Respiration (1) Flashcards
What are the primary functions of the breathing system?
Breathing process.
Exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide.
Enable speech production.
What is external respiration?
Exchange of gases between the lungs and the atmosphere.
Where does external gas exchange occur?
In the pulmonary capillaries.
What is internal respiration?
Exchange of gases within cells of the body organs and tissues.
In the human respiratory system, what is the purpose of the nose?
Passage of air
In the human respiratory system, what is the purpose of the mouth?
Passage for food and air.
In the human respiratory system, what is the purpose of the epiglottis?
Covers the larynx during swallowing. This decides if things go into the lungs or the digestive system as it covers the Larynx.
What type of membrane lines the lungs and chest cavity?
Pleural membrane
In the human respiratory system, what is the purpose of the pleural membrane?
Covers the lungs and lines the chest cavity.
In the human respiratory system, what is the purpose of the lungs?
Organ of gas exchange
In the human respiratory system, what is the purpose of diaphragm?
Skeletal muscle of respiration.
In the human respiratory system, what is the purpose of the nasal cavity?
Filters, warms and moistens air.
In the human respiratory system, what is the purpose of the pharynx?
Common passageway for air, food and liquid.
In the human respiratory system, what is the purpose of Larynx ?
Produces sound (voice box). AND Maintains an open airway, routes food and air appropriately.
In the human respiratory system, what is the purpose of the trachea?
Main airway to transport air to and from the lungs.
In the human respiratory system, what is the purpose of the bronchi?
Branching airways carrying gases to the alveoli.
In the human respiratory system, what is the purpose of the alveoli?
Air sacs for gas exchange.
What happens to the diaphragm, internal and external intercostal muscles during inhalation?
The diaphragm contracts and pulls downwards.
The internal intercostal muscles relax and the external intercostal muscles contract to pull the ribcage upwards and outwards.
What happens to the diaphragm, internal and external intercostal muscles during expiration?
When you exhale, the diaphragm relaxes and movs upwards.
The internal intercostal muscles contract and the external intercostal muscles relax to pull the ribcage inwards and downwards.
What are the constituents of the upper respiratory tract?
Nasal cavity, pharynx, larynx.
What are the two parts of the pleura membrane?
Parietal pleura (inner) and the visceral pleura (outer)
What is the pleural space ?
The space between the inner and outer pleural membrane that is pushed out when the lungs contract and expand.
What is the lubricating fluid in terms of the pleural membrane?
When the lungs expand, they rub against the rib cage, this prevents damage to the lungs caused by friction against the ribs.
What does the diaphragm muscle separate?
The chest wall and abdomen
During inspiration, what does the diaphragm do and what is the purpose of this?
Diaphragm contracts and increases the thoracic space allowing air to flow in down a pressure gradient.
During expiration, what does the diaphragm do and what is the purpose of this?
Diaphragm relaxes and decreases the thoracic space allowing air to move our of the lungs down a pressure gradient.
What is the purpose of the phrenic nerve?
Nervous control of inspiration and expiration.
What blood vessel does deoxygenated blood enter the lungs by?
The pulmonary artery
By what blood vessel does oxygenated blood travel from the lungs back to the heart?
Pulmonary vein
What is the tidal volume in terms of respiration?
The volume of air inhaled and exhaled per respiratory cycle.
What is the dead space volume in terms of respiration?
The air that remains in the airways and does not participate in gaseous exchange.
What is the purpose of the dead volume space in terms of respiration?
It is vital to keeping the lungs open and prevents the walls of the lungs touching when the lungs contract.
What is vital capacity in terms of respiration?
The maximum volume that can be exhaled after maximum inhalation.
What is the inspiratory reserve volume in terms of respiration?
The amount of air that can be inhaled beyond the tidal volume.
What is the expiratory reserve volume?
The amount of air that can be forcibly exhaled beyond the tidal volume.
What is the residual volume in terms of respiration?
The amount of air remaining in the lungs, even after a forceful maximum expiration.
in what units does a spirometer measure?
Litres
How can oxygen be transported?
Bound to Hb in red blood cells or dissolved in blood plasma.
How is carbon dioxide transported around the body?
Dissolved in the blood plasma, bound to Hb or in the plasma bicarbonate.
Outline the brief steps of how breathing is regulated.
The respiratory centre establishes a pattern of breathing.
- Receptor cells near the respiratory centre respond to changes in cerebrospinal fluid H+ caused by an increase in arterial carbon dioxide.
- Receptor cells in the carotid and aortic bodies respond to large decrease in arterial oxygen.
- Higher centres in the cortex can exert conscious control over respiration.
What is the main purpose of the medulla oblongata in terms of respiration?
Ensures we breathe all the time and stimulates an increase in breathing in certain scenarios.
What is the purpose of the respiratory centre?
Establishes the basic breathing pattern.
What do chemical receptors respond to control respiration?
CO2, H+ and oxygen
What chemical changes are the carotid and aortic bodies sensitive to ?
CO2, pH and oxygen levels
What are the 4 respiratory processes?
- Breathing - air into and out of the lungs.
- External respiration - gas exchange between the air and blood.
- Internal respiration - gas exchange between blood and tissues.
- Cellular respiration - oxygen used to produce ATP, CO2 is waste.
What is the main purpose of a respiratory assessment ?
To determine the adequacy of gaseous exchange.
How frequently should respiratory assessments occur?
Routinely on admission of all patients.
If a patient develops a respiratory condition or symptoms.
What should be included in the a respiratory assessments ?
Patient history Inspection Observation Palpitation Percussion Auscultation Adjuncts can also be used.
What is the purpose of taking a history when doing a respiratory assessment on a patient?
May provide clues to the stability of the condition of the patient.
What is sputum?
A thick mucus
What does green, thick and foul smelling sputum being produced by a patient suggest?
Infection
What does the production of blood stained sputum by a patient suggest?
TB, PE, Lung cancer
What does white, thick mucous sputum with no obvious infection suggest about a patient?
COPD
Asthma
What does pink frothy sputum suggest about a patient?
Pulmonary oedema
Heart failure
What does brown or brick colour sputum suggest about a patient?
TB
Infection
What is Eupnoea in terms of breathing?
10-17 breaths per minute
What is Tachypnoea in terms of breathing?
More than 18 breaths per minute