- extends from the larynx to the primary bronchi - supported by 16-20 C-shaped cartilage rings (prevent collapse) - lined the respiratory epithelium - the trachea is located anterior to the esophagus - why are the cartilage rings c-shaped?

Module 11 - Respiratory System Flashcards by lily diep

What is the function of the respiratory system?

-the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the air and blood

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What is the upper tra ct comprised of?

nose and nasal cavity, pharynx and associated structures

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

what is the lower tract composed of?

larynx, trachea, bronchi, lungs

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What is the external portion of the nose?

bone (nasal bone and maxilla)
hyaline cartilage
external nares (nostrils)

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What is the internal portion of the nose?

nasal cavity

lined by mucous membrane

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What are the 3 functions of the nasal cavity?

warms, moistens, and filters incoming air
- air is warmed by underlyig warm blood vessels
- the mucous membrane secretes water and mucuous
- nostril hairs and mucus trap incoming foreign particles
smell (olfactory epithelium)
alters speech sounds (via paranasal sinuses)

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What is the respiratory epithelium?

ciliated pseudostratified columnar epithelium
contains mucuous secreting goblet cells
extends from the nasal cavity to the bronchi (except the oropharynx which is stratified squamous)

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What are the 3 divisions of the pharynx?

nasopharynx
oropharynx
laryngopharynx

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What are the functions of the pharynx?

passageway for food and air
houses tonsils (immune function)
contains auditory tube openings (links pharynx to the middle ear - open to equalize ear pressure)
alters speech sounds

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What is the larynx?

it connects the pharynx with the trachea and contains the vocal cords

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What is the epiglottis?

an elastic cartilage flap that regulates the opening of the larynx

allows air to move into the lungs when open
prevents the passage of food into the lungs when closed

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What is the thyroid cartilage?

forms the anterior wall of the larynx; larger in males

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What are vocal cords?

folds of mucous membrane

open during inspiration
produce sound by vibrating when air leaving the lungs passes over them
pitch varies with the speed of vibration
volume varies with the force of air flow

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What is the trachea?

extends from the larynx to the primary bronchi
supported by 16-20 C-shaped cartilage rings (prevent collapse)
lined the respiratory epithelium
the trachea is located anterior to the esophagus
why are the cartilage rings c-shaped?

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Where are the lungs located?

located in the thoracic cavity
extend from the diaphragm (base) to the slightly superior to the medial 1/3 of the clavicles (apex)
the costal surface (anterior, lateral, posterior) lies against the ribs

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Why is the left lung 10% smaller than the right? why is the right lung shorter than the left?

left lung smaller because shares space with heart

right lung shorter because needs to make room rfor liver

What are pleural membranes?

double layered serous membrane

parietal pleura adheres to the chest wall
visceral pleura adheres to the lung surface

the pleural cavity contains a small amount of pleural fluid –> reduces friction on the lung surface during breathing

what conditions do fluid or air enter the pleural space? what are some examples? pneumothorax

what are the 3 lobes of the lungs?

There are 3 right lobes and 2 left lobes

superior lobes, middle lobe and inferior lobes

What is the branching of the bronchial tree?

Trachea
primary bronchi*
secondary bronchi*
tertiary bronchi* 
bronchioles
terminal bronchioles

What is the bronchial tree?

=airways beyond the trachea that progressively branch throughout the lungs

classified as:

conducting airways
- simply conduct air to the alveoli
respiratory airways
- participate in gas exchange

What are the 5 conducting airways?

primary bronchi (to left or right lung)
secondary bronchi (to each lobe of the lung)
tertiary bronchi (branch withini each lobe)
bronchioles
terminal bronchioles

what are the 4 respiratory airways?

respiratory bronchioles
alveolar ducts
alveolar sacs (contain 2 or more alveoli that share a common opening)
alveoli

What are lobules?

respiratory airways and alveoli leaving a single terminal bronchiole are organized into lobules (=basic functional unit of the lungs)

blood supply to each lobule includes:
a pulmonary arteriole (deoxygenated)
capillaries (gas exchange)
a pulmonary venule (oxygenated)

-lymphatic vessels pick up excess fluid, debris and microorganisms

What cells are alveoli composed of?

alveolar cells
- thin (simple squamous) for gas exchange
surfactant-secreting cells
- secrete surfactant –> a fluid that lines the inside surface of alveoli to prevent collapse during expiration
alveolar macrophages
- defend against foreign materials not removed by mucus and cilia

What is ventilation?

the flow of air between the atmosphere (outside) and the lungs due to the differences in air pressure includes: - inhalation (inspiration) - exhalation (expiration) does NOT refer to the process of gas exchange at the alveoli

What is inhalation?

- contract inspiratory muscles - diaphragm flattens - intercostal muscles (between ribs) elevate the ribs - the thoracic cavity increases in size/volume (taller and wider)

What pressure changes happen during inhalation? How?

- as thoracic cavity volume increases - air pressure in the lungs decreases - pressure inside is lower than pressure outside - air enters the lungs down it's pressure gradient - the lungs expand

What happens during exhalation?

- inspiratory muscles relax - lungs and chest wall recoil - thoracic cavity volume decreases pressure changes - air pressure in the lungs increases - air flows out of the lungs note: expiratory muscles (i.e abdominals, intercostal, are only used during FORCEFUL exhalation such as exercise and coughing)

Alveoli function in __ _____ gas exchange can be classified as 2 different ones

alveoli function in gas exchange =the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide by passive diffusion -also called respiration gas exchange can be classified as 1. pulmonary - occurs at the alveoli 2. systemic - occurs at the tissues

pulmonary gas exchange gases diffuse across the _____ _____ which is composed of what 3 layers?

gasses diffuse across the respiratory membrane composed of 3 layers: 1. alveolar cell 2. endothelial cell 3. alveolar and endothelial basement membranes gases diffuse from an area of high to low gas pressure at the lungs, O2 diffuses from the alveoli to the blood (pulmonary capillaries) CO2 diffuses from the blood to alveoli

What is systemic gas exchange?

gases diffuse from an area of high to low gas pressure at the tissues, O2 diffuses from the blood to tissues (via tissue capillaries) CO2 diffuses from the tissues to blood

Gas transport in blood | Transport of _______

Transport of oxygen - 1.5% dissolved in plasma - 98.5% carried by hemoglobin (binds to iron in the heme group) the amount of oxygen bound to hemoglobin is called oxygen saturation (O2 sat)

TRansport of carbon dioxide

- 7% dissolved in plasma - 23% carried by hemoglobin (binds to the globin group) - 70% converted to bicarbonate ion (HCO3-)

What does the respiratory control centre do?

-regulates the activation of respiratory muscles 1. frequency of contraction (respiratory rate) 2. which muscles are activated (depth of breathing)

What does the control of respiration include?

1. medulla oblongata - controls the basic rhythm of breathing - responds to input from sensory neurons and the pons 2. the pons - modifies the rate set by medullary centre - receives input from the cerebral cortex (higher brain), limbic system (emotional brain) and hypothalamus (from chemoreceptors monitoring CO2 and O2 in the blood)

What are the 2 chemoreceptors? What do they do?

- respond to changes in O2, CO2 and pH 1. central chemoreceptors located in the brain (medulla oblongata) respond to a decrease in pH or an increase in CO2 in the CEREBROSPINAL FLUID 2. peripheral chemoreceptors in the aortic arch and carotid arteries are mainly sensitive to decreases in O2 levels in the BLOOD send sensory information to the respiratory centre --> activate motor neurons of respiratory muscles to increase ventilation