Respiratory System Flashcards
What is external respiration?
Gas exchange between air & red
blood cells in the lungs
What is internal respiration?
Gas exchange between red blood
cells & body tissues outside of the
lungs
What are the structures that make up the conducting zone?
Nasal cavity, Pharynx, Larynx, Trachea, Main bronchi, Lobar bronchi, Segmental bronchi, Bronchioles ,Terminal bronchioles
What structures are part of the respiratory zone?
Respiratory bronchioles, Alveolar ducts, Alveoli
What are the Pleurae membranes? Where are they found?
Visceral pleura: serous
membrane surrounding lungs
Parietal pleura: serous
membrane lining cavity
What is the job of the pleural fluid?
Pleural fluid between the visceral and parietal pleura causes the lungs to inflate with breathing (Vacuum is created)
What are the mucus membranes of the nasal cavity?
Olfactory Mucosa & Respiratory Mucosa
Characteristics & Functions of the Respiratory Mucosa
Pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium; scattered goblet cells;
Very vascular; Warms air; Sticky mucus helps trap pathogens and debris
What is the Mucociliary escalator?
Cilia constantly moving sheets
of mucus to posterior region of
nasal cavity
What is the Nasal conchae?
Bony ridges that create air
turbulence to fling pathogens onto mucus lined epithelium
Characteristics & Functions of Paranasal Sinuses
Air-filled cavities in bone; Lighten the skull; Warm and moisten the air; Lined with pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium
What is the Nasal meatus?
opening for sinus into nasal cavity
Characteristics & Function of Oropharynx?
Stratified squamous epithelium; Food and air
Characteristics & Function of Nasopharynx?
Pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium; Primarily air passes
Characteristics & Function of Laryngopharynx?
Stratified squamous epithelium; Food and air
What is the epithelium above and below the vocal cords?
Above: Stratified squamous
Below: Pseudostratified ciliated columnar
What does the uvula do?
During swallowing, uvula closes off nasopharynx to prevent food from moving into nasal cavity
Characteristics & Functions of Epiglottis?
elastic cartilage, covers larynx when swallowing food
What is the thyroid cartilage? What is it made out of?
hyaline cartilage, attachment site for vocal folds (adam’s apple)
What is the Arytenoid cartilage? What is it made out of?
hyaline cartilage, anchors vocal folds posteriorly
What are the vocal folds?
Elastic fibers covered with mucosa
& suspended between thyroid and
arytenoid cartilages, vibrate when air passes over to create sound
What is the rima glottis?
space between open vocal folds
What is the function of the trachea? What is it made out of?
Flexible but strong connection to
lungs; Pseudostratified ciliated columnar, with goblet cells, Rings are C-shaped
What is the carina?
Last ring of tracheal cartilage; where
trachea branches into left and right main bronchi; Initiates the cough reflex
What is the order of the bronchial tree?
Main bronchi, Lobar bronchi, segmental bronchi, bronchioles
What is the epithelium lining the Main Bronchi?
Pseudostratified ciliated columnar
Characteristic of Segmental Bronchi
The segments can function independently of other segments, if one segment is diseased it won’t move to other segments
What is the transition of epithelium in the Bronchial tree?
PCC in segmental bronchi –> Simple columnar in small bronchi –> simple cuboidal in bronchioles –> Simple squamous in alveolar ducts
Where does gas exchange occur in the lungs? What is this structure made up?
Gas exchange occurs across the respiratory membrane; Respiratory membrane= alveolar epithelium + capillary epithelium + fused basement membranes of both epithelia
What cell types are found in the alveoli and the respiratory membrane? What are their functions?
Type 1 Cells: gas exchange
Type 2 Cells: Secrete surfactant which decr. surface tension and allows alveoli to re-inflate more easily
Macrophages: “eat” inhaled particles
Alveolar Pores: equalize pressure b/w alveoli
What surrounds a lobule in the lung? What is it made of?
Stroma; elastic CT
Describe what happens during Inspiration
“breathing in”; diaphragm contracts down, ribs move up, thoracic volume increases. Active process that requires ATP
Describe what happens during expiration
“breathing out”; diaphragm moves up and relaxes, ribs move back down, thoracic volume decr. Passive process
What are the 2 types of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease? How are they different?
Chronic Bronchitis: excess mucus production, inflammation, formation of scar tissue
Emphysema: Destruction of alveolar walls, loss of lung elasticity
