assessment of respiratory function Flashcards
upper respiratory tract includes
nose, paranasal sinuses, pharynx, tonsils, adenoids, larynx, trachea
function of the upper respiratory tract
warms and filters inspired air
lower respiratory tract includes
lungs, pleura (visceral & parietal), mediastinum, bronchi & bronchioles, alveoli
function of the lower respiratory tract
responsible for gas exchange
4 different paranasal sinuses
frontal (lower forehead), maxillary (cheekbones), ethmoid (beside upper nose), sphenoid (behind the nose)
3 types of alveoli
type 1 make up 95% surface area, type 2 make up the other 5% of surface area & produce type 1 cells and surfactant, type 3 contain macrophages
outer layer of the pleura cavity
parietal pleura and attaches to the chest wall
inner layer of the pleura cavity
visceral pleura and covers the lungs, blood vessels, nerves, and bronchi
what is surfactant
a substance that reduces the surface tension of a liquid in which it is dissolved. helps decrease surface tension at the air-liquid interface of the alveoli
the alveoli are the site of
gas exchange
oxygen transport
oxygen is supplied to cells and carbon dioxide is removed by the circulating blood
respiration takes place at what level
the cellular level, the use of oxygen
what is inspiration
active process, uses energy
what is expiration
passive process, no energy used
what is ventilation
movement of air in and out of the lungs
what is the diffusion in pulmonary diffusion and perfusion
oxygen and blood are exchanged at the air-blood interface
what is the perfusion in pulmonary diffusion and perfusion
blood flow through the pulmonary circulation
with pulmonary diffusion and perfusion what must happen
they must match/ balance
gas diffusion is decreased by
a decrease of oxygen in atmosphere, decrease in amount of alveolar ventilation, decrease in alveolar/ cap surface area, an increase of alveolar/ cap membrane thickness (carbon dioxide diffuses more easily than oxygen)
carbon dioxide transport
oxygen diffuse from the blood into the tissue, carbon dioxide diffuses from tissues to blood and is transported to the lungs
central chemical receptors in medulla respond to
change in CSF from chemical changes in blood from increase & decrease in pH to correct imbalance
peripheral chemical receptors in aortic arch and carotid arteries first responders to
changes in PaO2, then to PaCO2 and pH
mechanoreceptors in the lungs respond to
stretch, irritant, juxta capillary receptors (respond to changes in resistance) altered breathing pattern
proprioceptors in muscles and chest wall respond to
body movements, increased respiration