L02 The Respiratory System Flashcards
What is the role of the larynx?
it is known as the voice box as it helps the person to make sound
What is the purpose of the epiglottis?
prevents food and drink from entering the windpipe
What is the trachea made of?
rings of cartilage
What would happen without the trachea?
The person would not be able to breathe
what are the bronchi?
The passageways that connect your windpipe to your lungs
What are the bronchioles?
tiny air tubes in the lungs that branch off from the bronchi and end in the alveoli
What are the alveoli?
Microscopic structures that branch from the bronchioles. This is where gas exchange takes place.
How do the alveoli work with the capillaries?
They work with the capillaries to exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide in the lungs
What is the flap of tissue at the top of the trachea?
Epiglottis, which covers the trachea when we are eating, to prevent food from entering the airway
What is ATP?
Adenosine triphosphate, a molecule that carries energy within the cells
What are the products of aerobic respiration?
ATP + CO2 + Water
What are the malfunctions of the respiratory system?
- Asthma
- Emphysema (COPD)
- Cystic fibrosis
What are the symptoms of asthma?
- breathlessness
- wheezing when breathing
- tight chest
- coughing
What are the symptoms of emphysema (copd)?
- shortness of breath
- fatigue
- cough
- weight loss
- wheezing
- chest tightness
- swelling
What are the symptoms of cystic fibrosis?
- reduced lung function
- frequent lung infections
- shortness of breath
- chronic cough
- stomach pain
- salty skin (babies)
What are the physiological causes of asthma?
- caused by an inflammation of the bronchi, which causes a contact with trigger, the muscles tighten and an increase in mucus production
- overactive immune system
- allergens
- irritant chemical and fumes
What is the main cause of emphysema (COPD)?
damaged alveoli
How is emphysema (copd) caused?
- emphysema is caused by damaged alveoli
- smoking
- poor premature growth
- tuberculosis/HIV
- frequent respiratory infections from childhood
What are the physiological causes of cystic fibrosis?
- caused by a genetic mutation in a gene on chromosome 7
- present at birth
- affects movement of salt and water in and out of cells
- protein produced by gene causes mucus to be sticky rather than runny
- there’s no cure
- reduced life expectancy
What are the risk factors of asthma?
- family history of asthma
- exposure to allergies
- obesity
- occupational hazards
- pet hair
- cigarette smoke
- premature birth
- smoking/ pregnant woman smoking during pregnancy
How does asthma lead to an increased risk of lung infections?
- the airways have narrowed and more mucus is flowing , leading to the bronchi becoming infected
How is smoking a risk factor of emphysema (copd)?
- the chemicals in cigarettes damage the lungs and weaken its ability to function
- this can narrow the air passages and cause the airtubes to swell
- smoking can also destroy the air sacs in the lungs and damage the lining of the lungs
What are the risk factors of cystic fibrosis?
- Genetic influences because children who inherit a CFTR gene with a mutation from each parent will CF.
- having two parents who carry abnormal CF genes and pass the abnormal gene to their child, is a risk factor of cystic fibrosis.
- If both parents carry the gene, 1:4 chance of their baby having CF
What are the methods of monitoring asthma?
- regular peak flow readings - a handheld device that measures how fast you can breathe out. Lower than normal peak flow readings can indicate that your asthma is getting worse.
- FeNo tests - these tests can help identify allergic conditions, eg hay fever, that may be causing the symptoms
- Regular GP check ups
What treatments are there for asthma?
- reliever inhalers (blue) used when needed to quickly relieve asthma symptoms for a short time
- preventer inhalers (brown) used everyday to prevent asthma symptoms
- medication if chest infection
- oxygen - only short term for serious attacks
What are the lifestyle changes of someone with asthma?
- vacuum regularly
- use a humidifier
- avoid animals
- avoid cigarette smoke
- exercise with caution
- avoid duck feather pillows
How can emphysema be monitored?
- spirometry - this lung function test measures how much air you can breathe out and how quickly. It can help diagnose COPD, and determine its severity.
- pulse oximetry - this test uses a device places on your finger to measure the amount of oxygen in the blood
- MRI/ICT scan - to observe alveoli damage
- Regular check ups - stethoscope to listen to chest
- Blood test to exclude other infection
- Peak flow
What are the treatments of emphysema?
- oxygen therapy - helps reverse some of the effects of COPD, eg dizziness, confusion, fatigue.
- pulmonary rehabilitation - teachers exercise to improve breathing and exercise ability
- medication - bronchodilator/daliresp
- Physiotherapy
- Bullectomy - surgical procedure that removes area of damaged alveoli
What are the lifestyle changes of someone with emphysema/COPD?
- stopping smoking to allow the lungs to heal
- long term nicotine replacement therapy
How can cystic fibrosis be monitored?
- spirometry - measures the lung function in adults and children
- sweat test - a chemical and electrical stimulation are applied to the body to produce sweat, which is then tested for chloride levels. A chloride level of 60 millimoles per litre or higher, indicates CF
What are the treatments of cystic fibrosis?
- antibiotics to treat lung infections
- anti-inflammatory to reduce inflammation
- bronchodilators to open airways
- mucus thinners to clear mucus
- bronchial airway drainage - using a mechanical percussor or inflatable vest to help cough up
- physiotherapy to break up mucus
What are the lifestyle changes of someone with cystic fibrosis?
- avoid close physical contact
- clean equipment
- avoid sharing
- wash hands
- social distance
Define respiration
Respiration is a chemical reaction that happens in all living cells. It is the release of energy from glucose so that all other chemical processes needed for life can happen.
What is ATP used for?
It is used to provide energy for cell activities eg muscle contraction and nerve impluse transmission
What is the Krebs cycle?
The Krebs cycle is a series of chemical reactions that take place in the mitochondria in the cell
What are the waste products of anaerobic respiration?
Lactic acid and ATP
How are the alveoli adapted for gas exchange?
- Alveoli have a very large surface area to enable more diffusion of oxygen into the blood from the alveoli, and more carbon dioxide out of the blood into the alveoli.
- They are only one cell thick so that the diffusion distance is small.
- They have lots of blood capillaries to ensure a good blood supply to maintain concentration gradients of oxygen and carbon dioxide.
Where does gas exchange take place?
in the alveoli
What is a diffusion gradient?
the rate of movement of gases
Oxygen is needed for cellular respiration. True or false?
True
What happens to the diaphragm during inhalation?
diaphragm contracts and moves downwards
What happens during exhalation? (5 things)
- Diaphragm relaxes and move upwards
- intercostal muscles relax, letting the ribs move downwards and inwards
- Volume of ribcage decreases
- Pressure inside the chest increase above atmospheric pressure
- Air moves out of the lungs
What happens to the rib cage during inhalation?
The rib cage expands as the rib muscles contract
What happens to the ribcage during exhalation?
The rib cage gets smaller as rib muscles relax
Do gas molecules move from an area of higher concentration to low concentration?
YES
What is the equation of aerobic respiration?
glucose + oxygen = co2 + water + ATP
What is the equation of anaerobic respiration?
glucose = ATP + lactic acid
Why do our cells need oxygen?
to create energy in order for them to function
What is cellular respiration?
the biochemical process that occurs inside cells to breakdown glucose and provide energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP)
What does aerobic respiration use?
oxygen and glucose
What does aerobic respiration produce?
carbon dioxide, water and ATP
What does anaerobic respiration use?
glucose
Which is most efficient at producing energy: aerobic or anaerobic?
aerobic
Does aerobic respiration involve Kreb’s cycle?
yes
Does anaerobic respiration involve the Kreb’s cycle?
No
How is lactic acid removed from the body?
By the liver
What is the primary function of the respiratory system?
To facilitate the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide.
True or False: The diaphragm is a muscle that aids in breathing.
True
Fill in the blank: The main organ of the respiratory system is the ______.
lung
What are the two main processes of respiration?
External respiration and internal respiration.
Which structure is responsible for the production of sound?
Larynx
What is the role of alveoli in the respiratory system?
They are the sites of gas exchange
True or False: The trachea is also known as the windpipe.
True
Fill in the blank: The ______ system works closely with the circulatory system to transport gases.
respiratory
What is the term for the process of breathing in?
Inhalation
What is the function of the nasal cavity?
filters and humidifies the air we breathe
What is the main gas that humans exhale?
Carbon dioxide
True or False: The exchange of gases occurs in the bronchi.
False
Fill in the blank: The ______ is a flap that prevents food from entering the trachea.
epiglottis
What is the average respiratory rate for a resting adult?
12 to 20 breaths per minute
Which condition is characterized by the inflammation of the airways?
Asthma
What are the tiny hair-like structures that help move mucus out of the respiratory tract called?
Cilia
Fill in the blank: The process of ______ occurs in the mitochondria and involves the use of oxygen to produce energy.
cellular respiration
What is the primary muscle used during forced inhalation?
Intercostal muscles
Which respiratory condition is often caused by smoking?
Emphysema (COPD)
Fill in the blank: The ______ is the primary site for gas exchange in the lungs.
alveoli
Multiple choice: Which gas is primarily responsible for stimulating breathing?
Carbon dioxide
True or False: The bronchi are larger air passages that lead directly into the lungs.
True
What happens to the inter coastal muscles during inhalation?
intercostal muscles contract and move the ribs up and down
What happens to the volume of the rib cage during inhalation?
volume of ribcage increases
What happens to the pressure inside the chest during inhalation?
pressure inside the chest decrease below atmospheric pressure
What happens to the diaphragm during expiration?
relaxes
What happens to the inter coastal muscles during expiration?
relaxes
What happens to the pleural membranes during expiration?
contract as the lungs reduce in size as the air is breathed out
