The reduced physiological reserve after the one quoted above includes anatomical changes associated with aging, functional respiratory, urinary tract and gastrointestinal tract. In the case of the respiratory system is well established that the lung function deteriorates with increasing age. Some of the anatomical changes that contribute to loss of function include:
(a) Decline broncheolar average diameter,
(b) Diameter greater than the alveolar sacs, which become flat,
(c) Increases in elastic fibers and collagen type III decline. The anatomical changes contribute to functional changes after decline elastic recoil, the ability of the reduced oxygen diffusion, near the small airways leading to the entrance, and reduce the expiratory.
Changes include the reduction of Spiro metric inspiratory reserve volume decreased expiratory reserve volume and a decrease in vital capacity. In addition, mucociliary clearance is significantly reduced in elderly care patients. The net effect of these changes occurs is rather or not also clear those infectious microorganisms in the lungs. Oropharygeal the normal flora is a mixture of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria and may pose a substantial number of cases of CAP. In fact, it is estimated that the aspiration of the oral flora only from S. pneumonia as the cause of CAP exceeded.
The bladder is healthy very resistant to bacterial colonization. Empty the bladder is the most effective way to prevent bacteria from colonizing. The elasticity of the bubble decreases with age, making it difficult to empty boxes. Given those older adults in the incidence of bacteria is much higher for women, men and women over 65 years, the incidence of bacteria almost immediately. The most important factors are:
1. change drain of obstructive diseases of the prostate in men uropathy,
2. of the urinary bladder with residual urine in women, and
3. and urethral catheters in both accessories.
Although the physiological condition of the individual is always good, there is no change in the gastrointestinal tract that may be fatal. This does not mean that no change in the gastrointestinal tract, rather than changes that can occur without serious consequences are. This point was of first noted by Saltzman and Russell, who wrote that in multi-organ system, the digestive system has made, makes a large reserve capacity, and therefore there is little change in gastrointestinal function due to the absence of disease of aging. Accuracy can be said about the organ systems in relation to aging. Note the enlarged liver functional reserve, the need for a single kidney, the reserve capacity of the lungs or the large excess capacity of bone marrow hematopoiesis.
Certainly there is a large surplus of potential immune system of young adults gradually decreases with age, as we shall see. In fact, one can argue that the gradual reduction of the potential loss of one point expressed that the level to satisfy a need or an acute emergency, beyond this point must approach will manifest the effects of aging.
There are functional changes that occur in the gastrointestinal tract with age, starting with the fact that the secretion of stomach acid leads to an increase in pH in the proximal small intestine and decreases the potential for bacterial growth. In addition, the normal gut motility are maintained, one factor that has a bacterial overgrowth. This condition can histological changes in the mucosa of the small intestine, hypertrophy of the villi and crypts, vesicles of the cytoplasm of the cells cause mucous membrane, mitochondria were swollen and dilated cisternae of the endoplasmic reticulum.
