Lecture: Respiratory System Flashcards
What are the 7 functions of the respiratory system?
1) gas exchange
2) speech and vocalization
3) olfaction
4) controls pH
5) angiotensin II generation (regulates BP)
6) flow of lymph and venous blood
7) valsalva maneuver (equalizes pressure)
What are the 2 major divisions of the respiratory system?
1) conducting zone
- passageway for air
- warms, humidifies, cleanses
- nose, pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchioles
2) respiratory zone
- actual site of gas exchange
- respiratory bronchioles, alveolar ducts, alveoli
What are the features and functions of the nose?
features:
- anterior naris
- nasal cavity
functions:
- warms, cleanses, humidifies air
- detects odor
- amplifies voice
What is the pharynx? What are its 3 divisions?
muscular funnel from nasal cavity to larynx nasopharynx
-airborne passages
oropharynx
-palatine and lingual tonsils
laryngopharynx
What are the features and functions of the larynx?
features:
epiglottis, cartilage, vestibular folds (includes vocal cords), glottis;
functions:
- food and drink out of airway
- sound production (phonation)
Describe the macro-anatomy of the trachea.
“windpipe”
C-shaped hyaline cartilage;
trachealis muscle controls airflow
Describe the micro-anatomy of the trachea.
inner layer of pseudostratified epithelium
-mucus-secreting goblet cells
-cilitated cells
mucociliary escalator mechanism
connective tissue
- lymphatic nodules
- mucus/serous glands
- tracheal cartilage
Define: mucociliary escalator.
mechanism of debris removal in the trachea in which the mucus traps inhaled particles, and the upward beating of the cilia drives the debris-laden mucus toward the pharynx, where it is swallowed
Describe the exterior anatomy of the lungs.
costal surface (pressed against rib cage);
mediastinal surface (face medially);
-hilum (slit through which the lung receives the main bronchus, blood vessels, lymphatics, and nerves)
-cardiac impression: depression where heart presses against medial surface of left lung
right lung: 3 lobes
left lung: 2 lobes
Describe the anatomy of the bronchial tree.
primary bronchi
-similar to trachea
-elastic CT
secondary or tertiary bronchi
-irregular cartilage plates
bronchioles
-no cartilage
-ciliated cuboidal epithelium
-smooth muscle
terminal bronchioles
-no mucus or goblet cells
respiratory bronchioles
-respiratory division
-lead into alveolar ducts
Describe the macroscopic anatomy of the alveoli.
alveolar sac: cluster of alveoli;
pulmonary capillaries;
alveolus (singular of alveoli)
Describe the microscopic anatomy of the alveoli.
squamous (type I) alveolar: allow for rapid gas diffusion;
great (type II) alveolar: repair type I cells and secrete surfactant, a mixture of phospholipids and protein that decreases surface tension;
alveolar macrophages
What is the respiratory membrane? What are its components?
alveolar air-blood barrier
components:
-squamous alveolar cell
-capillary endothelial cell
-basement membrane
What are the features and functions of the pleurae?
double layered membrane
- visceral pleura
- pareital pleura
- pleural cavity filled w/ pleural fluid;
functions:
- reduction of friction
- creation of pressure gradient
- compartmentalization of thoracic organs
Explain pulmonary ventilation. What muscles are used?
“breathing”
respiratory cycle: inspiration & expiration;
-quiet vs. forced;
respiratory muscles:
- diaphragm
- intercostal muscles
- scalenes
- others with forced breathing
Describe the neural control for breathing.
brainstem respiratory centers located in the medulla and pons;
receptors receive both central and peripheral input
Name and explain the 3 brainstem respiratory centers.
1) dorsal respiratory group (DRG)
- inspiratory neurons
- relaxed, quiet inspiration
2) ventral respiratory group (VRG)
- inspiratory and expiratory neurons
- heavy breathing
3) pneumotaxic area
- shortens breath
- increases respiratory rate
Explain the 4 types of central and peripheral input to the respiratory centers.
1) central chemoreceptors
- brainstem
- respond to pH changes in cerebrospinal fluid
2) peripheral chemoreceptors
- carotid and aortic bodies of large arteries above heart
- O2, CO2, and pH content of blood
3) stretch receptors
- smooth muscle of bronchi and bronchioles
- Hering-Breuer reflex
4) irritant receptors
- epithelial cells of airway
Define: Hering-Breuer reflex.
inhibits inspiration in response to extreme stretching of lungs
For what is voluntary control of breathing important? What is it controlled by? What is it limited by?
important for singing, speaking, breath-holding, etc;
controlled by motor cortex of frontal lobe;
high CO2 levels (kids can’t hold breath and die)
What is the formula which describes flow?
change in pressure / resistance
Explain the 2 different types of pressure which affect respiration.
1) atmospheric pressure
- weight of air above us
- 760 mmHg at sea level
2) intrapulmonary pressure
- internal pressure of lungs
Define: Boyle’s Law.
pressure is inversely proportional to volume
Explain the physical process of inspiration.
thoracic cavity expands
-diaphragm contracts
lungs expand
-pleura (lung surface) clings to rib cage
-intrapleural pressure is created between parietal and visceral pleurae