Respiratory physiology Flashcards
What are the key functions of the respiratory system?
-gas exchange; regulation of pH body fluids; temperature control; voice production
What are the 2 key respiratory gases?
O2 and CO2
What is partial pressure?
the amount of pressure exerted by a particular gas in a mixture
What is a gas exchange membrane? How do gases get to the exchange membrane? How do they cross it?
- layers of tissues(s) that separates the internal tissues from the external environment
- gases reach the membrane by convection transport (ventilation and circulation) and cross the membrane by diffusion
What factors control the rate of gas diffusion?
- high partial pressure to low
- affected by: membrane surface area, difference in partial pressures, distance between two partial pressures, the gas, temperature, the phase, membrane permeability
Why is it advantageous to have an expansive, but very thin gas exchange membrane?
bigger surface area
List the parts of the respiratory system
-nasal passages, pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, bronchioles, aveoli, intercostal muscles, diaphragm, pulmonary artery & vein
What are the major muscle groups involved in breathing in mammals? In birds?
-mammals: external intercostals, diaphragm, internal intercostals, abdominal muscles
Describe how air moves through the airways in mammals.
- composition of air in alveoli is different from the atmosphere
- not all of the “stale” air is cleared from the alveoli after each breath and the inhaled “fresh” air makes up only a small percent of air in the alveoli
- lower pO2 and higher pCO2 than conducting airways
What are the different roles of the larynx?
voice box, part of the airway
What is the difference between conducting and respiratory airways?
- conducting: passages that bring air to/from exchange surface
- respiratory: where gas exchange occurs, high surface area and good blood supply
What is the role of the avian air sacs?
NOT the site of gas exchange; they help move air through the parabronchi because birds to not have a diaphragm
Explain the muscular processes involved with inspiration and how these processes lead to air
being drawn into the lungs in mammals.
- requires coordinated muscle contraction by the intercostal muscles and diaphragm (ATP use)
- rib cage pulled up and out, diaphragm descends and creates a vacuum, lungs volume expands, air pulled into airways
Explain the processes of expiration in mammals. How (and when) are muscles involved in expiration in mammals?
- muscle relaxation- elastic recoil
- neurons of inspiration are inhibited, muscles relax, rib cage returns to “normal” position; pressure increases pushes air out of alveoli
- forced expiration may be necessary and used the internal intercostals and the abdominal muscles (needs ATP)
Explain the muscular processes involved with inspiration and how these processes lead to air
being drawn into the lungs in birds.
- posterior ribs expand and sternum swings forward and down
- air sacs expand: inhale
Explain the muscular processes involved with of expiration in birds and how these processes
lead to air leaving the lungs.
- contraction by abdominal and external intercostals
- ATP required
- air sacs empty: exhale
Why is the composition of air in the alveoli different from that in the atmosphere?
not all of the stale air is cleared from alveoli after each breath and the inhaled fresh air makes up only a small percent of air in the alveoli