Exam 4--lung Flashcards
what is the primary function of the respiratory system?
- gas exchange
- oxygen diffuses from the air into the blood and carbon dioxide diffuses from the air into the blood
- ventilation
- control the pH of blood
where does gas exchange occur?
alveoli
conducting zone
bronchioles
do not participate in gas exchange
alveoli
- where gas exchange occurs
- the epithelial cells that make up this structure come in close contact to the endothelium of the lung capillaries
- the air in the alveoli is separated from the blood in the capillaries only by the epithelial cells of the alveoli, the endothelial cells of the capillary, and the basal lamina that separates the cell layers–respiratory zone
pulmonary artery
-delivers deoxygenated blood from the tissues to the pulmonary arteries and then to the right and left lung
pulmonary veins
drain the lungs and return oxygenated blood to the left atrium and ventricle
trachea
- covered by an epiglottis during swallowing but otherwise open to allow air into the respiratory system
- ringed with hyaline cartilage to give it strength
bronchioles
- smooth muscle wraps around them
- autonomic nervous system controls the diameter of them by controlling the amount of contraction and relaxation in the smooth muscle that is wrapped around them
What controls the lungs muscles?
- smooth muscle contraction is under control of the parasympathetic nervous system
- muscle relaxation is under the control of epinephrine released from the adrenal medulla
Asthma
results when these muscles contract inappropriately and restrict passage of air through these small tubes
ventilation
- the process of moving air in and out
- results from the active (muscle) and passive (elastic) characteristics of the system
boyle’s law
- v1p1=v2p2
- because gas is compressibile the volume that it occupies becomes progressively smaller as the pressure increases
- increasing the volume of the container decreases the pressure within the container
- when the volume of the lungs increase, the pressure decreases
P=RF
P=pressure differential between the inside of the compartment and the outside world
R=resistance to air flow in the lungs
F=flow of air
-expanding the volume of the thoracic cavity reduces the pressure in the lungs and permits air to flow into them
what is the bag that each of the two lungs are contained in?
- the pleura
- plastic bag example
- the surface tension of the water will allow the internal surfaces of the bag to cling to one another –formed by a continuous epithelium
- inside this epithelial bag is the intrapleural cavity or space
intrapleural cavity
-always at a negative pressure compared to the inside of the lung and the atmosphere