Pulmonology Flashcards
What is the trachea made of?
Cartilage
What are the bronchioles made of?
Smooth muscle
Lipoprotein
Prevents alveoli membrane from sticking together
What is the diaphragm made of?
Smooth muscle
What muscle allows ribcages to move during inhalation?
external and internal intercostal muscles
What regulates breathing?
medulla oblongata
What is normal breathing rhythm?
12-20 times per minute
Two chemoreceptors
central chemoreceptor in medulla
peripheral chemoreceptor in aortic and carotid bodies
Central chemoreceptor
- responds only to changes in arterial CO2 levels
- most sensitive receptor and main regulator of breathing
Peripheral chemoreceptor
- monitors low energy levels of oxygen, and high blood acidity (resulting from high CO2 levels)
- only responds when O2 levels drop, but CO2 levels remain normal
What three ways is CO2 waste carried?
- small amount dissolved in water of plasma (9%)
- some attaches to hemoglobin (27%)
- greatest amount reacts with water to produce bicarbonate ions in plasma (64%)
CO2 bicarbonate ion and blood acidity explanation
- the CO2 mixes with water to become H2CO3
- this reaction is sped up with carbonic anhydrase
- H2CO3 is unstable and dissociates quickly
- splits into bicarbonate and hydrogen, which diffuse out of RBC to plasma
- **if you overproduce carbon dioxide, you, through this reaction, overproduce hydrogen, which is acidic and raises your blood pH, which is bad.
- **most CO2 is carried in the bicarbonate ion, obvi.
What buffers the acidity of the blood from CO2?
hemoglobin mixes with the hydrogen, releasing Oxygen, ultimately buffering it.
What happens to the bicarbonate, reduced hemoglobin, and CO2 at the lungs?
the oxygen previously diffused into the plasma dislodges the hydrogen from the hemoglobin, and the hydrogen and bicarbonate become water (vapour) and CO2!
Hypoxia
blood with oxygen levels below 50%
Pleurisy
fluid in lungs, and inflammation of pleural membrane
Cystic fibrosis
genetic. Overproduction of thick mucus in alveoli
Pneumonia
often caused by an infection, the alveoli fill with thick fluid, making gas exchange difficult.
Bronchitis
airways are inflamed due to infection (acute) or due to an irritant (chronic). Coughing brings up mucus.
Asthma
airways are inflamed due to irritation, and bronchioles constrict due to muscle spasms.
emphysema
alveoli burst and fuse into enlarged air spaces. Surface area for gas exchange is reduced. Over production of mucus. From chronic smoking.
Strep throat
infection making throat feel soar and scratchy
laryngitis
inflammation of the larnyx t hat results in a raspy voice
cold
infection of nose and throat
sinus infection
inflammation/swelling of tissue lining sinuses, when blocked with fluid (mucus) cam cause infection
tonsilitis
infection of the tonsils, which are located in the pharynx.
Process of inhalation
- external rib muscles and diaphragm contract
- rib cage moves up and out and floor of chest cavity moves downward
- volume of thoracic cavity increases
4 air pressure in thoracic cavity decreases - air moves into the lungs because pressure in lungs is less than in the environment
Process of exhalation
- diaphragm and rib muscles relax
- volume is reduced in thoracic cavity
- volume of lungs decreases, pressure in lungs increases
- air moves from lungs to the lower pressure environment outside of the body.
Pneumothorax
a total lung collapse
What causes lung collapse
Air in the pleural space pushing against lungs
Tidal volume
amount of air breathed in and out during a normal breath
Inspiratory reserve volume
how much air you can breath in during a deep breath
Expiratory reserve volume
how much air you can breath out during a deep breath
vital capacity
total lung capacity (tidal, inspiratory, expiratory)
residual volume
air left in the alveoli sacs that never gets expelled
Typical expiratory reserve
1200mL
Typical vital capacity
4700mL
typical tidal volume
500mL
Alveoli
tiny air pocket with walls made of a membrane that is a single cell thick, allowing for exchange of respiratory gases
bronchiole
passageway that branches from the bronchi into the separate lobes of the lungs; divided into smaller and smaller passageways that carry air into all portions of the lungs
bronchus
the passageway that branches from the trachea into the lungs with one bronchus carrying air into each lung
diaphragm
muscle layer separating the region of the lungs from the abdominal cavity. Contractions contribute to inspiration by increasing the volume of the thoracic cavity
epiglottis
flap of catilage located over the trachea; closes during swallowing to prevent food from entering the respiratory tract
glottis
the opening of the trachea through which air enters the larnyx
larnxy
also known as voice box
nasal passage
passage from the nostrils to the back of the throat through which air enters the body; serves to warm, moisten, and clean incoming air. lined with cilia.
Pharynx
structure located just behind the mouth that connect mouth and nasal cavity. Also known as throat.
pleural membrane
double layered membrane that encloses the lungs
trachea
a tube that carries air from the nasal passages or mouth to the lungs. Also known as windpipe
