Cardio-Respiraoty Week Four Flashcards
Describe the thyroid cartilage
This is the larges cartilage in the larynx. It is forks by two plates of cartilage joined anteriorly to form ‘Adam’s apple’. The vocal cords are located here.
Describe the cricoid cartilage
This is a complete ring of cartilage forming the inferior border of the larynx. The cartilage is united to tracheal by the cricotrachial ligament
Describe the epiglottis
This is a thin triangular flap at the entrance to the larynx. . This moves downward when food is swallowed.
Describe the arytenoid cartilage
This is two pyramid cartilages on cricoid which have the vocal ligaments. This allows a pitch change in the voice.
When does the trachea begin?
C6
Where does the tracheal divide?
T4
When unites he cartilage rings in the trachea posteriorly?
Trachealis muslces
What is the epithelium of the trachea?
Pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium
What is present at the division of the trachea?
Carina
What is the difference between the right and left principle bronchi?
Right: vertical, shorter, wider
Left: horizontal, larger and thinner
How many secondary (lobar) bronchi are there in each lung?
Right: three
Left: Two
How many tertiary (segmental) bronchi are there in each lung?
They each serve a Bronchopulmonary segment. There is initially ten in each lung but then two in the left fuse to from eight.
What is the function of Clara cells?
Produce component of surfactant
What is the passage of air, starting from the trachea?
Trachea - Principle bronchi - secondary (lobar) bronchi - tertiary (segmental) bronchi - bronchioles - terminal bronchioles - respiratory bronchioles - alveolar ducts - alveolar sacs - alveoli
What is the epithelium of respiratory bronchioles?
Ciliated cuboidal epithelium
What are the two types of pneumocytes in the alveoli?
Type one: large flattened cells with dark oval nuclei. They make up 95% of area and 40% of number. They function in gas exchange.
Type two: these are cuboidal which represent 5% of area and 60% of number. They produce surfactant and are able to divide to replace damaged cells.
What is the difference in shape of type one and two pneumocytes?
Type one: squamous
Type two: cuboidal
What are the two layers of the pleura?
The inner visceral and outer parietal. The pleural cavity is in-between.
What are the four areas of the parietal pleura?
- Mediastinal
- Cervical
- Costal
- Diaphragmatic
What are the two lung recesses called?
- Costodiaphragmatic
- Costamediastinal
What is the nerve supply to the parietal pleura?
This is sensitive to pain, pressure and temperature. It is innervated by the phrenic and intercostal nerves.
What is the nerve supply to the visceral pleura?
This is not sensitive to temperature, pain of tough, only stretch. It is innervated by the ANS.
What is the origin of the diaphragm?
L1-3
Xiphoid process
Ribs 6-12
What happens when the diaphragm is contracted?
This occurs during inspiration. The diaphragm flattens, pushing the abdominal contents down and increasing the height of the thoracic cavity.
What is the function of the external intercostals?
These are active during inspiration. They serve to pull the ribs up and causes them to rotate, increasing the depth and width of the chest.
What are the three main accessory muslces of inspiration?
- Sternocleidomastoid
- Scalene
- Pectoralis minor
What is the function of the internal intercostal during inspiration?
Contraction pulls the rib down, reducing the anterio-posterior and lateral dimension.
What is the function of the abdominal muslces during inspiration?
This is mainly the rectus abdominus. When contracted, they pull the ribs, down and this increase the abdominal pressure. The increased pressure forces the diaphragm upwards.
Explain the process of inspiration
The volume of lung increases due to the contraction of he diaphragm and intercostals. The ribs move outwards and expand. As the volume increases, pressure decreases to 759mmHg. This causes air to move in as the atmospheric pressure is 760mmHg.
Explain the process of expiration
This is a largely passive process and there are no muscular interactions. The muslces will relax and this, in addition to lung elastic recoil, cause intrapulmonary volume to increase and the pressure to increase to 761mmHg.
Explain the diffusion of oxygen gas exchange in relation to its partial pressure
When breathing in, the 21pKa oxygen becomes diluted with water vapour from upper airways and carbon dioxide already present. This means the oxygen become 15pKa in the lungs. The veins that reach the heart have an oxygen pressure of 6kPa and therefore, there is a gradient of 15 to 6 in the pulmonary capillary.
Explain the diffusion of carbon dioxide gas exchange in relation to its partial pressure
Inspired carbon dioxide is very small but there is always a reservoir in the lungs. The PCO2 is 5pKa in the lungs. Metabolising cells produce carbon dioxide and there is transferred to the blood and reaches the heart at 6pKa. There is a small gradient or carbon dioxide, but carbon dioxide is 20x more soluble than oxygen,
What are the three main mechanisms of carbon dioxide transport?
10% dissolved in plasma
20% as carbo-amino haemoglobin
70% as bicarbonate
What happens when carbon dioxide reacts with water?
Carbon dioxide will react with water to form carbonic acid. This will then dissociate into bicarbonate and hydrogen.
Explain the chloride shift
Bicarbonate will eventually accumulate in the red blood cell and then create a charge imbalance. Therefore, it is substituted for chlorine to balance the charge.
What happens to haemoglobin as oxygen leaves to enter the tissues?
Oxygen will usually bind to haemoglobin to form oxyhaemoglobin. When this dissociates, the oxygen goes to the tissues and Hb binds to hydrogen to balance out the pH.
What is a globular protein?
A waters soluble protien that forms colloids in water
What are the bonds that Fe2+ can form in the heme group of haemoglobin?
- 4 polyphyrin nitrogen bonds
- 1 with a side chain of histidine for stabilization
- 1 with oxygen
Describe the structure of haemoglobin
This is a quaternary strucutre with two dimers: alpha beta one and two.
Describe the ‘taut’ state of haemoglobin
This is the deoxy form of haemoglobin. The 2 alpha-beta chain interact via ionic and hydrogen bonds preventing movement. There is low oxygen affinity.