Chapter 9 Respiratory System Flashcards
What are the physical impacts of respiratory diseases on quality of life?
Breathing difficulties, fatigue, and reduced endurance
These physical limitations can restrict daily activities.
What is bronchitis?
An inflammation of the bronchioles, resulting in narrowed air passages and decreased air movement.
Define emphysema.
Inflammation and over-inflation of the alveoli, causing them to rupture and reducing the surface area available for diffusion.
What does COPD stand for?
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder.
What causes COPD?
Long-term exposure to irritating gases or particulate matter, most often from cigarette smoke.
What types of pneumonia exist?
Bacterial, viral, or fungal.
What is a common cause of pneumonia?
An infection that causes buildup of fluids and/or inflammation in the alveoli.
What is laryngitis?
A condition characterized by inflammation of the larynx (voice box).
What typically causes laryngitis?
Overuse or viral infection.
What is tonsillitis?
Inflammation of the tonsils, which are two small masses of tissue located at the back of the throat.
What characterizes asthma?
Narrowing of the bronchial passages.
Define pleurisy.
Inflammation of the pleural lining.
List symptoms of pleurisy.
- Shortness of breath
- Dry cough
- Fever and chills
- Rapid, shallow breathing
- Pain that radiates to the shoulder or back
What is pneumothorax?
Air trapped in the pleural space.
What is lung cancer characterized by?
Exponential growth of non-functional or immature cells (cancerous/malignant).
What effect does lung cancer have on the respiratory system?
Reduces the surface area for diffusion.
Define hyperventilation.
High oxygen level and low CO2 level (hypocapnia).
What is hypoventilation?
Insufficient air in alveoli.
Why is oxygen important?
Oxygen is essential because it is needed for cellular respiration, the process that produces energy (ATP) in your cells.
How does your body get oxygen?
Your body gets oxygen through breathing. When you inhale, oxygen enters the lungs and passes into the bloodstream through the alveoli.
What happens if you don’t get enough oxygen?
If you don’t get enough oxygen (hypoxia), your body struggles to produce energy, leading to symptoms like shortness of breath, confusion, dizziness, and fatigue.
What is hypoxia?
Hypoxia is a condition in which the body or a specific region of the body is deprived of adequate oxygen supply at the tissue level.
What body parts does asthma affect?
Asthma affects the bronchi and bronchioles (airways in the lungs).
What is one treatment for asthma?
Inhalers (Bronchodilators).
What is another treatment for asthma?
Steroid Medications.
What body parts does pneumonia affect?
Pneumonia affects the lungs (alveoli fill with fluid).
What is another treatment for pneumonia?
Antibiotics or Oxygen Therapy.
What are the 4 steps of respiration?
- Breathing (ventilation)
- External respiration
- Circulation
- Internal Respiration
- Cellular Respiration
What is the process of breathing?
Breathing (ventilation) involves the movement of air in and out of the lungs.
What occurs during external respiration?
External respiration occurs in the lungs and involves the exchange of gases (oxygen and carbon dioxide) between the alveoli and the blood capillaries.
What does circulation refer to in respiration?
Circulation refers to the transport of gases (oxygen and carbon dioxide) between the lungs and body tissues via the bloodstream.
What does poor circulation mean?
Poor circulation means that blood is not flowing efficiently through the body, especially to the hands, feet, and other extremities.
What are some signs of poor circulation?
- Cold hands and feet
- Numbness or tingling
- Swelling in the legs or feet
- Slow healing of wounds
- Fatigue or muscle cramps
What occurs during internal respiration?
Internal respiration occurs in body tissues and involves the exchange of gases between the blood capillaries and the body cells.
What is cellular respiration?
Cellular respiration is the production of ATP from glucose and oxygen in body cells.
Fill in the blank: The exchange of gases occurs at the __________.
[respiratory membrane]
What is the pressure inside the lungs during inspiration?
Less than atmospheric pressure
What happens to the diaphragm during inhalation?
Contracts and pulls downward
What is the role of intercostal muscles during inspiration?
Contract and pull ribs upward
What occurs to chest volume during inhalation?
Increases, allowing air to move into lungs
What is the pressure inside the lungs during expiration?
Greater than atmospheric pressure
What happens to the diaphragm during exhalation?
Relaxes (passive)
What is an optional action during forcible exhalation?
Engaging abdominal muscles
What occurs to chest volume during exhalation?
Decreases, increasing pressure and moving air out
What initiates the contraction of the diaphragm?
Increase of CO2 in the bloodstream
What creates a vacuum in the lungs during inhalation?
Diaphragm moving downwards
What gas diffuses into the bloodstream during gas exchange?
O2
What gas diffuses out of the bloodstream during gas exchange?
CO2
What happens to CO2 levels in the bloodstream after exhalation?
Decreases
What is lung capacity?
Total amount of air the lungs can hold
What is the total lung capacity (TLC) of healthy adult lungs?
About 6 liters
What device is used to measure respiratory volumes?
Spirometer
Define tidal volume
Volume of air inhaled and exhaled during normal breathing
Define inspiratory reserve volume
Additional volume of air that can be inhaled beyond tidal volume
Define expiratory reserve volume
Additional volume of air that can be exhaled beyond tidal volume
What is vital capacity?
Total lung volume capacity (tidal volume + inspiratory reserve volume + expiratory reserve volume)
Define residual volume
Amount of gas remaining in the lungs after full exhalation
What is a potential research question related to lung function?
What are 3 ways to improve lung function?
What are the air sacs in the lungs called?
Alveoli or alveolus
What two muscles aid breathing?
- Diaphragm
- Intercostals
Differentiate between breathing and cellular respiration.
- Breathing: taking air in and out
- Cellular respiration: a cell taking O2 and making ATP
What regulates the muscles that control breathing?
The nervous system
What happens when nerves misfire during breathing?
Irregular contractions of the diaphragm occur, causing unexpected air intake.
What is the role of the epiglottis during hiccups?
It snaps shut to close off the trachea.
What is the process of gas diffusion?
Gases diffuse from an area of higher pressure to an area of lower pressure.
Define partial pressure.
Each gas in a mixture exerts its own pressure.
Where is the partial pressure of oxygen highest?
In the atmosphere.
Where is the partial pressure of carbon dioxide highest?
In the tissues and veins.
How does oxygen transport occur?
- Oxygen diffuses into alveoli
- Hemoglobin bonds to oxygen to form oxyhemoglobin
- Hemoglobin and oxygen dissociate in capillaries
- Oxygen diffuses into tissues.
How is carbon dioxide transported in the blood?
- Dissolved in plasma (7%)
- Combines with hemoglobin (23%)
- Reacts with water to form bicarbonate ions (70%)
What happens to carbonic acid in the blood?
It dissociates into bicarbonate ions (HCO3-) and hydrogen ions (H+).
What role does hemoglobin play in carbon dioxide transport?
It combines with H+ to release oxygen and acts as a buffer.
What is the function of chemoreceptors in gas exchange?
They detect changes in gas levels and regulate breathing rate.
What is the negative feedback loop in respiration?
Problem → hormone/nerve response to fix it → fixes the problem → hormone secretion/nerve response stops.
What is erythropoietin?
A natural hormone promoting red blood cell production.
What enzyme speeds up the formation of carbonic acid in red blood cells?
Carbonic anhydrase.
What is the largest amount of carbon dioxide transported as?
Bicarbonate ions (HCO3-).
