Organisation of the Respiratory System Flashcards
Define Respiration.
The act of inhalation and exhalation in which oxygen from atmosphere is delivered to the tissue and carbon dioxide from the tissues is removed into the atmosphere.
Stages of Respiration.
Ventilation Stage: Exchange of gases b/w atmosphere and pulmonary capillary blood due to pulmonary ventilation.
Transport Stage: gases are transported between lungs and tissues
Exchange Stage: gases are exchanged b/w the systemic circulation and tissues
Tissue Stage: Oxygen delivered to the tissues is utilised by the mitochondrial enzymes of the cells for oxidation during which carbon dioxide is produced.
Components of Respiratory system.
URT: nose to vocal cords that include sinuses, glottis, pharynx and larynx
LRT: Trachea, airways and alveoli
respiratory apparatus also consists of thoracic cavity and associated skeletal muscle and muscles of respiration.
Main function of URT
to process the inspired air so that it gets humidified and it attains body temperature by the time it reaches trachea.
Components of URT
Nose, Paranasal Sinuses, Pharynx, Larynx
Nose
-contains olfactory epithelium that receives smell sensation
- filters particles greater than 10 um
- secretion contains immunoglobulins and interferons that kill the organisms
- though the volume of nose is only 20 ml, the cross sectional area is greatly increased by the nasal turbinates
- offers about 50% of resistance to airflow in the respiratory system. (increases during viral infections like common cold)
what are the Paranasal Sinuses?
mainly maxillary sinus, sphenoid sinus, ethmoid sinus, and frontal sinus.
sinusitis is caused because—
Sinuses open into the nasal turbinates making them vulnerable to nasal infections.
Functions of Paranasal Sinuses.
- Offer resonance to voice
- Lighten the skull, for which upright posture becomes easier
- provide protection to the brain during facial trauma.
Pharynx is divided into—
Nasopharynx - behind the nose. extends from posterior nares to the level of soft palate. eustachian tubes and posterior nares open here
Oropharynx - behind the mouth. from soft palate to level of hyoid bone.
Laryngopharynx - from level of hyoid bone and opens into oesophagus.
infection of nasopharynx - common - URTI
what does larynx consists of?
epiglottis, arytenoids, and vocal cords
Elaborate Larynx and Glottis region
- epiglottis and arytenoids cover the vocal cords during deglutition - prevents aspiration of food particles into the respiratory tract
- during infections - arytenoids enlarge im children - increases resistance to air flow
- muscles of Larynx are innervated by vagal fibers
- during swallowing reflex contraction of adductor muscles closes the glottis
- unconscious and anesthetized patients - incomplete closure of glottis - food particles enter into respiratory tract - causes aspiration pneumonia
- paralysis of adductors also causes aspiration pneumonia. also causes inspiratory stridor
lower respiratory tract consists of
-airway tree (trachea which bifurcates into bronchi that enter the lungs) and lungs
explain the airway tree
a series of branching tubes (decreasing in diameter) constitute the airway tree.
- trachea, main airway branches into two bronchi. each bronchus enters a lung and branches many times - bronchioles - tracheobronchial tree
- trachea bronchi contain cartilages. relatively less smooth muscle content
- trachea and bronchi lined by - ciliated epithelium.
cilia present till respiratory bronchioles. glands absent in bronchioles and terminal bronchioles. - bronchioles and terminal bronchioles - adequate smooth muscle content,, terminal bronchioles having maximum.
- bronchioles downwards cartilages are absent
bronchial tone.
tone of smooth muscles of bronchi is called bronchial tone.
contributes to the patency of bronchi and aids in Respiration.
bronchodilation.
sympathetic stimulation.
bronchoconstriction
- vagal stimulation.
- reflex bronchoconstriction - irritation of airways by allergens and chemicals - usually mediated by vagal cholinergic fibers
- sudden entry of cool air
- exercise (hyperventilation)
circadian rhythm.
circadian rhythm for bronchial tone -
- maximum dilation - 6pm
- maximum constriction - 6am
generation numbers
the progressively bifurcating airways are designated by their generation numbers.
trachea - zero generation.
left and right bronchi - first generation.
changes occurring as generation numbers increases.
- airways - smaller, narrower, and shorter
- amount of cilia - dec
- no. of mucus secreting cells - dec
- quantity of submucosal glands - less
- amount of cartilage - dec
- amount of smooth muscle - inc
function of mucus, cilia and cartilage.
mucus - traps small foreign particles including bacteria
cilia - beat toward pharynx. thus prevent entry of small organisms. also sweep the carpet of mucus, that is, when mucus secretion is excessive, cilia remove mucus into the pharynx from where it is either swallowed or spit outside.
cartilage - prevents the collapse of airway. present up to 10th generation (bronchi)
airways are branched into-
progressively branch 23 times (i.e. 23 generations)
- conducting airways - move air by convection into the gas exchange areas of lungs (conducting zone)
- Respiratory airways - participate in gas exchange (respiratory zone)
Conducting Zone.
trachea and first 16 generations
Arrangement and Functions
trachea branch out into two main bronchi which further branch out into lobar bronchi - segmental bronchi - smaller branches - terminal bronchioles- respiratory bronchioles.
The trachea, bronchi, and bronchioles have following functions:
1. warm and humidify inspired air.
2. distribute air evenly to the deeper parts of the
lungs.
3. serve as part of nonspecific defense system of the body by removing dust, bacteria, and harmful gases from the respiratory tract.
Structural Specialization
1. The considerable amount of cartilage is present in first four generations of the conducting zone - prevents collapse of these airways as they are subjected to changes in thoracic pressures. Some amount of cartilage is present up to 10th generation
- The cartilage is absent totally in the bronchioles. Though bronchioles lack cartilage, elasticity of the lung tissue maintains their patency as they are suspended by elastic tissue of the
lung parenchyma. However, bronchioles are susceptible to collapse especially during expiration. - As there is no alveoli up to 16th generation, gas exchange does not occur in the conducting zone. Therefore, the
volume of respiratory tract starting from nose to the generation-16 airways is called anatomic dead space
Blood Supply
bronchial circulation.
fed by bronchial artery that originates from the descending aorta and
drained by pulmonary veins.
Nerve Supply
bronchi and bronchioles - innervated by ANS.
- Vagal stimulation causes bronchoconstriction
- Sympathetic stimulation causes bronchodilation, Activation of β2
receptors increases bronchial secretion and α2 receptors inhibit secretion. - bronchodilation - non cholinergic- nonadrenergic innervation.
Conducting Zone.
The trachea and first 16 generations of airway form the
conducting zone (Fig. 103.3).
Arrangement and Functions
The trachea, bronchi, and bronchioles have following
functions:
1. They warm and humidify inspired air.
2. They distribute air evenly to the deeper parts of the
lungs.
3. They also serve as part of nonspecific defense system
of the body by removing dust, bacteria, and harmful
gases from the respiratory tract.
Structural Specialization
1. The considerable amount of cartilage is present in
first four generations of the conducting zone. This
prevents collapse of these airways as they are sub-
jected to changes in thoracic pressures. Some amount
of cartilage is present up to 10th generation, up to
which the airways are referred to as bronchi (Clinical
Box 103.3).
2. The cartilage is absent totally in the bronchioles.
The smallest airways in the conducting zone are the
