Respiratory Physiology Part 1 Flashcards
Basic tubular anatomical design of Respiratory System
Epithelial inner lining
Middle layer with both muscle and connective tissue
Adaptations for gas transport and exchange with the external environment (O2 and CO2)
What are the Respiratory functions of the respiratory system?
Provide Oxygen to the blood
Eliminates carbon dioxide from the blood
Non-Respiratory Functions of Respiratory System
Regulates the blood’s hydrogen ion concentration (pH) in coordination with the kidneys
Forms speech sounds (phonation)
Defends against inhaled microbes
Influences arterial concentrations of chemical messengers by removing some from pulmonary capillary blood and producing and adding others to this blood
Traps and dissolves blood clots arising from sytemic veins such as those in the legs
Components of the Upper Airway
Nase
Nasal cavity
Pharynx
Associated Structures (tonsils + adenoids)
Larynx
Components of the Conducting Airway
Trachea
Bronchi - terminal bronchioles
Alveolar Airway
Respiratory Bronchioles
Alveolar Ducts
Alveolar Sacs
What are the 2 functional components of the respiratory system
Conducting zone
Respiratory Zone
Where does the Conducting Zone begin?
at the trachea and branches dichotomously
first 16 branch generations transporting gas to and from upper airway
What does the Conducting Zone do?
filters, warms, and moistens air AND performs conduction of air into the lungs
Where does the Respiratory Zone begin?
Begins at respiratory bronchioles
and is the last 7 branch generations performing gas exchange
What does the Respiratory Zone do?
performs gas exchange between air and blood
Why are you prone to nasal allergies?
Because your nose is a portal of entry exposed to tons of microbes making it very sensitive.
Function of the nose in the respiratory system
It is one of the two openings to the respiratory system within the head to receive or expel air
What is the nasopharynx lined with?
Mucosal epithelium
What does the internal nose (nasal cavity) merge with?
the external nose - anteriorly
the pharynx - posteriorly
what nasal bones divide the nasal cavity? and into how many parts?
Superior Concha
Middle Concha
Inferior Concha
so 3
Which ducts and sinuses drain into the nasal cavity?
all four paranasal sinuses
nasal lacrimal duct
Function of the nasal cavity
detect olfactory stimuli
warm, moisten, and filter incoming air
modifying speech vibrations
Anatomy of the Pharynx (throat)
Funnel shaped tube which courses from the internal nares to the level of the cricoid cartilage.
What are the walls of the pharynx comprised of?
skeletal muscle
What is the pharynx lined with
Mucous Membrane
Functions of the Pharynx
Passageway for air and food
resonating chamber for speech and sounds
Immunity
What three regions is the pharynx divided into
nasopharynx
oropharynx
laryngopharynx
Does both food and air pass through the pharynx?
Yes air from the mouth and nose travel through pharynx to the trachea
and food travels through pahrynx to esophagus
What is the Larynx most commonly known as
Voice box
How many cartiilages does the larynx consist of
9
What is the function of the larynx?
Connects pharynx with the trachea
causes movement of vocal cords for vocal production
What is the trachea also known as
The windpipe (this is where conduction starts)
Is the trachea anterior or posterior to esophagus
Anterior
What are the four layers of the trachea
mucosa
submucosa
fibromusculocartilaginous
adventitia
What does the submucosa of the trachea contain?
glands and ducts
Describe the fibromusculocartilaginous
C-shaped cartilage rings
smooth muscle
elastic connective tissue
What is the adeventitia and what does it do?
Connective tissue that attaches the trachea to surrounding tissues
Where is the branching point of the bronchi?
At the Carina
What do the bronchi branch into at the carina
Right Main
Left main
Which bronchus is wider, more vertical, and shorter?
Right main bronchus
When Intubating, why do you not want to push the tube past the carina?
Because the tube will most likely go into the right bronchus and only inflate it. We intubate so that we can inflate both lungs. You could potentially cause lots of damage to the left lung if you are not perfusing air there.
What is the pathway beyond the bronchi?
Bronchi –> Bronchioles (no cartilage) –> Terminal Bronchioles –> Respiratory Bronchioles –> alveolar Ducts –> Alveolar Sacs
What is the leading cause of death in both men and women?
Lung Cancer
Why is mortality so high with lung cancer? and how soon do most die?
By the time of diagnosis, it has probably already advanced with 55% of patients having distant metastasis
Most die within the year of diagnosis
___ % of all causes of lung cancer is due to ______ ________
85%
Cigarette Smoking