QUESTIONS Flashcards
What is the main function of the Respiratory System?
To provide the body with oxygen it requires and to rid the body of carbon dioxide
What are the 5 physiological functions of the Respiratory System?
- Gaseous Exchange
- Movement of Air
- Protection
- Speech
- Olfactory sense (smell)
What does the Respiratory System comprise of? And how do they work together?
- Airways
- Lungs
- Blood Vessels
They work together to move oxygen around the body to deliver it to cells and remove waste gasses like carbon dioxide through gaseous exchange and exhaling.
How does air pass through the Respiratory System and into the lungs?
- Air enters the body through the mouth and nose - where it is warmed up
- Air travels down the Pharynx and Larynx and into the Trachea
- Air passes through the Trachea and into the Bronchi. Each Bronchi enters the respective lung
- From the Bronchi the air travels through the Bronchiloes and into the Alveoli which gas exchange occurs.
Explain what gaseous exchange is? And where does it take place?
- Takes place in the Alveoli over a partially permeable membrane
- Oxygen is collect into the blood and Carbon Dioxide is removed
- Happens through a process called diffusion where and area of high concentration moves to an area of low concentration.
What happens in inspiration? (Breathing in)
- The diaphragm contract and the abdomen moves downwards
- The intercostal muscles contract and ribs move outwards and upwards.
- The size of the chest increase as intercostal muscles elevate and ribs move forward and air pressure decreases which sucks air into the lungs
What happens in expiration? (Breathing out)
- The diaphragm relaxes and moves back to its domed shape
- The intercostal muscles relaz and ribs move inwards and downwards.
- The size of the chest decrease and air pressure increases which forces Carbon Dioxide and waste products out of the lungs.
What is ventilation?
- Ventilation is the movement of gas in and out of the lungs (ie. The breathing process).
- Ventilation relies on the functioning of the brain stem, cranial and associated peripheral nerves, diaphragm, lungs and intercostal muscles.
What is respiration?
- The movement of gas across a membrane (eg. gaseous exchange)
What does a pulse oximeter reading tell you?
It measure how much of the haemoglobin has oxygen attached to it
How does breathing happen?
- Breathing can be involuntary and voluntary.
- Voluntary: The body has a conscious choice to increase or decrease respiration as a protective measure.
- Involuntary: The drive to inspire is controlled by the brain stem. Chemicals in the blood (eg. Carbon Dioxide and Oxygen) stimulate the respiratory effort to either increase or decrease the level of oxygen in blood.
How do infants breath?
Infants are abdominal breathers
What are the physiological factors which increase the susceptibility to Respiratory diseases in children and infants?
- They have an increase oxygen demand
- They have immaturity in control of breathing - risk of apnoea.
- Upper airway resistance: nasal breathers, larger tongues, smaller airways, weaker pharyngeal structures / muscle tone.
- Lower airway resistance: less cartilage formed, small airway size, easily collapse. complaint airways
- Less efficient respiratory muscles
- Reduced endurance of respiratory muscles - more likely to fatigue quicker
Describe the lungs.
- Coned shaped organs
- Located in the right and left hemi-thorax
- Right lung larger than left lung to make room for heart.
- Right lung has three loops
- Left lung has two loops
What is the function of surfactant?
- Surfactant is a liquid / protein that is secreted by -Alveoli type 2 cells.
- It reduces surface tension.
