Intro to respiratory system Flashcards
functions of respiratory system
gas exchange
acid base balance
protection from infection
communication via speech
why do we need O2?
need O2 ultimately to produce energy. This energy is needed for cell function. 02 is needed to fuel brain cells
what is external respiration?
exchange of gases between the external environment and body ie getting 02 into body and C02 out
define cellular respiration
biochemical processes burning 02 and releasing energy
what does external respiration require?
integration of respiratory and cardiovascular systems
in what direction does the pulmonary artery travel?
away from the heart
- think A for Artery and Away
in what direction does the pulmonary vein travel?
towards the heart
systemic respiration
involves delivering O2 from heart to tissues and picking up CO2 from tissues and taking it to the heart
pulmonary circulation
only includes lungs and heart
very localised and specialised
only concerned with delivering CO2 to the lungs and picking up O2 from the lungs and delivering to the heart
what is the breathing rate at rest
10-20 breaths/min (12-15 in OSCE)
40-45 at max exercise (adults)
what does external respiration require?
integration of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems
what happens in the cardiovascular system when you exercise?
- heart rate and
force of contraction increases - rate of substrate delivery to muscle and waste removal via blood increases
what happens in the respiratory system when you exercise?
- rate and depth of breathing increases
- acquire O2 more quickly and waste disposal speeds up (CO2)
where does gas exchange occur in cardiovascular system?
systemic capillaries- very thin to allow for gas exchange
where does gas exchange occur in respiratory system?
alveoli in lungs
how do we maintain constant conc of O2 and CO2?
supply = demand
net vol of O2 exchanged in the lungs per unit time = net vol exchanged in the tissues.
Same applies for CO2.
what are the average volumes exchanged per minute
250 ml O2 consumed
200ml C02 produced
what 2 things do we want to do to the air we breathe in before it reaches the lungs?
- warm the air
- moisturise the air
warm the air in order to try and prevent disrupting the core body temp
what makes up the upper respiratory tract?
pharynx, mouth, larynx and nasal cavity
what makes up the lower respiratory tract?
trachea, left and right lung, left and right bronchus and diaphragm
what is the LRT system enclosed in?
It is enclosed in the thorax, bounded by the ribs, spine and diaphragm
how many lobes make up the right lung and what are they called?
3
superior, inferior and middle lobes
how many lobes make up the left lung and what are they called?
2
superior and inferior
what is different about the L and R bronchi just after the point they branch
the right bronchi is wider but runs more vertically downwards- tend find more foreign bodies in the R.
left bronchi is narrower and branches off at more of an angle
what maintains patency of the trachea airway? and define patency
patency means open
C- shaped rings of cartilage help maintain patency
what are bronchioles like?
they have no cartilage, smaller airways deep in the lungs
branches of the main bronchus
bronchioles stay open due to physical forces
where is there more resistance to air flow? URT or LRT and why?
there is more resistance to air flow in upper airways as despite having wider diameter there is a greater amount of air jostling for a position here
type 1 alveolar cells
participate in gas exchange
in direct contact with capillaries
O2 picked up from alveoli and CO2 delivered to alveoli
type 2 alveolar cells
do NOT participate in gas exchange as they are too thick (2 thick)
what is air that doesn’t participate with gas exchange called?
anatomical dead space
