Respiratory Physiology Flashcards
What is the main function of the respiratory system?
Provision of oxygen to the body and expulsion of waste carbon dioxide
What occurs in aerobic respiration?
Cells use oxygen to produce energy
What 2 components make up the respiratory system?
1) upper respiratory tract
2) lower respiratory tract
What makes up the upper respiratory tract?
Airway from nose through larynx (and pharynx)
What makes up the lower respiratory tract?
Trachea and all components of the lungs (thorax)
What are the components of the conduction zone?
Nose, pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchus and bronchioles
Nose to terminal bronchioles
What are the functions of the conduction zone?
Conduct air to the lungs
Filters, warms and moistens the area
What are the components of the respiratory zone?
Respiratory bronchiole, alveolar duct, alveoli
What is the function of the respiratory zone?
Facilitating gas exchange
Oxygen in and carbon dioxide out
What are the regions of the lungs?
Lobes
Right- 3 lobes
Left- 2 lobes
What is the function of the cardiac notch?
Where the heart and associated blood vessels sit between the 2 lungs
What is the pleurae?
Double layered protective membrane covering the lungs
What is the parietal visceral pleura?
Visceral pleura- one layer of the protective membrane covering the lungs
Parietal pleura- one layer of the protective membrane lining the walls of the thorax
Very small space between then contain think layer of lubricating pleural fluid
What is the function of the pleural fluid?
Reduces friction
Creates pressure gradient
Compartmentalisation
What are the 8 functions of the respiratory system?
1) filter, warm and humidity incoming air (and conduction)
2) transport air from outside the body to the lungs (gas exchange)
3) gas exchange between lungs and blood to enable oxygenation of body tissues
4) expel waste products of cell metabolism eg carbon dioxide
5) speech/vocalisation
6) smell
7) pH control
8) lung tissue contains angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE)- BP control
Where is cilia found and what is it’s function?
Found in the bronchioles
All beat in the same direction- waft particles trapped in mucus to the larynx to be coughed up or swallowed
What occurs at the alveoli?
Gas exchange
What are the 2 main types of cells that make up the alveoli?
1) type 1 squamous epithelial cells
2) type 2 round/cuboidal epithelial cells
What is the function of type 1 squamous epithelial cells?
Thin- aid diffusion
What are the functions of type 2 round/cuboidal epithelial cells?
Secrete pulmonary surfactant
Surfactant (made up of phospholipids/proteins) helps lower surface tension- allows alveoli to re-inflate after exhalation and prevents collapsing when breathing out
What is alveolar gas exchange?
Movement of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the alveoli and the blood
Where does gas exchange take place?
Across the respiratory membrane (made up of squamous alveolar cells, squamous endothelial capillary cells and shared basement membrane)
How to oxygen and carbon dioxide move?
Diffusion
Oxygen- from alveoli to pulmonary venule
Carbon dioxide- pulmonary arteriole to alveoli
What adaptations allow for diffusion to take place?
1) large SA of lungs
2) thin respiratory membrane (diffusion fast over short distances)
3) extensive blood supply surrounding alveoli
4) diffusion gradient
What is internal respiration?
Process where oxygen is unloaded by tissue capillaries and taken up by tissue cells (reverse for carbon dioxide)
What is the equation for aerobic respiration?
Glucose + oxygen - carbon dioxide + water + ATP
