Physiology Flashcards

1
Q

what are the 4 main functions of the respiratory system?

A
  • gas exchange
  • acid-base balance (regulate pH at 7.4)
  • protection from infection- mucus traps pathogens. Cilia beats mucus away.
  • communication via speech
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

what is the resp. system responsible for?

A

acquiring oxygen & removing co2

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

what is the difference between cellular and external respiration?

A

cellular- occurs inside cells aka aerobic respiration

external- integration of cardiovascular & respiratory systems

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

what is the function of the pulmonary artery?

A

takes deoxygenated blood away from heart, to lungs

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

what is the function of the pulmonary vein?

A

takes oxygenated blood from lungs to heart

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

how do the cardiovascular and resp systems work together to cater for an increased energy demand of working muscle ?

A
cardio = increased HR& force of contraction- speeds up waste removal via blood 
respiratory= increased rate & depth of breathing (increased oxygen transport & co2 removal)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

what are the two main places where gas exchange takes place?

A

lungs- alveoli

systemic capillaries- between capillaries and body cells

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

where does the respiratory system start?

A

at the nose

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

where does the trachea bifurcate?

A

sternal angle

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

what does the gas we are inhaling have to be like to undergo gas exchange?

A

has to be in solution

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

what do the left and right primary bronchi branch into

A

secondary bronchi which lead in to the lobes of the lung

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

how many lobes on right and how many on left

A

right = 3, left = 2

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

why is breathing through the nose more effective than breathing through the mouth?

A

because it is more effective at moistening air that we breathe in

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

where does the devision of URT & LRT occur ?

A

larynx

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

what organs does the URT consist of?

A

larynx, pharynx, nasal cavity, mouth

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

what organs does the LRT consist of ?

A

trachea, bronchi, lungs

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

which lung is marginally larger and why?

A

right because part of the left is compressed by the heart

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

what is the function of the epiglottis?

A

it is a flap which folds over the trachea to prevent food from entering it when you swallow

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

what are the lungs encased by?

A

pleural cavity which contains approx 3ml of fluid

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

what is the main difference between the right main bronchus and left main bronchus and what happens as a cause of this?

A

right main bronchus- wider and more obtuse - aspirated foreign bodies commonly lodge here

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

what does a patent airway mean?

A

means the airway is open & unobstructed

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

what are important in maintaining patency of airways?

A

the rings of cartilage surrounding the airway

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

what are the first airways to lose the rings of cartilage?

A

bronchioles

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

how is patency maintained in the bronchioles?

A

physical forces of the thorax

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

what does the conducting zone consist of?

A

upper airways- trachea and bronchi

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

what does the respiratory zone consist of and what occurs there?

A

bronchioles and alveoli, gas exchange occurs there

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

how can airway diameter be altered?

A

by the activity of bronchial smooth muscle

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

what decreases the diameter?

A

contraction of smooth muscle- increases resistance

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

what increases the diameter?

A

relaxation of smooth muscle- decreases resistance

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

when does resistance to flow become greatest?

A

in larger airways as there is less of them and therefore more molecules will be there and therefore resistance increases

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

what is the function of the upper airways?

A

allow transport of air to and from alveoli, no gas exchange

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

what is the air in these airways called?

A

anatomical dead space

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

what are 2 things alveoli covered in?

A
  • elastic fibres–> stretch when you inspire which requires energy and recoil when you expire which releases energy
  • capillaries
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
34
Q

what is the function of type 1 alveolar cells ?

A

gas exchange

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
35
Q

what is the function of type 2 alveolar cells ?

A

surfactant production

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
36
Q

what type of cell are capillaries directly adjacent to?

A

type 1 alveolar cells

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
37
Q

what are the things which compose the lining of the respiratory tract?

A
  • epithelium (pseudo- stratified ciliated columnar)
  • glands
  • lymph nodes
  • cilia
  • mucous
  • blood vessels
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
38
Q

what changes occur as you progress from nose down the respiratory tract?

A
  • epithelium becomes more squamous
  • mucous cells are lost (goblet cells for example)
  • cilia lost (even though they are the last things to be lost)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
39
Q

what are 4 features of alveoli?

A
  • surrounded by elastin which helps them recoil
  • surrounded by rich capillary network
  • site of gas exchange
  • thin walled
40
Q

what are features of type I pneumocytes

A
  • 97% of alveolar cells
  • simple squamous epithelium
  • gas exchange
41
Q

what are features of type II pneumocytes

A
  • surfactant production which is a mixture of phospholipids &proteins
  • decreases surface tension at alveolar surface due to air-water interface
42
Q

what are 3 functions of mucous?

A
  • traps particles
  • moistens air - helps produce humidity in resp. system
  • large surface area for cilia to act on
43
Q

through where do the main vessels enter/exit the lung ?

A

hilum of the lung

44
Q

what membrane lines the internal pleural cavity and which one the external?

A

internal- visceral

external- parietal

45
Q

what are the 2 functions of pleural fluid?

A
  • lubrication- on inspiration, the lungs glide over the ribs and therefore pleural fluid helps lubricate this action and make sure it happens smoothly
  • adhesion- pleural fluid sticks the the 2 pleura together, which has a cohesive action between the lungs and ribs and therefore if the ribs expand the lungs will expand too
46
Q

what is intrapleural pressure and why

A

it is negative (sub atsmospheric) because the lungs have a tendency to recoil and the rib cage to expand and therefore this increases the volume in the pleural cavity which decreases pressure to sub atmospheric

47
Q

what is the tendency of the ribs and of the lungs and what stops them from doing so?

A

ribs- to expand
lungs- to recoil
prevented by the cohesive force of the 2 pleural membranes which effectively stick the ribs and lungs together

48
Q

what muscles are involved in the active process of breathing ?

A

diaphragm- contracts, flattens, moves down
external intercostals - pull rib cage forwards and up
but also STERNOCLEIDOMASTOIDS & SCALENES

49
Q

what muscles are involved in the process of forced expiration?

A

internal intercostals & abdominal muscles (these can also be recruited with an increased energy demand)

50
Q

what is asthma ?

A

over-reactive constriction of bronchial smooth muscle

51
Q

what is pneumothorax?

A

disruption of relationship between pleural membranes created between thoracic cavity & lungs due to a penetrating wound: equilibrium is destroyed, air flows in and lungs collapse

52
Q

define intra-thoracic (alveolar) Pressure (PA)

A

pressure in the lungs (alveoli)- can be positive or negative depending on inspiration/expiration

53
Q

define intra-pleural pressure (Pip)

A

pressure inside pleural cavity - always negative, in healthy lungs

54
Q

define trans-pulmonary pressure (Pt) and how you would calculate it

A

pressure difference between alveolar pressure and intrapleural pressure. Calculated - PA-Pip

55
Q

what is pleurisy ?

A

inflammation of the pleura

56
Q

what does boyle’s law state?

A

that a gas’s volume is inversely proportional to its pressure

57
Q

how does breathing happen?

A

-diaphragm contracts, flattens & moves down & external intercostals pull ribcage forwards and up: volume of thoracic cavity increases, lungs expand and their volume increases too
-pressure inside lungs decreases
-air flows from high pressure outside to low pressure inside so lungs pull air in
opposite for expiration

58
Q

what is tidal volume and how much is it approximately

A

how much air is breathed in/out with every breath - approx 500ml

59
Q

what is expiratory reserve volume and how much is it approx?

A

the maximum amount of air that can be breathed out following normal expiration - approx 1L

60
Q

what is inspiratory reserve volume and how much is it approx?

A

the maximum amount of air that can be breathed in following normal inspiration -approx 3L

61
Q

what is residual volume?

A

the volume that, no matter how hard you squeeze your lungs, will always be there

62
Q

what are 2 functions of residual volume?

A
  • keep the alveoli in a partially inflated state and stop them collapsing
  • provide a reservoir for gas exchange to happen all the time
63
Q

what is vital capacity?

A

tidal volume + inspiratory reserve + expiratory reserve

64
Q

what is total lung capacity?

A

vital capacity + residual volume

65
Q

what is inspiratory capacity?

A

tidal volume + inspiratory reserve volume

66
Q

what is functional residual capacity and how much is it approx?

A

the air that is always in your alveoli at the end of a normal expiration - approx 2.3L

67
Q

why is FRC important?

A

stops lungs from collapsing

68
Q

what is the approx volume of anatomical dead space?

A

150 ML

69
Q

what is pulmonary (minute) ventilation?

A

the amount of air coming into/out of the lungs

70
Q

what is alveolar ventilation?

A

the amount of air coming into/out of the alveoli

71
Q

how do you calculate total pulmonary ventilation?

A

respiratory rate x tidal volume

72
Q

how do you calculate how much air is going down to the alveoli? (alveolar ventilation)

A

(tidal volume - anatomical dead space air aka 150ML) x resp rate

73
Q

what is hypoventilating?

A

breathing in and out less than normal

74
Q

What does Dalton’s law state?

A

the total pressure of a gas mixture is the sum of all the individual pressures of the gases which make up the mixture

75
Q

What does Dalton’s law state?

A

the total pressure of a gas mixture is the sum of all the pressures of the individual gases which make up the mixture

76
Q

what is the partial pressure of oxygen in atmospheric air?

A

160mmHg

77
Q

why is the mixture of air we breathe in different to the mixture of air in the alveoli?

A
  • breathing only 70% effective therefore not all air breathed in goes down to alveoli
  • residual volume air in the alveoli takes places in gas exchange and dilutes down air coming in
  • air gets humidified as it goes down the respiratory tract and therefore becomes more dilute and this creates its own pressure
  • air in alveoli is in equilibrium with arterial blood - partial pressure in alveoli same as partial pressure in arterial blood
78
Q

what happens to the partial pressures of oxygen and co2 in alveoli during hypoventilation?

A

oxygen - decreases to 30mmHg

co2- increases to 100mmHg

79
Q

what are 3 functions of surfactant?

A
  • reduce surface tension
  • increase compliance (make lungs more stretchable)
  • REDUCES LUNG’S TENDENCY TO RECOIL & makes breathing easier
80
Q

when does surfactant synthesis begin and what happens if babies are born prematurely ?

A

25th week of gestation - IRDS

81
Q

what is compliance?

A

change in volume related to a change in pressure, represents stretchability of lungs

82
Q

what is low compliance?

A

small increase in volume for big decrease in pressure

83
Q

what is involved in passive expiration?

A

no muscle action

elastic recoil & surface tension pull inward

84
Q

what is emphysema?

A

destruction in the elastic fibres around alveoli by elastase enzyme which hinders recoiling of lung in expiration and therefore expiration becomes difficult

85
Q

where is greatest compliance seen?

A

base of lung

86
Q

compare compliance at base and apex of lung

A

At the apex, the alveoli are just hanging and are in a partially inflated state so can only inflate up to a certain point = low compliance
At the base of the lung, the alveoli are squashed from the rest of the lung on top. This allows them to have a bigger range of inflation/deflation= greater compliance

87
Q

define obstructive lung disease, give a characteristic of them & 2 examples

A

obstruction in the air flow, especially on expiration
-increased airway resistance
asthma & COPD

88
Q

define restrictive lung disease, give a characteristic & 4 examples

A

restriction in lung expansion
-lung stiffness
fibrosis, IRDS, oedema, pneumothorax

89
Q

what is spirometry?

A

method of assessing lung function

90
Q

what two types of spirometry are there?

A

dynamic- consider volume exhaled and time taken

static- only consideration is volume exhaled

91
Q

what does spirometry generate?

A

FEV1/FVC ratio

92
Q

what is FEV and how much is it usually

A

the amount of air expired in one second - usually 4L in fit, healthy males

93
Q

how much is FVC usually

A

usually 5L in fit, healthy males

94
Q

what is FEV1/FVC ratio in normal, healthy lungs?

A

80%

95
Q

what ratio is indicative of obstructive lung disease?

A

reduced FEV1 so reduced ratio overall

96
Q

what ratio is indicative of restrictive lung disease?

A

if the ratio stays the same or increases

97
Q

what is a limitation of spirometry?

A

you can have a normal ratio even with diseased lungs as for example in restrictive, both values fall so ratio stays much the same