A + P Respiratory System Flashcards
respiratory system main purposes
delivery of O2 to blood
removal of CO2 from blood
maintain acid-base balance in blood
respiratory system parts
passage of air into the lungs
lungs
muscles
passage of air into the lungs
air enters the nostrils and passes through the nasopharynx
and/or
air enters the mouth and passes through the pharynx
air travels through the larynx (voice box)
air passage continued
air travels through the trachea down to the lungs
trachea divides into right and left bronchi, each of which extend into a respective lung
each bronchus divides into smaller bronchioles
each bronchiole contains several alveolar sacs
alveolar sacs
- visual characteristics
- function
visual
-membranous sacs surrounded by pulmonary capillaries
function
-serve as sites for gas exchange (O2 and CO2) with pulmonary circulation
larynx primary structures
epiglottis
glottis
epiglottis
- visual characteristics
- function
visual
-flap of elastic cartilage
function
-guards the entrance of the glottis to prevent food/drink/objects from entering the airway
glottis
a combination of the vocal folds/cords and the space between the folds
lung “tissue” characteristic
- composition
- -composition
fairly elastic
composition
-bronchioles and alveoli
–contain specialized epithelium and smooth muscle
bronchioles
-tissue composition
tissue
-mostly cartilaginous to provide rigidity to the airway
large vs. small bronchioles
large
-lined with ciliated simple columnar cells
small
-lined with simple cuboidal cells
goblet cells and seromucous glands
- location
- function
location
-present in all bronchioles
function
-produce mucous that capture foreign substances
bronchiole epithelium
- surrounded by…
- function of surroundings
surrounded by bands of smooth muscle
constrict to help force air out of the lungs or relax to allow air into the lungs
alveoli tissue
simple squamous epithelial cells
macrophages
- location
- function
location
-within alveoli
function
-engulf, digest, and remove foreign and/or harmful substances
right vs. left lung structure
right lung is separated into three lobes (superior, middle, inferior) by the horizontal and oblique fissures
the left lung is separated into two lobes (superior and inferior) by the oblique fissure
the left lung has a cardiac notch along its medial border to accommodate the heart
how does each lobe receive its air supple
via bronchioles
how are lobes divided
divided into small sections and lobules
pleurae
-divisions
double-walled sac that each lung is enveloped in divisions -visceral pleura -parietal pleura -pleural cavity
visceral pleura
- location
- function
the inner wall
covers lungs
parietal pleura
- location
- function
the outer wall
adheres to the thoracic wall (ribs, diaphragm)
pleural cavity
- location
- function
between each membrane
contains serous fluid (created by each membrane) that helps adhere lungs to thoracic wall
muscles
diaphragm
internal intercostals
external intercostals
diaphragm
- divides…
- contraction…
- relaxation
divides thoracic cavity from abdomen
contraction of diaphragm depresses to bottom wall of the thoracic cavity, thereby expanding the volume of the thoracic cavity for inhalation
relaxation of diaphragm elevates the bottom wall of the thoracic cavity, thereby reducing the volume of the thoracic cavity for exhalation
intercostals
- location
- function
attached to ribs
assist lung ventilation (breathing)
external intercostals
-function
elevate ribs during resting and forced inhalation
internal intercostals
-function
depress ribs during forced exhalation
resting exhalation
passive, elastic process that should not require contraction of the internal intercostals
movement of air depends on
pressure differences between the atmosphere and the spaces inside the lungs
what are the two pressures
intrapleural pressure
intrapulmonary pressure