Respiratory physiology Flashcards
What is the respiratory tract
The respiratory tract is the path of air from the nose to the lungs
Its structures include; nasal cavity, pharynx, larynx, trachea, primary bronchi and lungs
What are the divisions of the respiratory tract (divided structurally)
Upper and Lower
What structures are of the upper respiratory tract
Structures above the vocal cords:
👉 Nose
👉 Nasal passages
👉 Paranasal sinuses
👉 Larynx
👉 Pharynx
the respiratory system is composed of 2 parts :
a gas exchanging organ
ii) a pump that ventilates (process of gas exchange between the lungs and the environment, includes both inspiration and expiration) the lungs. This pump consists of;
* Chest wall
* Respiratory muscles (which increase or decrease size of the thoracic cavity)
* Brain areas that control these muscles
* Tracts and nerves which connect the brain to the muscles
what are the components of the ‘pump’ of the respiratory system
- Chest wall
- Respiratory muscles (which increase or decrease size of the thoracic cavity)
- Brain areas that control these muscles
- Tracts and nerves which connect the brain to the muscles
a normal person breathes how many times a minute
12-15
what is the volume of air breathed per minute
500mL of air/breath ie 6-8L/min
how much O2 enter the body/ min
250mL
how much CO2 is excreted from the body/ min
200mL
what structures are of the lower respiratory tract
portion of larynx below the vocal cord:
-trachea,
-bronchi-primary, secondary & tertiary, and
-bronchioles.
-Lungs can be included; (respiratory bronchioles, alveolar ducts, alveolar sacs, alveoli)
functionally what are the divisions of the respiratory system
Conducting zone and Respiratory zone (transporting gases vs exchanging gases)
generation 0
Trachea
generation 1-2
Bronchi (Primary {2}, secondary, tertiary)
generation 3-4
bronchiole
generation 5-16
Terminal bronchioles
generation 17-19
respiratory bronchioles
generation 20-22
alveolar ducts
generation 23
alveolar sacs
what are the significance of the multiple divisions of the respiratory tree
-They greatly increase the cross sectional surface area of the respiratory tract from about 2.5cm2 in the trachea to 11,800cm2 in the alveoli
-They reduce the velocity of airflow in the small airways. This helps prevent the entry of large particles into the lungs.
what is the conducting zone
Includes the upper airways from the nose and mouth to the terminal airways (terminal bronchioles). Serve as conduit for the passage of air, but do not function in gas exchange
Structures in the conducting zone undergo an irregular branching for 16 generations, each subsequent generation of airway increasing the total cross-sectional area of the conducting zone. They begin as a relatively narrow passage way, the larynx having the smallest cross-sectional area
what are the structures in the conducting zone
-Upper airways (nose, mouth, pharynx and larynx)
-Trachea (0)
-Left & right bronchi (primary bronchus-singular; 1-2)
Secondary bronchi (1-2)
Tertiary bronchi/segmental bronchi (1-2)
-Bronchioles (3-4)
-Terminal bronchioles (5-16
what is the blood supply to conducting zone
bronchial arteries
What are the functions of the conducting zone
-conditioning of air
-removal of foreign materials
-reaction of foreign materials
explain the conditioning of air function of the conducting zone
inspired air is adjusted to body temperature and saturated with water vapour by the time it reaches the trachea during nasal breathing