Respiratory Physiology

Question 1

What two parts make up the respiratory system?

Answer 1

1. Upper respiratory tract

2. Lower respiratory tract

Question 2

What is the upper respiratory tract made up of?

Answer 2

The airway from nose through larynx (Head and Neck)

Question 3

What is the lower respiratory tract made up of?

Answer 3

The trachea and all components of the lungs (Thorax)

Question 4

Name the zones or divisions the respiratory system is also divided up into?

Answer 4

1. Conduction Zone

2. Respiratory Zone

Question 5

What is the function of the conduction zone?

Answer 5

Conduct air to lungs

Question 6

What is the function of the respiratory zone?

Answer 6

Gas exchange

Question 7

How many lobes does the right lung have?

Answer 7

3

Question 8

How many lobes does the left lung have?

Answer 8

2

Question 9

What is pleurae?

Answer 9

It is a double layered protective membrane that covers the lungs.

Question 10

Name some of the functions of the respiratory system.

Answer 10

1. To filter,warm and humidify incoming air.
2. Transport air from outside the body to the lungs.
3. Gas exchange between lungs and blood to enable oxygenation of body tissues.
4. To expel waste products of cell metabolism such as CO2.

Question 11

What wafts particles trapped in the mucus to the larynx, where it can be coughed out or swallowed?

Answer 11

cilia

Question 12

Describe the alveoli.

Answer 12

The tiny sac-like alveoli are where gas exchange takes place.

Question 13

Name the two types of cells that make up the alveoli.

Answer 13

1. Type I squamous epithelial cells- which are thin and aid diffusion.
2. Type II round/cuboidal epithelial cells- secrete pulmonary surfactant.

Question 14

What is surfactant for?

Answer 14

It helps lower the surface tension in the alveoli, which allows them to re-inflate after exhalation, and prevents them from collapsing when we breath out.
It is made up of phospholipids and protein.

Question 15

Describe the term alveolar gas exchange.

Answer 15

It is gas exchange that occurs across the respiratory membrane.
Oxygen diffuses from the alveoli to the pulmonary venule, and carbon dioxide diffuses from the pulmonary arteriole to the alveoli.

Question 16

What cells have lots of mitochondria and why?

Answer 16

The liver and heart.

This is because they form multiple functions.

Question 17

What is internal respiration?

Answer 17

It is the process whereby oxygen is unloaded by the tissue capillaries and taken up by tissue cells, and reverse occurs for carbon dioxide.

Question 18

Where is cilia and mucus found?

Answer 18

Trachea

Question 19

Name the two types of cells that make up the alveoli.

Answer 19

1. Type I

2. Type II

Question 20

What does surfactant do?

Answer 20

It helps lower the surface tension in the alveoli, which allows them to re-inflate after exhalation, and prevents them from collapsing when we breath out.

Question 21

What is it called when oxygen and carbon dioxide move between the alveoli and the blood?

Answer 21

Alveolar gas exchange

Question 22

Where does oxygen diffuse from?

Answer 22

From the alveoli to the pulmonary venule.

Question 23

Where does carbon dioxide diffuse from?

Answer 23

From the pulmonary arteriole to the alveoli.