Respiratory Flashcards
Upper Respiratory tract anatomy
#5
- Nostrils
- Nasal passages - contain Turbinates
- Pharynx -throat
- Larynx -voice box
- Trachea
Lower Respiratory Tract anatomy
#4
- Bronchi
- Bronchioles
- Alveolar ducts
- Alveoli
Primary Respiratory function
take in oxygen and remove carbon dioxide from the blood through the blood–gas barrier
Secondary Respiratory Functions
#4
- Physical defense against: inhaled particles, pathogens, immune functions
- Metabolizing of compounds
- Dissipating heat
- Serves as reservoir for blood
Respiratory Anatomy Zones
What % does each make up?
Two Zones:
Conducting = trachea branching → bronchi, segmental bronchi → terminal bronchioles, (none of which contain any alveoli) only serves to deliver air to the respiratory zone
– 5% of lung volume
Respiratory = Bronchioles and alveolar ducts; responsible for gas exchange
– 95% of lung volume
Anatomical Dead Space
Conductive airway
-Does not participate in gas exchange
Diaphragm Respiratory functions
–Contracts caudally to elongate the chest cavity longitudinally, and the intercostal muscles contract to enlarge the circumferential size of the chest cavity = creates negative pressure to pull air through conductive airway = ventilation
–Moves back cranially during passive exhalation process
Pulmonary Vasculature
–branches from pulmonary artery to pulmonary capillaries in alveoli
– then converge back to pulmonary vein/heart to circulate to the rest of the body
Alveoli blood-gas barrier
– capillary mesh network lines alveoli wall to allow for maximum efficieny of gas exchange
– Other side of barrier consists of vessels with circulating blood flow
– @ capillary level; single cell wall thickeness just large enough to allow RBCs to pass through
“Work of breathing”
Energy expended to created pressure gradient that allows airflow easily in and out of the lungs
– Air flows from high-pressure region (mouth/nouse) to low-pressure (lungs)
Lung inflation is dependent on what?
Compliance and resistance
Lung Compliance
– Ability of the lungs to expand
– determined by elasticity or tendancy of form to return to its original state
Respiratory system’s role with thermoregulation
– network of superficial blood vessels under epithelium in nasal passages help warm inhaled air before reaching lungs
–helps prevent hypothermia
– panting helps facilitate cooling with hyperthermia via increased evaporation of fluid from the lining of the respiratory passages and mouth → helps cool the blood circulating just beneath the epithelium
Respiratory system’s role with pH
contributes to acid–base control by its ability to influence the amount of CO2 in the blood
– inverse relation with pH, (high = low pH, low = high pH)
What does CO2 dissolve into?
CO2 dissolves in the plasma to form carbonic acid [H2CO3]
Anatomy/Function of nasal passages
#4
– pseudostratified columnar epithelium with cilia projecting from the cell surfaces
– layer of mucus that is secreted by many mucous glands and goblet cells
–houses the receptors for the sense of smell
– Responsible for warming, humidifying, and filtering inhaled air
Act of swallowing pathway
epiglottis covers the opening into the larynx →
move the material to be swallowed to the rear of the pharynx →
open the esophagus, and move the material into it
Once swallowing is complete, the opening of the larynx is uncovered and breathing resumes.
Common abnormalities with Brachycephalic breeds
- nostrils that are too narrow (stenotic nares)
- soft palate that is too long (elongated soft palate)
- trachea that is not wide enough (tracheal hypoplasia)
- breathing struggles can lead to gastrointestinal signs such as regurgitation and vomiting of material
Anatomy of the Larynx
- segments of cartilage connected to each other and the surrounding tissues by muscles
- supported in place by the hyoid bone
- Major cartilages include; single epiglottis, paired arytenoid cartilages (supports vocal cords), single thyroid cartilage, and single cricoid cartilage
Larynx role with breathing
#3
–Small adjustments aid the movement of air as the animal draws air into its lungs and blows it out
– protects airway from inhalation of material
–closes to build pressure before cough relfelx
Anatomy of Trachea
Type of muscle, epithelium present
– tube of fibrous tissue and smooth muscle held open by hyaline cartilage rings “C rings”
– lined by the same kind of ciliated epithelium that is present in the nasal passages
–mucous layer on its surface traps tiny particles of debris that made it further down respiratory tract
–cilia that project up into the mucous layer move the trapped material up toward the larynx to be coughed up and swallowed
Tracheal Collapse
How does it affect breathing?
– narrow space between the ends of several of the C-shaped tracheal rings is wider than normal
– with inhalation → widened area of smooth muscle gets sucked down into the lumen of the trachea and partially blocks it
–inspiratory dyspnea
2 benefits
Surfacant definition
thin layer of fluid that lines each alveolus
– helps reduce the surface tension (the attraction of water molecules to each other) of the fluid
–prevents alveoli from collapsing
Asthma
Disease that causes the bronchial tree to become overly sensitive to certain irritants
–Results in inflammation causing thickening of the lining of the air passageways, excess mucus production, and bronchoconstriction
– chronic disease of the small airways (bronchioles) within the lungs