Human Physiology - Gas Exchange Flashcards
What is a type 1 pneumocyte?
cells responsible for gas exchange in the alveoli
What is a type 2 pneumocyte?
cells that secrete surfactant
What is surfactant?
substance secreted by type 2 pneumocytes that reduces surface tension and prevents alveolar cells from collapsing on each other
What is inspiration?
breathing in
What is expiration?
breathing out
What are the internal intercostal muscles?
inner muscles between ribs that cause the rib cage to contract
What are the external intercostal muscles?
outer muscles in between robs that cause the rib cage to expand
What are chemoreceptors in respiration?
cells that detect the variation of oxygen and CO2 in arterial blood
What is hemoglobin?
protein responsible for transporting oxygen or CO2
what is total lung capacity?
the total capacity of air your lungs can hold
What is vital capacity?
the greatest possible volume of air that can be expelled from the lungs after taking the deepest possible breath
What is residual volume?
amount of air left in the lungs after a forced expiration
What is tidal volume?
difference between volumes after a normal inhalation and a normal expiration
What is expiratory reserve volume?
maximum volume of air that can be expelled from the lungs after normal expiration
What is inspiratory reserve volume?
maximum amount of additional air that can be drawn into the lungs by determined effort after normal inspiration
What is diffusion?
movement from high concentration to low concentration
What is carbonic anhydrase?
enzyme that catalyzes the interconversion of dissolved bicarbonates and carbon dioxide
What is the nasopharynx?
piece of pharynx connected to the nasal cavity; connects to the oropharynx
What is the oropharynx
piece of pharynx connected to the oral cavity; connects to the nasopharynx
What is the trachea?
tube reinforced with rings of cartilage connecting larynx to bronchus
What is the epiglottis?
piece of cartilage that separates the wind pipe and esophagus when swallowing
What are the bronchi?
branches off the major air passages to the lungs
What are the bronchioles?
minute branches of the bronchi
What are the alveolus?
tiny air sacs in the lungs where the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide takes place
What is the respiratory epithelium?
epithelium lining the respiratory tract, meant to moisten and protect airways
How does gas exchange of oxygen happen between the alveoli and the blood stream?
pressure differentiation, low pressure of oxygen in the blood and high pressure in the alveoli
How does gas exchange of carbon dioxide between the alveoli and the blood stream?
high pressure of carbon dioxide on hemoglobin, low pressure of carbon dioxide in the alvoli
How is energy released from organic molecules?
energy released from breaking bonds is used to make ATP
What is the oxyhemoglobin curve?
describes relationship between oxygen saturation in blood and pressure of oxygen in the blood to determine hemoglobin’s affinity for oxygen
How does a change in pH impact the oxyhemoglobin curve?
decrease in pH makes curve shift right
How does change in temperature impact the oxyhemoglobin curve?
increase in temperature makes curve shift right
What is the chloride shift?
exchange of bicarbonate and chloride onto hemoglobin
What is acclimation to a higher altitude?
oxygen has less pressure at a higher altitude, so body produces more red blood cells to carry oxygen, to account for this
