Chapter 7: The Respiratory Stystem Flashcards
What is external respiration?
Process that occurs within the lungs, exchange if oxygen and carbon dioxide
What are the 3 main functions of the respiratory system?
To supply oxygen to the blood, remove carbon dioxide from the blood, regulate blood pH
What is internal respiration?
Exchanges of gas at tissue level
What is cellular respiration?
Process where the cells use oxygen to generate energy in the mitochondria
What are the 2 main zones?
Conductive zone, respiratory zone
What is the conductive zone?
Structures that transport air from outside of body to lungs and warms/humidifies and filter air. Includes mouth, nose, pharynx, trachea, bronchi and bronchioles
What is the respiratory zone?
Structures involved in exchange of gases. Includes respiratory bronchioles and alveoli.
What are alveoli?
Grape like sacs that provide large surface area for diffusion and surrounded by one cell thick capillaries
What are the mechanics of breathing?
Diaphragm contracts and moves downwards, thoracic cavity expands causing a decrease in pressure. Atmospheric pressure is now greater than lung pressure causing air to rush into lungs, this is inspiration. When the diaphragm returns to resting dimensions, lung pressure becomes greater than atmospheric pressure causing the air to rush out this is expiration
What is quiet breathing?
Elastic fibres of alveoli recoil passively as diaphragm relaxes
What is forced breathing?
Passive recoil not fast enough to keep up with rate of respiration, therefore thoracic and abdominal wall contract decreasing pressure which forces air out
What is most oxygen entering flood bound by?
Hemoglobin
What is most carbon dioxide transported as in plasma?
Bicarbonate ions
What is blood pH?
Measure if how acidic or basic blood is. Blood pH = 7.4
What happens to blood pH during exercise?
Lactic acid increases = decrease in pH, therefore increased ventilation allows pH to return to normal level
