Basic Pulmonary Physio Flashcards
Alveoli: number and purpose?
In adults, 300 million, sites of gas exchange in the blood
Which heart ventricle provides blood to the lungs?
Right ventricle, through the pulmonary arteries/arterioles and into the capillaries surrounding each alveolus
How many liters of air enters and leaves the alveoli per minute
4L/min
How much blood (cardiac output) is seen in the pulmonary arteries per minute?
5L/min of blood
Name the airway segments from the atmosphere to the upper airway
Atmosphere -> nose/mouth -> pharynx -> larynx which houses the vocal cords (and esophagus)
Names the LOWER airway segments from the larynx
Conducting zone: trachea -> mainstem bronchi -> bronchioles -> terminal bronchioles -> (resp zone) resp bronchioles -> alveolar ducts -> alveolar sacs
Which airways are supported by cartilaginous rings?
trachea and mainstem bronchi
which area of the respiratory tract does gas exchange occur?
The respiratory zone: respiratory bronchioles, alveolar ducts, alveolar sacs
What is the purpose of the oral and nasal cavities?
Trap airborne particles in nasal haris and mucus
How to do the respiratory bronchioles combat airborne particles
epithelial lining with cilia that constantly beat secretions upwards towards the pharynx
Innate protective mechanisms from airborne matter
1) mucous secretion
2) phagocytes
3) escalator ciliary motion
4) bronchiole constriction in response to irritation
How many types of alveolar cells are there?
Two, type I and type II
What is the purpose of type II alveolar cells
Surfactant production
what is the purpose of the conducting zone
1) low-resistance pathway for airflow
2) defense against microbes, noxious cehmicals, foreign material
3) warms and moistens air
4) phonates
What is roughly the equivalent of the total surface area of gas exchange of alveoli
Tennis court
