Anatomical & Physiological Influences
Causes
RSV more frequently effects infants but can affect adults. Infants who have had RSV have an increase frequency of wheezing.
Air enters the respiratory tract through the nose or mouth and then either enters the nasopharynx, or oropharynx respectively. Continuing through the laryngopharynx to trachea, which divides at the carina to form the left and right main bronchus. In each lung the bronchus divide into the lobar bronchus, segmented bronchus, the smaller bronchi, the bronchioles, the terminal bronchioles, the respiratory bronchioles, the alveolar ducts, alveolar sacs and finally the alveoli. Respiratory Syncytial Virus frequently referred to as bronchiolitis is an acute viral infection of the bronchioles in the lungs that affects the respiratory tract, specifically the bronchioles. The virus …show more content…
Because there are two strands, it is thought this may be why we haven’t’ developed immunity to the virus. The virus affects the epithelium in the lungs by decreasing the function of the cilia and sometimes even destroying epithelium. The bronchioles become obstructed due to increased mucus secretions and edema within the submucosal …show more content…
P., Loughlin, V. O., & Bidle, T. S. (2016). Anatomy & Physiology an Integrative Approach 2e. New York, NY: McGraw Hill Education.
Openshaw, P. J., & Tregoning, J. S. (2005). Immune Responses and Disease Enhancement during Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection. Clinical Microbiology Reviews. Retrieved March 2, 2016.
Mayo Clinic Staff (2014, July 8). Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). Retrieved March 2, 2016, from www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions
Respiratory syncytial virus: New perspectives for development of a vaccine. (2014). ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 2,