Physiological Processes Flashcards
What type of sugar is released when food is digested in the stomach?
Glucose
Where is glucose absorbed?
Absorbed by the intestines and transported through the blood
What are the body cells use glucose for?
Energy
Where in the body is the stomach located?
In the cranial abdomen
What structure comes before the stomach in the digestive system?
The oesophagus
What does the stomach do?
The stomach breaks up food and mix it with gastric juices to aid in digestion
What is movement of the stomach called?
Peristalsis
What does peristalsis do?
Moves food around and pushes it through to the intestines
What adaptation does stomach have to protect it from gastric acid?
Cells in the stomach produce mucus which coats the stomach wall
What is the scientific name for the small intestine?
The duodenum
What is the pancreas and where is it located?
The pancreas is a type of gland located in the abdominal cavity, attached to the digestive tract
What is the pancreas do?
It secretes digestive enzymes into the small intestine and secretes hormones into the blood
What is the exocrine function of the pancreas?
Producing and releasing pancreatic juice into the small intestines while eating occurs
What is the endocrine function of the pancreas?
To release insulin, glucagon and somatostatin in response to blood glucose levels
From what cells of the pancreas are hormones produced?
Islets of Langerhans
What type of cells release insulin from the pancreas?
Beta cells
What type of cells release glucagon from the pancreas?
Alpha cells
What type of cells release somatostatin for the pancreas?
Delta cells
What is the largest gland in the body?
The liver and it is made up of lobes
In what circumstances would glucose levels decrease?
If you hadn’t eaten in a while
Where is the liver located?
In the cranial abdomen, next to the diaphragm
What are the functions of the liver?
- Carbohydrate metabolism
- Protein metabolism
- Fat metabolism
- Forming bile for digestion
- Destroying old red blood cells
- Vitamin and iron storage
- Detoxification
What is the role of somatostatin?
Inhibits the release of both glucagon and insulin to stop large fluctuations in blood glucose
What structures are associated with the upper respiratory tract?
- Nose
- Pharynx
- Larynx
- Trachea
What structures are associated with the lower respiratory tract?
- Bronchi
- Bronchioles
- Alveoli
From where does air enter the respiratory system?
The nostrils/external nares
Where do the nostrils/external nares lead to?
The nasal cavity
How many chambers does the nasal cavity divide into?
Two chambers
What are the scrolls of bone found in the nasal chambers called?
Turbinates
What are the turbinates covered in?
Epithelium
What do turbinates do?
Warm and moisten incoming air
What features of the nasal passage aid in protecting the lungs?
Cilia and mucous trap particles in the air
Where does air travel to after the nasal cavity?
The pharynx
Where is the pharynx located?
Region at the back of the mouth
What two systems share the pharynx?
The digestive and respiratory systems
Where does air flow to after the pharynx?
The larynx
What is the function of the larynx and how does it do this?
It prevents anything other than air from entering the lungs by the epiglottis which closes over the larynx during swallowing
What is the larynx made up of?
Cartilage
How does the larynx bring about sound?
Vocal ligaments
Where does air enter after the larynx?
The trachea
Where is the trachea located?
Extends the entire length of the neck and enters the thoracic inlet
What is the trachea made up of?
Cartilage rings
Why is the trachea made up of cartilage rings?
To allow movement while keeping the trachea open at all times
What two structures does the trachea divide into?
The left and right bronchi
What are the walls of the bronchus made up of?
Cartilage rings
What are the tubes that bronchi divide into called?
Bronchiloes
What type of walls do bronchioles have?
Smooth muscle wals
Describe alveoli
Sac-like structures, surrounded by capillaries
Are the membranes surrounding alveoli thick or thin? Why?
Thin- Allows gaseous exchange
How many alveoli are in each lung?
Millions
What are the three main lobes of the lungs in cats and dogs?
- Cranial lobe
- Middle (cardiac) lobe
- Caudal lobe
How many lobes are in the left lung have a dog?
Three
How many lobes are in the right lung have a dog?
Four
How many lobes are in the left lung of a horse?
Two
How many lobes are in the right lung of a horse?
Three
What is extra lobe on the right lung known as?
The accessory lobe
What is each lung covered in?
Pulmonary pleura
What separates the pulmonary pleura from the parental pleura?
Pleural space
What does pleural space contain?
A vacuum
What is the technical name for breathing in or inhalation?
Inspiration
What contracts during inspiration?
The diaphragm and intercostal muscles between the ribs
What happens to the volume of the thoracic cavity during inspiration?
It increases
What happens to pressure in the lungs during inspiration?
It decreases
What is the technical name for breathing out or exhalation?
Expiration
What is the process of expiration classified as?
A passive process because no muscles contract, they just relax
What happens to the volume in the thoracic cavity during expiration?
It decreases
What happens to the pressure in the lungs during expiration?
It increases
From what pressure gradient will air always move during breathing?
From high-pressure to low-pressure
What are the two main functions of the respiratory system?
- To transport inspired air to the alveoli for gaseous exchange
- To transport expired air out of the body
Why the millions of alveoli in the lungs?
To provide a large surface area for gaseous exchange
What in the alveoli does oxygen defuses across when breathed in?
The pulmonary membrane
 What do gases are exchanged in the blood?
Oxygen is exchange for carbon dioxide
Where are the respiratory centre is located?
Within the pons and medulla of the hindbrain
What does the inspiratory centre do?
Controls inspiration
What does the expiratory centre do?
Controls expiration
What controls the rate and depth of respiration?
Stretch receptors and chemoreceptors
Where can stretch receptors be found?
Within the walls of the bronchi and bronchioles
What do the stretch receptors do?
When the lungs are full of air, they send a message to the inspiratory centre to stop inspiring and start expiring
What do chemoreceptors do?
Measures pH and oxygen levels
Where can chemoreceptors be found peripherally?
In the walls of the aorta and carotid artery
Where can chemoreceptors be found centrally?
In the medulla of the brain
What do high levels of carbon dioxide in the blood do to the pH?
It lowers the pH making the blood more acidic
What happens if high levels of carbon dioxide are detected in the blood (For example; during exercise)?
Chemoreceptors increase the rate and depth of breathing so the CO2 is breathed out
What are respiratory rates used for?
To establish the number of breaths that an animal takes per minute
What is the normal respiratory rate for a cat?
20 to 30 breaths per minute
What is the normal respiratory rate for a dog?
10 to 30 breaths per minute
What is the normal respiratory rate for a rabbit?
30 to 60 breaths per minute
What is the normal respiratory rate for a mouse?
100 to 250 breaths per minute
What is the normal respiratory rate for a horse?
8 to 20 breaths per minute
What is the normal respiratory rate for an African parrot?
15 to 45 breaths per minute
What is normal respiratory rate for a cornsnake?
6 to 10 breaths per minute
What is total lung capacity?
The total volume of air in the lungs
What is tidal volume?
The volume of air breathed in or out and one normal breath
What is functional residual volume?
The volume of a left in the lungs after one normal breath
What is vital capacity?
The maximum volume of air that can be forced out of the lungs
What is residual volume?
The volume of a left in the lungs after forced expiration
What is anatomical dead space?
The volume of air that does not reach the alveoli
