Respiration: Structure and Function Flashcards
What are the steps of external respiration?
- ventilation between atmosphere and alveoli in lungs
- O2 enters lungs
- CO2 exits lungs - gas exchange between air in alveoli and blood in pulmonary capillaries
- O2 enters blood
- CO2 exits blood, enters alveoli - blood transports O2 and CO2 between lungs and tissues
- gas exchange between blood in systemic capillaries and tissue cells
- O2 enters tissue cells
- CO2 exits tissue cells, enters blood
(tissue cells use O2 to make CO2, H2O, and ATP)
What are the two types of transport/movement of air, blood, and gases?
- bulk transport (long distance)
- diffusion (short distance)
What processes use bulk flow? (2)
- ventilation/breathing
- blood gas transport
What is ventilation/breathing driven by?
air pressure gradient
What is blood gas transport driven by?
blood pressure gradient – pumped by heart
What process uses diffusion?
gas exchange
What is gas exchange driven by?
partial pressure gradient of individual gases
What structures do the upper airways consist of?
- nasal passages
- mouth
- pharynx
- larynx (throat)
What structures does the tracheobronchial tree consist of?
- trachea (windpipe)
- bronchus
- bronchioles
- terminal bronchiole
What structures does the chest wall consist of, and associate with?
- ribs + associated muscles
- dorsal vertebrae
- diaphragm
What is the diaphragm?
key muscle of inspiration, separates abdominal and thoracic cavities
Why does UAW size need to be regulated?
negative pressure is generated when drawing air in (breathing), which can cause the UAW to collapse
UAW size needs to be regulated to be kept open for air to be able to continue to be drawn in through them
What are the 3 structures that close during swallowing, and what do they do?
- uvula: inhibits nasal regurgitation
- epiglottis: inhibits entrance to trachea → directs food into esophagus instead
- vocal cords: (across laryngeal opening) allows phonation, and prevents aspiration of food into lungs
What controls upper airway patency (keeping it open)?
- 20+ muscles control the position of tissues
- dilator muscles keep airway open during inspiration (controlled by CNS)
What happens during obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)?
decrease in genioglossus dilator muscle activity leads to airway obstruction – tongue falls back, which stops airflow to lower airways
What does UAW mucosal lining do?
provides heat and humidity to the air you breathe in
Air Conditioning by UAW Mucosal Lining
see notes
Where is the isothermal boundary?
bifurcation of trachea into bronchi
What are the 2 functional zones of the tracheobronchial tree?
- conducting zone
- respiratory zone
What does the conducting zone do?
DRAWS AIR IN
- bulk transport – requires energy
- muscle activity alters thoracic volume → changes thoracic pressure relative to atmosphere → drives movement of air (airflow)
What structures of the TBT does the conducting zone consist of?
(first half)
trachea main bronchus bronchus bronchiole terminal bronchiole
What structures of the TBT does the conducting zone consist of?
(last half)
respiratory bronchiole
alveolar duct
alveolar sac
What does the respiratory zone do?
GAS EXCHANGE
- diffusion – no energy required
- individual gases diffuse across alveolar-capillary membrane, driven by partial pressure differences of individual gases