Respiratory Flashcards
The respiratory system works alongside the cardiovascular system to…
Deliver O2 for cellular metabolism and eliminate CO2 a byproduct of cellular metabolism
Where are the vocal cords?
Larynx
Describe the makeup of the pleural membrane which surrounds the lungs?
Composed of parietal pleura which lines the inside of the ribcage and then the visceral pleura which lines the outside of the lungs. The pleural cavity separates the two.
What are the names of the 5 lobes of the lungs?
Right superior, right middle, right inferior
Left superior, left inferior
Describe the bronchial tree?
Trachea Right and left primary bronchi Secondary bronchi Tertiary bronchi bronchioles Terminal bronchioles
What separates the thoracic cavity from the abdominal cavity?
The diaphragm. A sheet of skeletal muscle important in ventilation
Describe the physiology of the trachea.
Tubular passage connecting larynx to primary bronchi about 12 cm long, 1” in diameter.
Lined with pseudo stratified columnar epithelium with goblet cells and cilia on apical surface.
Supported by C shaped rings of cartiallage allowing for expansion during inspiration and preventing collapse on expiration
Describe the structure and function of the bronchial airways.
Conduct air deeper into lungs into progressively smaller passages. Lined by ciliated columnar epithelium with goblet cells that helps to trap inhaled particles and remove them
Beyond the terminal bronchioles describe the structure of the lung tissue.
Terminal bronchioles subdivide into respiratory bronchioles which further subdivide into alveolar ducts which terminate with sacks of alveoli.
What are alveoli?
Microscopic air sacs that are the site of O2 and CO2 gas exchange. They are supported by a network of capillaries and are lined by simple squamous epithelia.
What are the two types of alveolar cells?
Type 1 - Continuous lining of alveolar wall and main site of gas exchange
Type 2 - Septal cells - secrete alveolar fluid that includes surfacant lowering surface area tension and preventing collapse
By what process does gas exchange take place in the alveoli?
Diffusion
What membrane do gases diffuse across between the pulmonary capillaries and the alveoli?
The respiratory membrane - Consists of alveolar wall, capillary wall and their basement membrane. It is very thin.
What is ventilation?
The process of breathing.
What force governs the movement of air in the ventilation process?
Pressure- measured in mmHg
What governs the pressure of the thoracic cavity?
The respiratory muscles found across the chest.
What are the muscles of inhalation?
Sternocleidomastoid
Scalanes
External intercostals
Diaphragm (Diaphragm is the most important respiratory muscle)
What do the muscles of inhalation do?
Move the ribcage up and out increasing the volume of the thoracic cavity and the also the lungs
What are the muscles of exhalation?
Internal intercostals
Diaphragm
Arrangement of Abdominal muscles
What do the muscles of exhalation do?
Decrease volume of thoracic cavity. (not used in at rest ventilation)
Discuss Boyle’s Law and its role in ventilation
Boyle’s Law - P1xV1 = P2xV2
Therefore if pressure goes up volume must go down and vice versa.
So in inhalation, muscle increase volume of thoracic cavity and pressure drops allowing air to enter the lungs.
This means muscles control pressure by adjusting the volume of the thoracic cavity.
What allows the thoracic cavity to return to normal size during normal respiration?
Elastic recoil, which is a passive process