Chapter 23 - The Respiratory System - Part 1 Flashcards
The respiratory system is composed of structures involved in _____ and ___ _____
ventilation and gas exchange
Name the 5 basic functions of the respiratory system
- Extensive surface area for gas exchange between air and circulating blood
- Moving air to and from exchange surfaces of the lungs along respiratory pathways
- Protect respiratory surfaces from dehydration, temp changes, or other environmental variations. Defense of respiratory system and other tissues from pathogens
- Produce sounds
- Facilitate detection of odors by olfactory receptors in superior portions of the nasal cavity
The capillaries of the lungs indirectly help to do what?
regulate blood volume and blood pressure through the conversion of angiotensin 1 -> angiotensin 2
How can the respiratory system be divided anatomically?
The upper respiratory system and the lower respiratory system
The upper respiratory system consists of….
nose, nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses, and pharynx
What is the FUNCTION of the upper respiratory system?
to filter, warm, and humidify incoming air. This protects the more delicate surfaces of the lower respiratory system
They also cool and dehumidify OUTGOING air
Which is HUMIDIFIED by the upper respiratory system — incoming or outgoing air?
incoming
The lower respiratory system consists of….
the larynx (voicebox)
trachea (windpipe)
bronchi
bronchioles
alveoli of the lungs
The lower respiratory system begins at the _____
larynx
The term “respiratory tract” refers to what?
the passageways that carry air to and from the exchange surfaces of the lungs
The “conducting” portion of the respiratory tract begins where and extends to where?
the CONDUCTING portion begins at the entrance to the nasal cavity and extends through the pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, and larger bronchioles
The RESPIRATORY portion of the respiratory tract consists of…..
the smallest, most delicate bronchioles and the associated alveoli
The respiratory tract can be divided into:
2 portions:
conducting portion
respiratory portion
What are alveoli?
air-filled pockets within the lungs where all gas exchange between air and blood takes place
Why is it that gas exchange can take place quickly and efficiently?
because the distance between the blood in an alveolar capillary and the air inside an alveolus is generally less than 1 microliter
Why must the surface are for gas exchange in the lungs be very large?
to meet the metabolic requirements or peripheral tissues
Filtering, warming, and humidifying inhaled air begins where?
at the entrance to the respiratory tract and continues as air passes through the conducting portion of the respiratory tract
By the time air reaches ______, most foreign particles and pathogens have been removed AND the humidity and temperature are within acceptable limits
alveoli
the _______ lines the conducting portion of the respiratory system
respiratory mucosa
What structure of the conducting portion of the respiratory system is responsible for removing pathogens/foreign particles, and makes the humidity and temp of air within acceptable minutes by the time it reaches the alveoli?
the respiratory mucosa
what is the term for foreign particles/pathogens being removed from air (and temp and humidity at acceptable limits) by the time air reaches the alveoli?
the conditioning process
a mucosa is a _____ _____
mucous membrane
Describe the layers of the respiratory mucosa
-Epithelium with an underlying layer of areolar tissue
What is the term for the underlying layer or areolar tissue in the respiratory mucosa?
the lamina propria
What is the function of the lamina propria?
to support the respiratory epithelium
In the upper respiratory system, trachea, and bronchi, the lamina propria contains ____ ____ that discharge their secretions onto epithelial curface
mucous glands
the lamina propria in the conducting portions of the lower respiratory system contains…..
bundles of smooth muscle cells. At the bronchioles, the smooth muscles form thick bands that encircle the lumen
Is the structure of the respiratory epithelium the same throughout the respiratory tract?
NO
How does the structure of the respiratory epithelium change throughout the respiratory tract?
nasal cavity and superior portion of the pharynx=
pseudostratified columnar ciliated epithelium with numerous mucous cells
inferior portions of the pharynx=stratified squamous epithelium
A series of ______ mechanisms make up the respiratory defense system and prevent contamination from debris or pathogens
filtration
Describe the respiratory defense system
mucous cells and mucous glands in the lamina propria produce mucus that bathes exposed surfaces.
In the nasal cavity, cilia sweep that mucus and any trapped debris or microorganisms towards the pharynx
CALLED A MUCOUS ESCALATOR
Upon exposure to unpleasant stimuli such as dust, how does the respiratory defense system respond?
The rate of mucous production in the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses speeds up
List the 2 anatomical subdivisions of the respiratory system
-upper respiratory system
-lower respiratory system
What membrane lines the conducting portion of the respiratory tract?
The respiratory mucosa
What is the primary passageway for air entering the respiratory system?
the nose
What is another word for the nostrils?
the external nares
The external nares open into the ____ ____
nasal cavity
What is the term for the empty space contained within the flexible tissues of the nose?
the nasal vestibule
What structure divides the nasal cavity into left and right portions?
the nasal septum
Name the 4 surface anatomy structures of the nose (from top to bottom)
root
bridge
external nares
apex
the apex is the ___ of the nose
tip
The olfactory region is the ____ portion of the nasal cavity
superior
Receptors in the olfactory epithelium perform what function?
provide your sense of smell
The nose contains ______ which are narrow grooves in which air travels from the vestibule to the internal nares
conchae
name the conchae
superior, middle, and inferior meatuses
The nasal cavity opens into the nasopharynx through a connection known as the….
internal nares
The lamina propria of the nasal conchae contains…
many veins, arteries, and capillaries that warms and humidifies incoming air and cools and dehumidifies outgoing air
what is the term for a nose bleed?
epistaxis
why is a nosebleed such a common event?
the extensive vascularization of the nasal cavity and the vulnerable position of the nose
_____ can bring on a nosebleed by rupturing small vessels of the lamina propria
hypertension
the pharynx is also known as the….
throat
The pharynx is a chamber shared by the ___ and ____ systems
respiratory and digestive
the pharynx extends between……
the internal nares and entrances to the larynx and esophagus
the pharynx can be divided into… (top to bottom)
nasopharynx
oropharynx
laryngopharynx
Which portion of the pharynx separates it from the oral cavity?
the nasopharynx
At the boundary between the nasopharynx and oropharynx, the epithelium changes from ___ to ____
from pseudostratified columnar to stratified squamous epithelium
what is the narrowest of the 3 portions of the pharynx?
the laryngopharynx
the laryngopharynx is lined with ____ epithelium
stratified squamous
What is the function of stratified squamous epithelium?
resist abrasion, chemical attack, and invasion by pathogens
Why is the vascularization of the nasal cavity so important?
The rich vascularization to the nose delivers body heat to the nasal cavity, so inhaled air is warmed before it leaves the nasal cavity. The heat also evaporates moisture from the epithelium to humidify incoming air
Name the structures of the upper respiratory system
Nose, nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses, pharynx
Why is the lining of the nasopharynx different from that of the oropharynx and laryyngopharynx?
The lining of the nasopharynx only receives air from the nasal cavity, so it has the same epithelium: pseudostratified columnar epithelium.
Because the oropharynx and laryngopharynx receive BOTH air from the nasal cavity AND potentially abrasive food from the oral cavity, they have a more highly protective lining: a stratified squamous epithelium like that of the skin
The inhaled air that leaves the pharynx enters the _____ through the _____
enters the larynx through the glottis
The larynx is a ___ ____ that surrounds and protects the ______
the larynx is a cartilaginous tube that surrounds and protects the glottis
The larynx has INCOMPLETE cartilaginous walls that are stabilized by…..
ligaments and skeletal muscles
What are the 3 large, unpaired cartilages from the larynx?
the thyroid cartilage
the cricoid cartilage
the epiglottis
Of the 3, what is the largest laryngeal cartilage?
the thyroid cartilage
the thyroid cartilage is made up of what kind of cartilage?
hyaline cartilage
the anterior surface of the thyroid cartilage is known as the…….
Adam’s apple (or laryngeal prominence)
The thyroid cartilage sits ____ to the cricoid cartilage
superior
The cricoid cartilage is made up of ____ cartilage
hyaline
The cricoid and thyroid cartilages protect the ___ and the entrance to the _____
protect the glottis and the entrance to the trachea
The epiglottis is ___ shaped
shoehorn shaped
the epiglottis projects ____ to the glottis and forms a _____
superior to the glottis and forms a lid over it
The epiglottis is composed of ____ cartilage
elastic
During swallowing the ____ is elevated and what does the epiglottis do?
during swallowing, the LARYNX is elevated and the epiglottis folds back over the glottis, preventing liquid and solid food from entering the respiratory tract
The vocal folds are also known as the _____. why???
vocal chords because they are involved with the production of sound
How are sounds produced?
air passing through the glottis vibrates your vocal folds and produces sound waves
The pitch of the sound depends on….
the diameter, length, and tension in your vocal folds
How can the tension of the vocal folds be controlled?
by contracting voluntary muscles that reposition the arytenoid cartilages relative to the thyroid cartilage
When the distance between the arytenoid cartilages and the thyroid cartilage INCREASE, the vocal folds ____ and the pitch _____
the vocal folds TENSE and the pitch RISES
When the distance between the arytenoid cartilages and the thyroid cartilage DECREASE, the vocal folds ____ and the pitch _____
the vocal folds RELAX and the pitch FALLS
Why do children’s voices tend to be high pitched?
because they have slender, short vocal cords
At puberty, the larynx of males does what compared to females?
the larynx of males enlarges much more than females
The vocal cords of an adult male are ____ and ____ than that of a female
thicker and longer
Sound production at the larynx is called…..
phonation
The vocal cords are highly _____
elastic (bc the vocal ligaments consist of elastic tissue)
Clear speech requires ______
articulation
Articulation is the modification of sounds produced at the larynx. It is done by which structures?
the tongue, teeth, and lips
Where does amplification and resonance take place (this gives the particular and distinctive sound of your voice)
the pharynx, oral cavity, nasal cavity, and paranasal sinuses
When your ____ and ____ are filled with mucus rather than air, the sound of our voice changes
paranasal sinuses and nasal cavity
Laryngitis (inflammation of the larynx) affects the….,,
vibrational quality of the vocal folds resulting in hoarseness
Why can bacterial and viral infections of the epiglottis be very dangerous?
The swelling may close the glottis and cause suffocation
what is the condition called in which the glottis is closed to cause suffocation? Who is it most likely to affect?
acute epiglottitis. Most likely to affect young children
The _____ is associated with 2 sets of muscles
larynx
What are the 2 sets of muscles in which the larynx is associated with
- The muscles of the neck and pharynx
- Smaller intrinsic muscles
What is the function of the muscles of the neck and pharynx?
to position and stabilize the larynx
What is the function of the smaller intrinsic muscles associated with the larynx?
they control tension in the vocal folds or open and close the glottis
Both sets of muscles associated with the pharynx work together to….
prevent food or drink from entering the glottis when we swallow
Food is crushed and chewed into a pasty mass, known as a _____ before being swallowed
bolus
When we swallow, the muscles of the neck and pharynx do what?
these muscles elevate the larynx, bending the epiglottis over the glottis so that the bolus can glide across the epiglottis rather than falling into the larynx
When is the “coughing reflex” triggered?
When food or liquids touch the vestibular or vocal folds
In a cough, is the glottis opened or closed?
closed
In a cough, the chest and abdomen muscles contract, which does what?
compresses the lungs
Identify the paired and unpaired cartilages associated with the larynx
Unpaired laryngeal cartilages = thyroid cartilage, cricoid cartilage, and epiglottis
Paired cartilages = Arytenoid cartilages, corniculate cartilages, and cuneiform cartilages
What are the highly elastic vocal folds of the larynx better known as?
the vocal cords
When the tension in your vocal folds increases, what happens to the pitch of your voice?
the pitch of the voice is raised
