Dysphagia and Pulmonary Function Part 2: Pulmonary Defense Mechanisms
Presented by Deanna Britton
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Pulmonary function and pulmonary defenses are highly relevant to dysphagia assessment in adults. This course, with Deanna Britton, provides an in-depth review of the body’s pulmonary defense systems that are relevant to SLPs assessing patients for dysphagia. The course begins by describing cellular level defenses employed in the respiratory tract and lungs, and then covers reflexive defenses including cough and other expiratory reactions. The course concludes with a discussion of pulmonary defenses at the alveolar level, such as the alveolar macrophage. The goal of this course is both to describe pulmonary defense mechanisms, and to help participants understand how impairments of pulmonary defenses can contribute to risk for pneumonia.
Meet your instructor
Deanna Britton
Deanna Britton is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Speech & Hearing Sciences at Portland State University (PSU), and Adjunct Assistant Professor at the Northwest Center for Voice & Swallowing in the Department of Otolaryngology (NWCVS) – Head & Neck Surgery at Oregon Health & Sciences University (OHSU) in Portland,…
Chapters & learning objectives
1. Anatomic Airway Defenses & Mucociliary Clearance
Following aspiration or respiratory compromise, the body employs several strategies at the cellular level to protect pulmonary function. In the first chapter of this course, Deanna Britton reviews key cellular level defenses, such as including mucociliary clearance.
2. Cough and Other Reflexive Airway Defenses
Reflexive and volitional cough and other macro-level respiratory defense mechanisms are also essential to protecting pulmonary function. In this chapter Deanna Britton reviews the mechanisms behind reflexive and volitional cough, and reviews scenarios in which these mechanisms can break down due to respiratory pathology.
3. Alveolar defenses & Overall Summary
Defenses specific to the alveoli represent a final defense mechanism for the pulmonary system. The final chapter of this course provides a brief introduction to these mechanisms, including the alveolar macrophage, anti-bacterial substances, and lymphocytes.
4. Learning Assessment
Test your knowledge with a series of case-based questions.
