmed.

Anyway one of the questions is:

What are the values for the tidal volume and the alveolar ventilation for this individual? Compare with normal volumes?

Why does his chest feel heavy?

Which nerves and muscles are involved in this problem?

Describe the reflexes involived in causing the dyspnea in this person?

There are many more and I am just so nervous right now. I don't know where to start or what to look for. This is beyond me. If anyone can please guide me in the right direction I would just deeply apreciate it. Please someone help me.

Thank you very much!!!!

Jessica

Yes, these questions always APPEAR so overwhelming, Jess.. but relax. The first thing you want to do when you are given these "biggies" is to tell yourself you will NOT be overwhelmed.. that there are answers to these, and they really are all within your grasp.

All you need to do is SLOW DOWN, take a few good, deep breaths to rid yourself of that "overwhelmed" feeling, and KNOW that the answers are there.

THEN, put on your THINKING cap.

Read the information given again.. this time with OUT feeling overwhelmed, and think things through as you read them.

Pick out the important stuff.. where exactly was the injury? What is the importance of the LOCATION of the injury, and how would this location of injury affect other body systems, such as breathing, respiratory muscles, etc.

Since the questions relate directly to respiration, you can assume this guy's paralysis has also affected his ability to breathe. Look up your muscles and nerves and refresh your memory on which of these would affect breathing.

As stated above, go back to your respiratory system and look up normal values again, and look at the values given to you in this patient... go from there and keep digging. These questions are formulated not to overwhelm you, but to get you into the good habit of thinking things out for yourself.. AND your future paitents ! :)

It takes a little work, but if you look at it as a puzzle, or a challenge, and let it excite you, you'll be better off in the "motivation area" to find the answers.

Just as you would try to figure out a broken clock, or piece of equipment, or plumbing, or hi tech gadget... ask yourself "now WHY is this not working"?.. and try to figure it out by breaking things down in what you DO know about what IS working.. and keep going.

You can do this, Jess ! Go get 'em !!! :balloons: :balloons: