Introduction and Anatomy of lungs, airways and blood supply

Question 1

What are the main functions of the respiratory system?

Answer 1

Gas exchange
Acid base regulation - pH 7.4 +/- 0.1
Protection from infection
Communication

Question 2

What is cellular respiration?

Answer 2

Cells uptake of oxygen and metabolism to release energy, producing CO2 as a waste product

Question 3

What is internal respiration?

Answer 3

Transport of O2 in the blood to tissues, as well as removing CO2 from these tissues

Question 4

What system is responsible for internal respiration?

Answer 4

Cardiovascular

Question 5

What is external respiration?

Answer 5

Acquiring O2 from the environment, while removing CO2 from the body by releasing it. Movement of gases between air and the cells of the body

Question 6

What system is responsible for external respiration?

Answer 6

Respiratory system, which must integrate with the cardiovascular system

Question 7

What is unusual about the pulmonary circulation?

Answer 7

Deliver CO2 to the lungs and picks up O2 (instead of systemic circulation delivering O2 rich blood and bringing back CO2 rich blood)

Question 8

What is the average breathing rate at rest?

Answer 8

10-20 breaths/min

Question 9

What is the average breathing rate during maximum exercise?

Answer 9

40-45 breaths/min

Question 10

What makes up the upper respiratory system?

Answer 10

Nose
Pharynx
Larynx

Question 11

What makes up the lower respiratory tract?

Answer 11

Trachea
Lungs
Bronchi
Bronchioles
Alveoli

Question 12

What is responsible for maintaining patency of the airways?

Answer 12

Cricoid cartilage
Surfactant?
Elastic fibres surrounding alveoli

Question 13

What affect does contraction of the airways have on resistance to air flow?

Answer 13

Increases resistance

Question 14

What affect does relaxation of the airways have on resistance to air flow?

Answer 14

Decreases resistance

Question 15

What are alveolar type I cells responsible for?

Answer 15

Gas exchange

Question 16

What are alveolar type II cells responsible for?

Answer 16

Produce surfactant

Question 17

Describe the epithelium of the respiratory tract

Answer 17

Pseudo stratified ciliated columnar cells
Presence of glands secreting mucus
Lymph nodes
Nutritive blood vessels

Question 18

What happens to the epithelium as you move down the respiratory tract?

Answer 18

Epithelium becomes more squamous
Cilia lost
Mucus producing goblet cells are lost

Question 19

Which are lost first as you move down the respiratory tract - mucus cells or cilia?

Answer 19

Mucus cells

Question 20

What is the function of mucous?

Answer 20

Moistens air
Traps particles/pathogens
Provides large surface area for cilia to act on

Question 21

Where do macrophages migrate to following gathering of pathogens in the respiratory tract?

Answer 21

Migrate to pharynx/larynx lymph nodes to prime immune responses

Question 22

What % of the alveolar surface is made up of type I pneumocytes?

Answer 22

97%

Question 23

What % of the alveolar surface is made up of type II pneumocytes?

Answer 23

3%?

Question 24

Describe the epithelium of type I pneumocytes

Answer 24

Simple squamous

Question 25

What is surfactant?

Answer 25

Mixture of phospholipids and proteins which reduces surface tension at alveolar level to reduce the work of breathing

Question 26

Why are aspirated foreign bodies commonly found lodged in the right lung?

Answer 26

As the lumen of the right main bronchus is more vertical and of slightly wider diameter than the left main bronchus, items are more likely to be found in the base of the right lung