Respiratory physiology - Structure and Function of the Lung Flashcards
Primary function of lungs
Gas exchange
Goblet cell location
Airway wall surface
Goblet cell function
Discharges mucus onto airway wall
Cillia function
Clearance of airway mucus in mucocilliary system
Mucus gland location
Deep in airway wall
Epithelial cells of bronchus
Columnar
Epithelial cells of bronchiole
Cuboidal
Epithelial cells of alveolus
Squamous
Type 1 and Type 2
Type 1 alveolar epithelial cells
Most common alveolar epithelial cell
Provides alveolar structure
Long proto-plasmic extensions
Type 2 alveolar epithelial cells
Secretes surfactant (precursor) to alveolar surface
Ring of outer microvilli
Function of alveolar macrophage
Cleans alveolar surface as alveoli lack mucocilliary system
Constituents of anatomical dead space
Trachea
Bronchi
Bronchioles
Terminal bronchioles
Essentially all airways that don’t have any alveoli
Approximate volume of anatomical dead space
150 ml
Approximate volume of respiratory zone (alveoli)
3 L
Alternate name for anatomical dead space
Conducting zone
Pressure in pulmonary vasculature compared with systemic vasculature
Pulmonary pressures around 1/8th of systemic vascular pressure
Much lower pressure in pulmonary arterial system
Primary function of lungs
Gas exchange
Polarised capillary at blood-gas barrier
Thin on one side and thicker on other side
Thin side of polarised capillary function
Gas exchange
Thick side of polarised capillary function
Fluid exchange
What provides strength to blood-gas barrier
Type 4 collagen in basement membrane
Vessel wall of pulmonary arteries
Thinner with less smooth muscle than systemic arteries
