Lecture 4: Anatomy of the respiratory System

Question 1

What is Language?

Answer 1

An arbitrary system which pairs sounds ( Auditory Symbols) and Visual symbols ( words of alphabet letters) to meaning.
{symbolization occurs in the left cerebral hemisphere}

Question 2

What is speech

Answer 2

Specific sound units of spoken language { Modified, Amplified, Resonated, and Damped} This is the function of the vocal tract

Question 3

What is Voice

Answer 3

The primary laryngeal sound

Question 4

Describe the effector energy from the Subglottis’s role in speech

Answer 4

The air from the respiratory system sets the vocal folds into vibration

Question 5

What are all the functions of the respiratory system

Answer 5

The respiratory system inhales air to replenish body oxygen

The respiratory exhales the air after unloading carbon dioxide off from the body

The exhaust of the respiratory physiology is used for phonation.

Question 6

What makes up the upper respiratory tract

Answer 6

Mouth

Nose – The nostril is the preferred route as it warms , cleans , and humidifies the air

Sinuses: Air cavities within the facial bone of the skull, continuous with the nasal cavity

Pharynx

Larynx

Question 7

What makes up the lower respiratory tract

Answer 7

The portion of the Larynx below the vocal folds

The trachea

Bronchi

Bronchioles

Alveoli {site of gas exchange with blood}

4 + 5 = Specialized connective tissue of the lung

Right lung 3 lobes

Left lung two lobes ( space for heart)

Question 8

What are the functions of the ribcage

Answer 8

1- To protect the lung’s delicate tissue from external trauma

2- To allow the muscles of inspiration and expiration to change lung volume and move air in and out of the respiratory system

Question 9

What are the components of the ribcage

Answer 9

1- Manubrium, Sternum, Xiphoid process {central front}

2- Vertebrae { central back}

3-Clavicle and Scapulae

4- Ribs { sides , front to back}

Question 10

Explain the ribcage in detail

Answer 10

The manubrium forms the upper part of the front of the rib cage . { also called Manubrium sterni }

Articulates with the Body of the sternum (corpus) , at the manubriosternal joint { creating an elevated ridge on the anterior surface.

Most inferior part of the front of the rib cage is the Xiphoid process . It extends the length for further muscular attachments

The length of the front of the rib cage articulates with the Clavicle bone { collar bone } , and the first 7 thoracic ribs . T1 to T7

Question 11

Which ribs are true ribs?

Answer 11

Rib pairs 1 to 7 are true ribs , attached directly to the sternum by costal cartilages

Question 12

Which ribs are false ribs?

Answer 12

Rib pairs 8 to 10 are false, they do not contact the sternum directly, but through the costal cartilage of the 7th rib pair.

Question 13

Which ribs are floating ribs

Answer 13

11 & 12 pair are floating ribs with no direct or indirect connection to the sternum

Question 14

What is pressure

Answer 14

Force per unit area

Question 15

Describe the properties of pressure

Answer 15

The mass of air particles exert a force on the container around them or on all surfaces in contact with them, this force is described as the air pressure and it is equal in all directions

Question 16

How does pressure relate to the respiratory system

Answer 16

In respiratory science, pressures are designated values relative to the pressure of atmospheric air on surfaces

Positive pressures are higher than atmospheric pressure

Negative pressures are lower than atmospheric pressures

Question 17

Golden rule of pressure:

Answer 17

Air always flows from higher pressure to lower pressure

Question 18

Boyle’s Law

Answer 18

states that for a given mass of gas at constant temperature, the volume of the gas varies inversely with pressure

Question 19

Pleural Sac

Answer 19

Surrounds lung tissue, made of epithelial tissue

Question 20

Viscera Pleura

Answer 20

The layer touching the lung tissue

Question 21

Parietal layer

Answer 21

The layer lining up the inner surface of the muscles and ribs forming the rib cage

Question 22

Mesothelium

Answer 22

The epithelium of the sac is simple squamous also

Question 23

pleural cavity

Answer 23

The space between the two layers of Visceral Pleura and Parietal Pleura

Question 24

Descirbe the lungs at rest in a healthy individual

Answer 24

The rib cage is structurally rigid (muscles and bone), it attains a fixed position

With no airflow the pressure of air in the bronchial tree { intra-alveolar pressure} is 0 , as it is now continuous with the atmosphere {atmospheric pressure }

The lung tissue is rich in collagenous and elastic fibers to allow expansion and compression with respiratory movement, { compliance}.

At this instant the lung has a natural passive tendency to collapse on itself, however in healthy individuals this is only a very small inward pull on the visceral pleura relative to the parietal layer

The overall result is a weak negative Intrapleural pressure { intrathoracic pressure} , measuring – 1 mmHg relative to the atmosphere.

Question 25

Describe the physiological process of inspiration and expiration ( The respiratory cycle)

Answer 25

The air moves in and out as a result of an interplay between :
Intra-alveolar pressure
Atmospheric pressure
Intrathoracic

Air flow occurs from the atmosphere into the lungs when atmospheric pressure is higher than Intra-alveolar pressure , this is called inspiration.

Air flow occurs from the lungs into the atmosphere when Intra-alveolar pressure is higher than atmospheric, this is called expiration.

Question 26

Inspiration at rest:

Answer 26

The muscles of inspiration increase the volume of the rib cage

The increase pull on the parietal pleural outwards results in greater negative { increased in negativity} of intra thoracic pressure

The negative pull of the intrathoracic pressure pulls the soft compliant lung tissue outward

The volume of intra-alveolar space increases on a fixed volume of air
There is an increase in the negativity of the intra-alveolar pressure relative to atmospheric pressure
Air flows from the atmosphere into the lungs

Question 27

Expiration at rest

Answer 27

The muscles of inhalation relax

The rib cage returns to resting position

The intra thoracic negativity decreases { becomes closer to zero

This allows the lungs to recoil towards resting size

The volume of intra-alveolar space decrease on a fixed volume of air

The air pressure will increase above that of the atmosphere and air will flow out of the lungs

The process is passive with no active muscular contraction