Respiration Flashcards
Respiration has three meanings:
- ventilation of the lungs (breathing)
- the exchange of gases between the air and blood, and between blood and the tissue fluid
- the use of oxygen in cellular metabolism
Principal Organs of Respiratory System: Upper and Lower Respiratory Tracts
Upper respiratory tract: in head and neck
-nose through larynx
Lower respiratory tract: organs of the thorax
-trachea through lungs
Organs of Respiratory System
nose, pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, lungs
Pharynx (throat)
a muscular funnel extending about 13sm (5in) from the choanae to the larynx
Three regions of the pharynx
nasopharynx: posterior to nasal apertures and above soft palate. receives auditory tubes and contains pharyngeal tonsil.
oropharynx: space between soft palate and epiglottis.contains palatine tonsils.
laryngopharynx: epiglottis to cricoid cartilage. esophagus begins at that point.
Nasopharynx: what passes through it? What is it lined with?
passes only air and is lined by pseudostratified columnar epithelium
Oropharynx and Laryngopharynx: what passes trough? And what is it lined with?
pass air, food, and drink and are lined by stratified squamous epithelium
Larynx-Voice Box: 3 parts
- epiglottis: flap of tissue that closes airway and directs food to the esophagus behind it
- Thyroid cartilage: largest, laryngeal prominence (Adam’s apple) shield-shaped (larger in males)
- Cricoid cartilage: connects larynx to trachea, ringlike
Trachea (windpipe)
a rigid tube about 12cm (4.5 in.) long and 2.5cm (1 in.) in diameter
Found anterior to esophagus
Supported by 16 to 20 C-shaped rings of hyaline cartilage. They reinforce the trachea and keeps it from collapsing when you inhale
Lung Anatomy
Costal surface: pressed against the ribcage
Mediastinal surface: faces medially toward the heart.
-hilum-slit through which the lung receives the main bronchus, blood vessels, lymphatics and nerves
-these structures constitute the root of the lung
Asymmetrical Lungs
Right Lung: shorter that left because the liver rises higher in the right. Has three lobes: superior, middle, and inferior separated by horizontal and oblique fissure
Left Lung: taller and narrower because the heart tilts toward the left and occupies more space on this side of mediastinum. Has indention: cardiac impression. has two lobes: superior and inferior separated by a single oblique fissure
Visceral Pleura
serious membrane that covers lungs
Parietal Pleura
adheres to mediastinum, inner surface of the rib cage, and superior surface of the diaphragm
Pleural Cavity
potential space between pleurae.
Normally no room between membranes, but contains a film of slippery pleural fluid
Functions of Pleurae and Pleural Fluid: 3 functions.
Reduce friction
Create pressure gradient: lower pressure than atmospheric pressure and assists lung inflation
Compartmentalization: prevents spread of infection from one organ in the mediastinum to others
Main (primary) Bronchi
supported by c-shaped hyaline cartilage rings
Lobar (secondary) Bronchi
supported by crescent shaped cartilage plates
- three right lobar (secondary) bronchi: superior, middle, and inferior
- one to each lobe of the right lung
- two It. lobar bronchi: superior and inferior
- one to each lobe of the left lung
Segmental (tertiary) Bronchi
Supported by crescent shaped cartilage plates
Bronchial Tree
All bronchi are lined with ciliated pseudostratified columnar epithelium
- cells grow shorter and the epithelium thinner as we progress distally
- terminal and respiratory bronchioles: final are passages which finally give rise to alveoli
Pulmonary Ventilation (Breathing)
Consists of a repetitive cycle one cycle of inhalation (inhaling) and expiration (exhaling)
Respiratory Cycle
One complete inspiration and expiration
- quiet respiration: while at rest, effortless, and automatic
- forced respiration: deep rapid breathing, such as during exercise
Flow of air in and out of Lungs depends on ?
Pressure difference between air pressure within lungs and outside body
Breathing muscles do what?
Change lung volumes and create differences in pressure relative to the atmosphere
Diaphragm
- prime mover or respiration
- contraction flattens diaphragm and enlarging thoracic cavity and pulling air into lungs
- relaxation allows diaphragm to bulge upward again, compressing the lungs and expelling air
- accounts for two-thirds of airflow
Internal and External Intercostal Muscles
- synergist to diaphragm
- between ribs
- stiffen the thoracic cage during respiration
- prevents it from caving inward when diaphragm descends
- contribute to enlargement and contraction of thoracic cage
- adds about one-third of the air that ventilates the lungs
Scalenes
- synergist to diaphragm
- quiet respiration holds ribs 1 and 2 stationary
Forced Inspiration: muscles involved
- erector spinae, sternocleidomastoid, pectoralis major, pectoralis minor, and serratus anterior muscles and scalenes
- greatly increase thoracic volume
Normal Quiet Expiration
- an energy-saving passive process by the elasticity of the lungs and thoracic cage
- as muscles relax, structures recoil to the original (smaller) size of thoracic cavity, results in air flow out of the lungs
Forced Expiration: muscles involved
- rectus abdominis, internal intercostals, outer lumbar, abdominal, and pelvic muscles
- greatly increased abdominal pressure pushes viscera up against diaphragm increasing thoracic pressure, forcing air out
Valsalva Maneuver
consists of taking a deep breath, holding it by closing the glottis, and then contracting the abdominal muscles to raise abdominal pressure and pushing organ contents out
- normally occurs in: childbirth, urination, defecation, vomiting
- helpful diagnostic tool for evaluating disc herniations/visceral hernias
Neural Control of Breathing: Involuntary
Neurons in medulla oblongata and pons control unconscious breathing
- no autorhythmic pacemaker cells for respiration, as in the heart
- exact mechanism for setting the rhythm of respiration remains unknown
- breathing depends on repetitive stimuli of skeletal muscles from brain
Neural Control of Breathing: Voluntary
Control provided by motor cortex
- inspiratory neurons: fire during inspiration
- expiratory neurons: fire during forced expiration
- innervation: fibers of phrenic nerve supply diaphragm. intercostal nerves supply intercostal muscles
Hyperventilation
Rapid breathing (anxiety)
- Co2 is “blown off” from the body faster than it is produced
- Ph rises
Central Chemoreceptors
Brainstem neurons respond to changes in PH of cerebrospinal fluid
-pH of cerebrospinal fluid reflects the CO2 level in the blood
Peripheral Chemoreceptors
carotid and aortic bodies of the large arteries above the heart
-respond to the O2 and CO2 content and the pH of blood
Stretch Receptors
found in the smooth muscles of bronchi and bronchioles, and in the visceral pleura
- inflation (Hering-Breuer) reflex: triggered by excessive inflation
- protective reflex that inhibits inspiratory neurons stopping inspiration
Irritant Receptors
Nerve endings amid the epithelial cells of the airway
- respond to smoke, dust, pollen, chemical fumes, cld air, and excess mucus
- trigger protective reflexes such as bronchoconstriction, shallower breathing, breath-holding (apnea), or coughing
Inspiration (due to lower intrapulmonary pressure)
- Ribs are lifted by scalenes and associated muscles
- Diaphragm contracts and drops down
- Lung volume and Intrapleural volume increases (decreases inner air pressure)
- Atmospheric air pressure is greater
- Air flows in
Expiration (passive process)
- Relaxed Breathing
- passive process achieved mainly by the elastic recoil of the thoracic cage - forced breathing (Ex: playing a wind instrument)
Airflow
Pressure and resistance determines airflow
The greater the resistance: slower the flow
- Diameter of bronchioles: constriction limits air flow
- Pulmonary compliance (elasticity)
- Presence of surfactant