Gas Laws, Upper Resp Tract Anatomy

Question 1

What are the functions of the respiratory system?

Answer 1

-gas exchange between O2 and CO2

Question 2

What are the functions of the UPPER resp tract? Give six.

Answer 2

• swallowing
• speech
• smell
• moisten and warm air
• conduct air to lower resp tract
• protect airway when swallowing

Question 3

What is boyles law?

Answer 3

Pressure is inversely proportional to volume

Question 4

Explain how boyles law links with ventilation.

Answer 4

Inspiring-involuntary contraction of muscles (caused by neurones in respiratory centre of medulla sending impulses) expands chest and lungs. Vol inc and pressure Dec so air moves in. Opposite for expiration where muscles relax.

Question 5

What is partial pressure?

Answer 5

In a mixture of gases, each gas exerts a partial pressure as they behave independently

Question 6

What is tension/partial pressure of gas in liquid?

Answer 6

When a gas is in contact with a liquid, it dissolves and exerts a pressure on the liquid

Question 7

What is content of gas in a liquid?

Answer 7

Amount of gas dissolved in a liquid is determined by the solubility coefficient of the gas x partial pressure it is exposed to

Question 8

What is saturated vapour pressure?

Answer 8

The pressure that an evaporated liquid exerts when it enters the gas state

Question 9

Where would you find the nasopharynx?

Answer 9

Just above the level of the soft palate

Question 10

Where would you find the oropharynx?

Answer 10

Between the soft palate and the epiglottis

Question 11

Where is the laryngopharynx?

Answer 11

Behind the larynx and between the epiglottis and lower border of cricoid cartilage

Question 12

The nasopharynx is connected to what via the Eustachian tube and what is the function?

Answer 12

Middle ear cavity

-allows pressure to be equal to outer atmosphere

Question 13

What is the name of the aperture between the vocal cords?

Answer 13

Rima glottides

Question 14

What muscle allows the vocal cords to move?

Answer 14

Intrinsic laryngeal muscle

Question 15

What does the extrinsic laryngeal muscle do?

Answer 15

Moves entire larynx

Question 16

What does the recurrent laryngeal nerve innervate?

Answer 16

The intrinsic laryngeal muscles apart from the cricothyroid muscle

Question 17

What is the first sign of serious intra thoracic disease and why?

Answer 17

Voice change (becomes hoarse) due to left recurrent laryngeal nerve being in the thorax

Question 18

Give three consequences of narrowing of the larynx.

Answer 18

• laryngeal or vocal cord tumours
• laryngeal oedema
• bilateral vocal cord paralysis

Question 19

At what costal cartilage does the left pleura deviate laterally, why does this happen and what is this space called?

Answer 19

4th
Due to presence of heart
Cardiac notch

Question 20

The lung pleura pass the 8th rib in line with what?

Answer 20

Mid clavicular line

Question 21

The lung pleura pass the 10th rib in line with what?

Answer 21

Mid axillary line

Question 22

The lung pleura pass the 12th rib in line with what?

Answer 22

Scapular line

Question 23

At what rib levels do the lungs cross the mid clavicular, mid axillary and scapular line?

Answer 23

-6th, 8th and 10th

Question 24

What is the name of the inferior part of the pleural cavity not occupied by lung?

Answer 24

-costodiaphragmatic recess

Question 25

Explain the difference between the cardiac notch of the lung compared to the pleura.

Answer 25

Curves more laterally from 4th costal cartilage to 5th intercostal space just medial to mid clavicular line

Question 26

Explain the position of the oblique fissure of both lungs

Answer 26

Extends from T2 vertebra posteriorly to 6th costal cartilage anteriorly

Question 27

Explain the position of the horizontal fissure in the right lung.

Answer 27

Mid axillary line anteriorly along the 4th rib

Question 28

If someone has resonance below the fifth rib, what is this a sign of?

Answer 28

Hyper inflated lungs in copd