overview of the respiratory system

Question 1

what is the respiratory tract divided into

Answer 1

• upper respiratory tract

- lower respiratory tract

Question 2

what does the upper respiratory tract

Answer 2

nose, nasopharynx, pharynx and larynx

Question 3

what does the lower respiratory tract consist of

Answer 3

tracheae, lungs, Bronchi, alveoli

Question 4

what are the primary functions of the respiratory tract

Answer 4

a) exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide between blood and atmosphere
b) for olfaction
c) for production of our voice.

Question 5

what does the nasal supply contain

Answer 5

blood supply and lots of hairs

Question 6

what is the main function of the hair and blood supply

Answer 6

to warm the air and filter it

Question 7

what does the blood supply do in the nose

Answer 7

ensures inspired air is full saturated with water vapour

Question 8

what sinus is involved near the nose

Answer 8

sphenoid sinus

Question 9

what is the function of a sinus

Answer 9

to lighten the skull and to give the voice some resonance

Question 10

how does the larynx contribute to voice

Answer 10

controls pitch and volume - strength

Question 11

what is the larynx supplied with

Answer 11

vagal receptors

Question 12

what also contributes to volume

Answer 12

the strength of expiration

Question 13

what are the two pleuras that each lung is surrounded by

Answer 13

outer (parietal) pleura

inner (visceral) pleura

Question 14

what is the function of the pleural space filled with fluid

Answer 14

to reduce friction

Question 15

at what level does the trachea end and the bronchi bifurcate

Answer 15

at the sternal angle (angle of louis)

Question 16

why does inhaled material tend to go to the right lung more than the left

Answer 16

because the right primary bronchus is more directly in line with the bronchus and is steeper

Question 17

what do the bronchi subdivide into

Answer 17

lobar bronchi (R- upper, middle and lower / L - middle and lower)
segmental bronchi
terminal bronchi

Question 18

what is the difference in structure between bronchi and bronchioles

Answer 18

bronchi have cartilage and smooth muscle

bronchioles have smooth muscle only

Question 19

where does the terminal bronchi supply

Answer 19

the acinus

Question 20

what is the acinus

Answer 20

where branching bronchioles communicate with alveoli

Question 21

what are the large bronchioles responsible for

Answer 21

for maintaining airflow. smooth msucle can control blood flow by contracting.

Question 22

what are 95% of the cells in the alveoli

Answer 22

Type 1 pneumocytes - have direct contact with pulmonary capillaries

Question 23

what do type II pneumocytes do

Answer 23

secrete surfactant

Question 24

what does olfactory mucosa contain

Answer 24

highly pseudostratified epithelium, it is ciliated and contains olfactory cells.

Question 25

what is the rest of the nasal cavity lined by

Answer 25

respiratory mucosa - pseudo stratified columnar epithelial cells with cilia and goblet cells.

Question 26

what is beneath the epithelium

Answer 26

the venous plexus

Question 27

what are conducting airways lined with

Answer 27

pseudo stratified in nose and trachea

to simple cuboidal in terminal bronchioles.

Question 28

where are cilia found

Answer 28

as far distally as terminal bronchioles (but number of goblet cells decreases)

Question 29

what is gas exchange to do with

Answer 29

perfusion

Question 30

what happens in normal/quite breathing

Answer 30

• diaphragm flattens
• external intercostal muscles contract
• volume of thoracic cavity increases
• air flows in down the pressure gradient into lungs

Question 31

what muscles in the neck and chest are used in high levels of inspiration

Answer 31

inspiratory muscles

Question 32

for expiratory what muscles are used

Answer 32

internal intercostal muscles and abdominal muscles

Question 33

what is inspiration and expiration normally

Answer 33

inspiration = passive 
expiration = active

Question 34

what does inspiration or expiration against abnormal resistance use

Answer 34

accessory muscles e.g. sternocleidomastoid / stellate?

Question 35

what is the anatomical dead space

Answer 35

not all the air reaches the alveoli but remains in the large airways so isnt exchanged

Question 36

what is hypercapnia

Answer 36

when pCO2 in the body rises (alveolar ventilation is reduced in proportion to co2 excretion)

Question 37

what is hypocapnia

Answer 37

when pCO2 in body falls (alveolar ventilation becomes excessive)

Question 38

what is compliance

Answer 38

measure of the ease of lung expansion

Question 39

distensibility of the lungs

Answer 39

elastic properties of the lungs cause them to retract from the cell wall

Question 40

what does the upper part of the lungs being less compliant mean

Answer 40

that lower zones of the lungs receive more ventilation than the ones above - distribution of air in the lungs is uneven

Question 41

total lung capacity =

Answer 41

volume of gas in lung after full inspiration

Question 42

tidal volume =

Answer 42

amount of air that enters and leaves the lungs during normal breathing

Question 43

inspiratory capacity =

Answer 43

max volume of air that can be inhaled at the end of normal expiration = sum of tidal volume and inspiratory reserve volume

Question 44

inspiritory reserve volume

Answer 44

volume of gas within the lungs at the end of expiration.

Question 45

vital capacity

Answer 45

volume of air expelled by a maximum expiration from a portion of full inspiration