OC4 - respiratory system Flashcards
what are the components of the upper respiratory system?
nose
pharynx
what is the function of the nose?
warms, filters and moistens the air
goblet cells secrete mucus, which along with cilia trap foreign particles and move them out of the body
speech sounds and olfactory stimuli
what is the function of the pharynx?
walls are composed of skeletal muscle and are lined with mucous membrane
where air and food meet
contain the tonsils and adenoid cartilages
what are the components of the lower respiratory system?
larynx
trachea
lungs
bronchi
alveoli
what is the function of the larynx?
wall is composed of 9 pieces of cartilage, 3 single pieces and 3 pairs.
one single piece is the epiglottis which closes the entrance to the respiratory system when swallowing food
contain arytenoid cartilages which are angular hyaline cartilages responsible for moving the vocal cords which are highly elastic ligaments
what is the function of the trachea?
walls consist of mucous membrane
associated with the cough reflex
leads into the right and left bronchi with a ridge of cartilage called the carina in the middle
what is the function of the lungs?
enclosed and protected by the pleural membrane which is a double membrane with one side attached to the wall of the chest cavity and the other covering the lungs. The space between is called the pleural cavity and is filled with a lubricating fluid to allow the membranes to slide easily over each other.
what is the function of the bronchi?
divides into the primary bronchi, with the right bronchus being wider, shorter and more vertical, further dividing into the secondary and tertiary bronchi and finally the bronchioles
epithelium changes to non-ciliated, rings of cartilage are gradually replaced by small plates of cartilage and smooth muscle.
what is the function of alveoli?
cup-shaped structures that are lined with very thin squamous epithelial cells and septal cells that produce a surfactant which is a phospholipid substance that lowers the surface tension of the lung allowing it to expand
have macrophages to engulf debris
what happens during chemoreceptor control of breathing when there is increased CO2 in arterial blood?
H+ concentration increases
chemoreceptors are stimulated
inspiratory area is more active
increase in rate of breathing
more CO2 expelled
what happens during chemoreceptor control of breathing when there is decreased CO2 in arterial blood?
H+ concentration decreases
chemoreceptors are no longer stimulated
inspiratory area is less active
breathing rate remains slow
little CO2 expelled
what is boyles law?
a decrease in container size causes an increase in pressure
what is the role of boyles law in inspiration?
diaphragm contracts and pulls down
intercostal muscles contract lifting the ribs up and out
size of the lungs increase, decreasing pressure so air moves inwards into the lungs down its pressure gradient
what is the role of boyles law in expiration?
diaphragm relaxes and becomes dome-shaped
intercostal muscles relax
size of the lungs decrease, increasing pressure so air moves outwards out of the lungs down its pressure gradient.
what is charles’ law?
an increase in temperature increases the volume of a gas
