Respiratory Flashcards
What is the function of the Respiratory system?
-Supplies O2 & removes CO2,
-Filters, warms & humidifies air,
-Regulates pH
-Olfaction
-Voice production
-Respiratory pump for venous & lymph return.
State the pathway of air from Nose to Alveoli.
-Nose
-Pharynx
•Nasopharynx
•Oropharynx
•Laryngopharynx
-Larynx
-Trachea
-Bronchi
-Bronchioles
-Terminal bronchioles
-Alveoli
What are the TWO divisions of the Nose?
External nose & Nasal cavity.
What does the External nose consist of?
Bone,
Hyaline cartilage.
What does the Nasal cavity consist of?
Mucus membranes,
Cilliated cells,
Sensory nerve endings,
Highly vascular,
Chemoreceptors.
What are the THREE paranasal sinuses?
Sphenoid sinus,
Frontal sinus,
Maxillary sinus.
What is the function of the Paranasal sinus?
Serves to lighten the skull & drains into the Nasal cavity,
Acts as a resonating chamber for speech.
What are the THREE divisions of the Pharynx?
Oropharynx,
Laryngopharynx,
Nasopharynx.
What does the Larynx consist of?
-Hyaline cartilage
•Thyroid cartilage
-Epiglottis
-Vocal folds
What are THREE homeostatic imbalances that affect the Respiratory system?
-Viral & bacterial infection:
Inflammation, excess mucus, nasal congestion.
-Sinusitis:
Air absorbed can create a vacuum effect which obstructs breathing,
Inflammation.
-Laryngitis:
Inflammation of the vocal cords,
hoarse sounds-whisper.
What are the TWO Respiratory tract structures?
Upper & Lower
Where is the Upper respiratory tract and what does it consist of?
Outside the thorax or chest cavity.
Consist of the Nasal cavity, Pharynx, Larynx.
Where is the Lower respiratory tract and what does it consist of?
Within the thorax or chest cavity.
Consists of the Trachea, primary bronchi, secondary bronchi, tertiary bronchi, bronchioles, alveoli.
How many lobes do the Left & Right lung have?
Right lung contains 3 lobes,
Left lung contains 2 lobes & is 10% smaller.
State the anatomy of the Trachea
A tubular passage for air, approximately 11-12cm long & 2.5cm diameter.
It extends from the Larynx in the neck to the primary bronchi in the thoracic cavity.
Anterior to the Oesophagus.
What does the Mucosal lining of the Trachea contain?
Ciliated pseudostratified epithelium containing goblet cells.
Contains various smooth muscle & elastic tissue to make the Trachea flexible.
The sub-mucosal layer contains 16-20 C-shaped cartilage rings to support the passage.
How does the Trachea produce a cough reflex?
The mucosa at the Carina (the branch point of the Trachea into bronchi) is extremely sensitive & violent coughing is triggered when touched.
-Contraction of the Trachea muscles helps expel mucus during coughing.
What are the THREE levels of Bronchi?
Primary bronchi,
Secondary bronchi,
Tertiary bronchi.
What does the Primary bronchi contain?
Rings of C-shaped cartilage to prevent the Bronchi from collapsing.
What does the Secondary bronchi do & contain?
Strips of cartilage,
supplies the lobes of each lung.
What does the Tertiary bronchi do & contain?
Strips of cartilage,
supplies the segments within the lobes of each lung.
Bronchioles connect the tertiary bronchi to the respiratory bronchioles, alveolar ducts & alveoli.
State the changes that occur to Bronchi & Bronchioles as they divide.
Cilia vs no cilia,
Pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium is replaced by simple cuboidal epithelium.
Cartilage rings become replaced by smooth muscle to increase constriction.
State the relationship of the Sympathetic NS & the diameter of the bronchioles.
Sympathetic stimulation causes bronchodilation by relaxing smooth muscle and enabling more air passage.
State the relationship of the Parasympathetic NS & the diameter of the Bronchioles.
Parasympathetic stimulation causes bronchoconstriction by contracting smooth muscle & reducing air passage.
State how Alveoli are adapted for gas exchange.
Collectively large surface area: approximately 30 million alveoli provide 70m2,
Alveoli are lined with simple squamous epithelium to optimise diffusion,
Highly vascular capillaries surround alveoli,
Macrophages remove particles from alveoli.
What is a Surfactant & what is its role?
A film of H2O, & detergent-like complex of lipids & proteins.
Prevents the thin watery liquid film on the surface of alveoli from excreting surface tension & collapsing.
Increases lung compliance.
What does the term Tidal volume mean?
The usual amount of air moving through the lungs during normal quiet breathing. approx 500mL.
State the THREE factors that affect the rate of breathing.
Surface tension,
Compliance of lungs,
Airway resistance.
What does the term Lung compliance mean?
The ease with which the lungs & thoracic wall can expand.
High compliance makes ventilation easier,
Low compliance makes ventilation harder.
What factors affect Lung compliance?
Elasticity of the lung tissue & surface tension on Alveoli.
What does the term Lung recoil mean?
The tendency of the lungs to return to the resting state after inspiration.
What does the term Airway resistance mean?
The friction which occurs between air and the passage way.
State the factors that assist to ease the work of breathing.
Open, unobstructed airway,
minimal resistance,
ability to move diaphragm & ribs,
compliant lungs,
clear alveoli.
State the factors that prevent the ease of breathing.
Obstruction of airway,
constriction from spasm,
injury to diaphragm or ribs,
stiff lungs,
alveoli contain secretions.
State the muscle contractions that occur during NORMAL inspiration & expiration.
In: Diaphragm & external intercostal.
Out: None.
State the muscle contractions that occur during FORCED inspiration & expiration.
In: Diaphragm, external intercostal, sternocleidomastoid, scalene, pectoralis minor
Out: internal intercostal, abdominal muscle.
State the steps of O2 delivery.
1: Ventilation of the lungs
2: diffusion of O2 from alveoli,
3: Perfusion of systemic capillaries with oxygenated blood,
4: Diffusion of O2 from systemic capillaries into cells.
State the steps of CO2 removal.
1: Diffusion of CO2 from cells into systemic capillaries,
2: Perfusion of pulmonary capillaries,
3: Diffusion of CO2 into alveoli,
4: Removal of CO2 by ventilation.
How does CO2 travel around the body?
70% In the form of Bicarbonate,
7% Dissolved in plasma,
23% bound to haemoglobin.
What is the chemical equation for CO2 into Bicarbonate?
CO2 + H2O <=>
H2CO3 <=> H+ + HCO3-
What is External respiration?
Respiration that occurs between the Alveoli & Pulmonary capillaries.
What is Internal respiration?
Respiration that occurs between the systemic capillaries & body tissues.
What is Pulmonary respiration?
The process of air flowing into the lungs during inspiration & expiration.
The exchange of O2 & CO2
What is Systemic respiration?
The process of oxygenated blood flowing into capillaries of body tissue.
