Respiratory system

Question 1

What does the upper respiratory tract consist of?

Answer 1

Nasal cavity, pharynx, larynx

Question 2

What does the pharynx divide into?

Answer 2

Nasopharynx, oropharynx, laryngopharynx

Question 3

What does the lower respiratory tract consist of?

Answer 3

Primary bronchi. secondary bronchi, tertiary bronchi, bronchioles, alveoli

Question 4

Where does the apex of the lungs sit

Answer 4

Slightly above the clavicles

Question 5

Where does the base of the lungs sit?

Answer 5

Rests on the diaphragm

Question 6

How many lobes does the right lung have?

Answer 6

Three lobes

Question 7

How many lobes does the left lung have?

Answer 7

Two lobes and is 10% smaller

Question 8

Where does the trachea extend to?

Answer 8

From the larynx to the primary bronchi in the thoracic cavity, is anterior to the oesophagus

Question 9

What does the mucosal lining in the trachea consist of?

Answer 9

Ciliated pseudostratified epithelium, containing goblet cells

Question 10

What type of muscle is in the trachea?

Answer 10

Smooth and elastic muscle making it very flexible

Question 11

What is the carina?

Answer 11

Branch point of the trachea into the bronchi

Question 12

What triggers coughing?

Answer 12

The mucosa at the carina as it is extremely sensitive and triggered when a foreign object touches it

Question 13

What is in the primary bronchi?

Answer 13

Rings of C-shaped cartilage, right bronchus is wider, shorter and more vertical

Question 14

What does the secondary bronchi do?

Answer 14

Supples the lobes of each lung, rings of cartilage are replaced with strips

Question 15

What does the tertiary bronchi do?

Answer 15

Supply the segments within the lobes of each lung

Question 16

What do the bronchioles do?

Answer 16

Connect the tertiary bronchi (conduction zone) to the respiratory bronchioles, alveolar ducts and alveoli

Question 17

What are the alveoli lined with?

Answer 17

Simple squamous epithelium to optimise diffusion

Question 18

What is the main gas exchange structure of the respiratory tract?

Answer 18

Alveoli

Question 19

What does surfactant do?

Answer 19

Prevents a thin watery liquid from lining the surface of alveoli exerting a force called surface tension

Question 20

Why is surfactant important?

Answer 20

If the lining of pure water the surface tension would cause the alveoli to collapse inwards between breaths, but the surfactant reduces this surface tension, also reduces the energy needed to expand the lungs

Question 21

What does lung tissue consist of?

Answer 21

Mostly air spaces, elastic connective tissue

Question 22

What is each lung enclosed by?

Answer 22

Pleural membrane (serous membrane)

Question 23

What does the visceral and parietal pleura line?

Answer 23

Visceral pleura covers the lungs

Parietal pleura lines the wall of the thoracic cavity

Question 24

What pressure gradient does air move?

Answer 24

From an area of high pressure to low pressure

for air to move into the lungs we need to create low pressure, for air to move out we need to create high pressure

Question 25

What nerve stimulates the diaphragm to contract?

Answer 25

Phrenic nerve, this movement increases the height of the thoracic cavity (responsible for 75% of the change of volume and pressure)

Question 26

What nerve stimulates the external intercostal muscles to contract?

Answer 26

Intercostal nerve, this movement pulls the sternum and ribcage (superiorly swinging the ribs outwards)

Question 27

Why do the lungs expand when the thoracic cavity expands?

Answer 27

Parietal layer is fixed to the chest wall, visceral layer adheres to the lungs, the fluid between them makes them adhere to each other

Question 28

What causes the diaphragm and external intercostal muscles to relax?

Answer 28

When the phrenic and intercostal nerves stop sending impulses

Question 29

What do the lungs recoil?

Answer 29

Because they have extensive elastic tissue

Question 30

What factors affect the rate of airflow and ease of breathing?

Answer 30

Surface tension in the alveoli, compliance of the lungs, airway resistance

Question 31

What is lung compliance?

Answer 31

The ease with which the lungs and thoracic wall can be expanded

Question 32

What is lung recoil?

Answer 32

The tendency of the lungs to return to the resting state after inspiration

Question 33

What causes airway resistance?

Answer 33

Friction between the air and air passages

Question 34

The exchange of gases between the alveoli and capillaries in the lungs is

Answer 34

external respiration

Question 35

A factor which promotes external respiration is

Answer 35

a short diffusion distance between alveolus & the capillary

Question 36

carbon dioxide is mostly transported in the blood

Answer 36

as bicarbonate ions

Question 37

the most powerful respiratory stimulant is

Answer 37

Rising CO2 in the blood

Question 38

The test that measures HCO3- and calculates pH, and measures PCO2 & PO2

Answer 38

is the arterial blood gas

Question 39

In children …

Answer 39

the airways that are much narrower than adults & more seriously affected by oedema/secretions/ bronchoconstriction

Question 40

Haemoglobin releases oxygen more readily to tissues that are

Answer 40

Low in pH

Question 41

the airway(s) that dilate under the influence of the sympathetic nervous system are

Answer 41

The bronchioles

Question 42

Quiet exhalation involves

Answer 42

elastic recoil of the lungs