Respiratory Physiology- introduction Flashcards
List the functions of the respiratory system.
Gas exchange
Communication
Protection from infection
Acid-base balance
Explain simply what is meant by gas exchange.
Oxygen added to the blood from the air and carbon dioxide removed from the body into the air.
What is maintained by the respiratory system?
Oxygen homeostasis.
What can help to trap dust in mucus to keep it away from the lungs?
Cillia
What does mucus do?
Prevents bacteria from joining to the epethelium.
When breathing, what goes in/out?
Oxygen in
Carbon dioxide out
The integration of which two systems is essential for the transformation of food/oxygen to chemical energy?
Integration of respiratory system and cardiovascular system.
What are the two types of respiration?
-Cellular/internal respiration
-External respiration
Where does gas exchange 1 take place?
Between the atmosphere and the lungs
Where does gas exchange 2 take place?
Between the lungs and the blood.
Where does gas exchange 3 take place?
Between the blood and the cells.
What is external respiration?
Movement of gases between the air and cells of the body.
Which two systems are important in external respiration?
-Respiratory System
-Cardiovascular System
Name the two types of circulation.
Systemic and Pulmonary
Describe the function of the pulmonary circulation/
Delivers CO2 to the lungs and collects oxygen from the lungs.
Describe the function of the systemic circulation.
Delivers oxygen to the tissues and collects CO2.
Where does the pulmonary circulation take place?
Between the heart and lungs.
Describe the blood carried by systemic arteries.
Rich w oxygen
Describe the blood carried by pulmonary arteries.
Deoxygenated blood
Describe the blood carried by systemic veins.
Deoxygenated
Describe the blood carried by pulmonary veins.
Oxygenated blood.
What is the oxygen exchanged between blood and cells used to power?
Cellular respiration to produce ATP.
Describe how the respiratory and CVS work together during exercise.
RS- rate and depth of breathing speeds up-> oxygen acquisition and disposal of CO2.
CVS- heart rate and force of contraction increases -> delivery of oxygen to muscle from blood. Waste removal via blood.
In a steady state, what is the net volume for gas exchange?
250ml/min of oxygen is exchanged for 200ml/min of carbon dioxide.
What is the respiration rate at rest?
12-18 breaths/ min.
What is the maximum breathing rate of exercising adults?
40-45 breaths/min.
At which levels are oxygen and carbon dioxide exchanged?
At the level of the lungs and at the level of the peripheral tissue.
What is the most superior part of the respiratory system?
The nose
Which two cavities does the diaphragm separate?
Abdominal and thorassic.
What prevents food from going down the respiratory tract?
Epiglottis.
What point separates the lower and upper respiratory tracts?
Larnyx
What does the larynx contain?
Vocal chords
How does air move from the trachea to the lungs?
Via the right and left bronchi.
What supports the trachea?
Rings of cartilidge.
What makes up the upper resp. system?
Mouth, nose, pharnyx, larnyx.
What makes up the lower resp. system?
Trachea, bronchus and lungs.
What is the lower resp. system enclosed by?
The thorax.
How many bronchi does the trachea branch in to?
2
What is meant by patency?
The maintenance of the airways staying open allowing air to flow more easily.
Name one anatomical difference between bronchi and bronchioles.
Bronchioles are smaller and do not contain cartilage in their walls.
Bronchi contain cartilage in their walls.
At what level does gas exchange take place?
At the level of the alveoli.
Which bronchi tend to be bigger?
Right primary bronchi
What does contraction do to diameter?
Decreases diameter
What does decreased diameter mean in terms of resistance?
Increased resistance.
What does relaxation do the diamtere?
Increases diameter
The trachea has the widest diameter.
Alveoli have the smallest diameter.
Describe resistance in both.
Higher resistance in trachea.
Lower resistance in alveoli.
This is because there is only one trachea and millions of alveoli so alveoli have a wider diameter overall.
How can the airway diameter be altered?
By contraction or relaxation of the bronchial smooth muscle.
As you move lower down the respiratory system, what happens to airway diameter?
Decreases
->trachea is much wider than bronchioles.
What wraps around alveoli and hence allows gas exchange to take place?
Capillaries
What do elastic fibres allow to happen in the alveoli?
Allows contraction when breathing out and expansion when breathing
Why is gas exchange only possible at alveoli?
Very thin surface
Define anatomical dead space.
Air in the airways which does not contribute to gas exchange as the walls of the airway are too thick.
What does the conducting zone of the airways consist of?
Trachea, bronchi and bronchioles
What does the respiratory zone of the airways consist of?
Alveoli and airways leading to the alveoli
How much air can each lung store?
3L in each so 6L overall
What is the surface area of alveoli?
80m squared
