Functions and structures

Question 1

Name 4 functions of the respiratory system…

Answer 1

1. Gas exchange: Oxygen (O2) and carbon dioxide (CO2)
2. Warming or cooling and moistening of air
3. Removal of inhaled particles (immunity)
4. Voice production and olfaction (smell)

Question 2

Air flows through the following structures … list 8

Answer 2

1) Nose
2) Paranasal sinuses
3) Pharynx (throat)
4) Larynx (voice box)
5) Trachea (windpipe)
6) Bronchi (left and right)
7) Bronchioles
8) Alveoli (air sacs)

Question 3

Where does external respiration take place?

Answer 3

External respiration is the exchange of gases between blood and lungs (air).

Question 4

Where does internal respiration occur?

Answer 4

Internal respiration is the exchange of gases between blood and cells.

Question 5

What is cellular respiration?

Answer 5

Metabolic process whereby energy (ATP) is obtained by metabolising carbohydrates, fats and proteins.

Question 6

Fill in the missing words..
The mucous membrane of the respiratory tract is lined with a 1._ _ _ that contains mucous secreting 2._ cells. Mucus traps inhaled particles and acts as a 3.. It also has 4. Properties. Cilia move the particles towards the 5._ where they can be coughed up and/or swallowed. This protects the lungs from inhaled 6._.

Answer 6

1. Ciliated epithelial Membrane
2. Goblet (cells)
3. Surfactant
4. Antimicrobial
5. Oesophagus
6. Pathogens

Question 7

Name 5 functions of the nasal cavity…

Answer 7

1. Filtering air
2. Warming air
3. Humidification
4. Sneezing reflex
5. Olfactory function

Question 8

Name two ways the nasal cavity filters air and give detail…

Answer 8

1. Hairs, cilia and mucus trap large and small particles. Cilia also beat toward the mouth.
2. Nasal concha (turbinates) spin air within the nasal cavity, this filters the air and encourages particles to become trapped in the mucus.

Question 9

What are paranasal sinuses?

Answer 9

Air-filled cavities within certain facial and cranial bones.

Question 10

Name 4 paranasal sinuses

Answer 10

1. Frontal
2. Ethmoid
3. Spenoid
4. Maxillary

Question 11

List 4 functions of the paranasal sinuses…

Answer 11

1. Resonance of speech
2. Lightening of cranial mass
3. Nasolacrimal ducts drain tears from the eyes
4. Moistening / humidifying of the air

Question 12

What is the pharynx and what does it connect?

Answer 12

The pharynx is a straight muscular tube that connects the nose and the throat.

Question 13

How long is the pharynx and where in the body does it sit? (using the correct terminology)

Answer 13

Roughly 13cm long and sits anterior to the cervical spine, terminating at the larynx.

Question 14

The pharynx consists of 3 parts, name them.

Answer 14

1. Nasopharynx
2. Oropharynx
3. Laryngopharynx

Question 15

What is the name of the tubes which connect the nasopharynx to the middle ear and what does it allow?

Answer 15

The eustachian tubes connect the nasopharynx to the middle ear allowing equalisation of pressure.

Question 16

What is another name for the adenoids?

Answer 16

nasopharyngeal tonsils

Question 17

Name 7 functions of the Pharynx…

Answer 17

1. Passageway for air and food
2. Warming and humidifying
3. Taste
4. Hearing
5. Equalisation of pressure in the middle ear
6. Immune protection: tonsils
7. Speech: resonating chamber

Question 18

The larynx is also known as…

Answer 18

the voice box

Question 19

The larynx connect the laryngopharynx with the trachea and consist of…

Answer 19

nine pieces of cartilage and the vocal cords.

Question 20

Laryngeal muscles attached to the vocal chords and contracted stretch them.
Relaxed muscles = ___ = ___
Contracted muscles = ___ = ___

Answer 20

Relaxed muscles = loose cords = low tones

Contracted muscles = tight cords = high tone

Question 21

Name 4 functions of the larynx…

Answer 21

1. Production of sound and speech (vocal cords, tongue, lips and cheeks)
2. Protection - the epiglottis closes of the trachea during swallowing and hence prevents food entering the lungs
3. Air passageway
4. Warming and humidifying

Question 22

Fill in the missing words:

The trachea, also known as the 1.___ is roughly 2.__ long and is made from incomplete 3. ____ rings of 4.___ cartilage.

Answer 22

1. Windpipe
2. 12cm
3. C-shaped
4. Hyaline

Question 23

What does sympathetic and parasympathetic response mean?

Answer 23

Sympathetic response = fight or flight > tracheal dilation

Parasympathetic response = rest and digest > tracheal constriction

Question 24

Name 4 tracheal functions.

Answer 24

1. Air flow: rings keep trachea open and unobstructed
2. Mucociliary escalator: trapping inhaled particles and removing them from the respiratory tract
3. Cough reflex
4. Warming, humidifying, filtering.

Question 25

Coughing reflex : name the receptors in the respiratory tract and the nerve in which the impulse is sent to the brain.

Answer 25

Epithelial receptors | Vagus nerve

Question 26

Where is the respiratory centre in the brain?

Answer 26

The brain stem

Question 27

The trachea divides into left and right bronchi at which level of the vertebral spine?

Answer 27

T5

Question 28

What are bronchi lined with?

Answer 28

Ciliated epithelium

Question 29

Why might aspirated objects be more likely to enter the right lung?

Answer 29

The right bronchus is more vertical, shorter and wider than the left.

Question 30

Where the trachea divides into the two bronchi and internal ridge is formed, what is it called?

Answer 30

carina

Question 31

The bronchioles are continuations of the bronchi. Fill in the missing words... Bronchioles have no 1.___ in their structure and instead contain more 2.___ muscle. The bronchioles lead directly into the 3.___, where gas exchange occurs.

Answer 31

1. Cartilage 2. Smooth 3. Alveoli

Question 32

What role does the nervous system play in the control of air entry into the bronchi? hint: SNS, PSNS

Answer 32

Control of air entry via the sympathetic nervous system (fight or flight) = bronchodilation. And via the parasympathetic nervous system (rest and digest) = bronchoconstriction.

Question 33

What are alveoli?

Answer 33

Alveoli are small hollow cavities that make up most of the lung volume. They act as the sites of gas exchange in the lungs.

Question 34

How do Alveoli maximise gaseous exchange? | hint: 4 ways

Answer 34

1. Alveoli have a large surface area (approx 80m2) created by 250 million alveoli in each lung. 2. Alveolar walls are very thin (single layered) 3. Surrounded by many blood capillaries 4. Alveolar surfaces are moist > gases exchange more easily when in water.

Question 35

In the lungs gas exchange occurs between _____ and _____

Answer 35

alveoli and capillaries

Question 36

What are type I alveoli?

Answer 36

These are simple epithelial cells, covering 90% of the alveolar surface and are very thin to support gas exchange.

Question 37

What are type II Alveoli?

Answer 37

Type II alveoli secrete alveolar fluid that contains pulmonary surfactant. The fluid allows gases to diffuse through it.

Question 38

What does pulmonary surfactant do?

Answer 38

Pulmonary surfactant reduces alveoli surface tension, preventing them from collapsing and reducing the pressure required to re-inflate them.

Question 39

What is surfactant made from and where do they reside?

Answer 39

Surfactant is a mixture of lipids and proteins that forms a surface film in alveoli. The protein part is hydrophilic and resides in the alveolar fluid, whilst the lipid component is hydrophobic and faces the air.

Question 40

Why should attention be paid to lung development in premature babies?

Answer 40

Because pulmonary surfactant is not produced until 20-24 weeks gestation.