Glossary Flashcards
Learning definitions
Visceral Pleura
Membrane covering the lungs, facilitating smooth movement during respiration.
Parietal pleura
Membrane lining the chest wall, contributing to pleural fluid dynamics.
Bronchial Tree
Hierarchical branching of airways from trachea to alveoli, optimizing gas delivery and exchange.
Foetal Circulation
Unique blood flow involving the foramen ovale, ductus arteriosus, and placenta for oxygenation.
Nasal Conchae
Turbinate bones creating airflow turbulence to filter, warm, and humidify inspired air.
Lung parenchyma
Functional tissue involved in gas exchange
Xenobiotic metabolism
Removal of foreign compounds (xenobiotics) via Phase I and Phase II reactions
Parietal
Relating to walls of a cavity or body structure.
Cardiomyocytes
Contractile heart muscle cells with intercalated discs enabling synchronized contraction
Excitation-Contraction Coupling
Process linking electrical depolarisation to calcium-mediated contraction.
Action Potential Phases
Depolarisation (Na+ influx), plateau (Ca2+ influx), and repolarisation (K+ efflux).
Cardiac Cycle
Sequence of atrial and ventricular contraction/relaxation ensuring coordinated blood flow.
Frank-Starling Law
Relationship where increased ventricular filling enhances contractile force and cardiac output.
Glycocalyx
Extracellular carbohydrate-rich layer coating cells for protection.
Dead Space
Airway regions not participating in gas exchange, including anatomical and alveolar dead space.
Alveolar Ventilation
Volume of air reaching alveoli for gas exchange per minute, distinct from total ventilation.
Oxygen Transport
O2 delivery via haemoglobin binding and dissolved plasma, influenced by partial pressures.
Carbon Dioxide Transport
CO2 removed as bicarbonate, dissolved gas, or carbaminohaemoglobin.
Hyperinflation
Increased residual volume in COPD, reducing alveolar ventilation efficiency.
