Chapter 4 - The atmosphere, oxygen and respiration Flashcards

1
Q

What are the main components of the respiratory system? (3)

A

Trachea
Lungs
Pulmonary artery

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2
Q

What is the purpose of the trachea?

A

To carry air from the hose and mouth to the lungs.

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3
Q

What is the purpose of the lungs?

A

To absorb oxygen from inspired air and expel CO2 in expelled air.

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4
Q

What (related to oxygen content) remains constant at all altitudes at which common aircraft operate?

A

Volume percentage of the gasses in ambient air.

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5
Q

“Insufficient oxygen to support the metabolism of the tissues” describes what?

A

Hypoxia

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6
Q

Hypoxic hypoxia is caused by what?

What is the common reason?

A

Low saturation levels of oxygen in the blood.

Most common cuse is low partial pressure of atmospheric oxygen, associated with high altitude.

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7
Q

Anaemic hypoxia is caused by what?

What is the most common reason?

A

Caused by the ability of the blood to carry oxygen.

Likely reasons are carbon monoxide poisoning or low haemoglobin in the red blood cells.

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8
Q

Name symptoms of hypoxia (10)

A

tingling sensations in the extremities
Irritability / euphoria
Impaired judgement
Headache
Cyanosis
Increased breathing rate
impaired vision
drowsiness
slurred speech
loss of consciousness

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9
Q

What altitude are healthy individuals able to compensate for hypoxic hypoxia?

A

10,000 - 12,000ft

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10
Q

The three physiological thresholds for hypoxia are:

Reaction threshold:
Disturbance threshold:
Critical threshold:

What altitudes are linked to these?

A

Reaction threshold:
7000ft

Disturbance threshold:
10,000 - 12,000ft

Critical threshold:
22,000ft

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11
Q

At an altitude of 12,000ft what would start to be affected

A

Short term memory

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12
Q

Effective performance time is also known as?

A

Time of useful consciousness.

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13
Q

What is the time of useful consciousness for the following altitudes?

20,000ft
30,000ft
35,000ft
40,000ft

A

20,000ft - 30min
30,000ft - 1 - 2min
35,000ft - 30 - 90sec
40,000ft - 15 - 20sec

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14
Q

What are the factors that would increase/reduce the severity of hypoxia symptoms? (6)

A

Rapidness of onset
severity of conditions
level of physical activity
smoking
body weight
general health

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15
Q

________________ is the state of breathing faster and/or deeper than is necessary for the body’s current demand for oxygen.

A

Hyperventilation

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16
Q

What level determines the respiration rate?

A

CO2

17
Q

When hyperventilating, the level of what gas falls significantly?

A

CO2

18
Q

What can cause hyperventilation?

A

Deliberate
stress/anxiety
brain injury
strokes

Can be psychological or physiological

19
Q

Diagnose this:

Rapid breathing rate
tingling or dizziness
hot/cold flushes
impaired performance
fainting

A

Hyperventilation

20
Q

How to counteract hyperventilation?

A

Breathe slowly
Close nose or mouth
speak loudly
paper bag

21
Q

What is the name for the capacity of the lungs that is never used?

A

Residual volume

22
Q

What is the name for the capacity of the lungs that isn’t NORMALLY used?

A

Functional residual capacity

23
Q

What would ‘tidal volume’ mean?

It can be ‘resting’ or ‘varying’

A

Breathing range.

Ranging from ‘resting’ to ‘vital capacity’

24
Q

“Inspiration / expirator reserve volume” describes what part of the lung?

A

Top / bottom part of the wave. The amount of available space between normal breathing and “Vital capacity”

25
Q

Which muscle draws air into the lungs?

A

diaphragm

26
Q

Oxygen, nitrogen and other trace gasses are drawn into the lungs in a process called ________ ___________

A

External respiration

27
Q

What is in the lungs and has thin membranes which allow gasses to diffuse into the blood stream?

A

Alveoli

28
Q

The biproduct of cell metabolism is CO2. Blood passes by the cell membrane and exchanges the CO2 for O2. What is this process called?

A

Internal respiration

29
Q

______ __________ is a measure (%) of the amount of oxygen in the haemoglobin.

What is a ‘normal’ reading for a healthy human?

A

Oxygen saturation 98%

30
Q

What metric in the body holds steady until a cabin altitude of about 7000ft?

A

oxygen saturation level

31
Q

What is the highest cabin altitude for CS-25 aircraft?

A

8000ft

32
Q

If you experience a decompression, do not fly within __ _____.

Why?

A

24 hours

Decompression sickness precautions