Respiratory System Flashcards
What is the function of the respiratory system?
- transporting O2 from the atm into the body’s cells and moving CO2 in the other direction
- gas exchange between the blood & air & environment
How does air flow through the upper respiratory system (order)
NFL –> nasal cavity, pharynx, larynx
What is the function of the nasal cavity
warm, moisten, and filter air
- What is the function of the pharynx
passage for air and food
What structures are located within the pharynx (2) and what are their functions
- uvula: moves UPWARDS to block the nasal cavity when swallowing food
- epiglottis: moves DOWNWARDS to block the airway/larynx when swallowing food to prevent choking
Note: epiglottis is made of ELASTIC cartilage
Larynx
- What is the function
- What is another name for it?
- What does structure does it contain?
- Where is it located?
- speech
- voice box / adams apple
- vocal cords
- right above the trachea
How does air flow through the lower respiratory system?
trachea –> bronchus (R&L) –> lung –> bronchioles –> alveoli
Trachea
- What is another name for this structure?
- What is it surrounded with (specific type)/ what are those structures function?
- What 2 structures does this structure connect?
- windpipe
- HYALINE cartilage rings to keep the airways open and protect them
- connects the larnyx to the lungs
Lung Lobes
- How many lobes are in the right lung?
- How many lobes are in the left lung?
- Which lung is larger and why?
- 3
- 2
- right because the heart is pressing on the left lung
What is the sandwhich (3 parts) that is around each lung?
- parietal pleura
- visceral pleura
- pleural cavity/ space
What is the parietal pleura?
Attached to the chest wall. when the chest muscles move out, it pulls the parietal pleura along with it.
What is the visceral pleura?
attached to the lungs, as well as indirectly to the parietal pleura.
What is the pleural space/cavity (ie. what is in it)?
pleural (serous) fluid that
* reduces friction when the lungs are inflating/ deflating
* holds the parietal and visceral pleura together
What is the site for gas exchange?
Alveoli (and the associated pulmonary capillaries)
Alveoli
- What are the alveoli bathed in? describe it too
- What cells make the substance?
- What is the function of the said substance (2)?
- surfactant - lipid, soapy, slippery
- type 2 alveolar cells
- to prevent collapsing of the airsacs when one exhales; decrease surface tension
What type of transport is gas exchange?
Diffusion of gases from high to low concentration (down concentration gradient so doesn’t require energy) [ a type of passive transport]
Explain the process of gas exchange
air from the outside (high in O2 and low in CO2) diffuse O2 into the blood capillaries, while blood capillaries (low in O2 and high in CO2) diffuse CO2 into the alveoli to be exhaled out
What type of epithelial cells line the alveoli and the blood (Pulmonary) capillaries that are involved in gas exchange?
simple squamous epithelial cells
want thinnest of the thin to decrease distance gas mlcs have to travel
Heart (____ ventricle) sends ____ blood to the ____ via the ______ .
What are the O2 and CO2 characteristics of the blood? (high, low)
- R
- DEoxygenated
- lungs
- pulmonary ARTERIES
- low O2 and high CO2
What structures are involved in gas exchange?
blood (pulmonary) capillaries and the alveoli of the lungs
____ blood returns to the ____ (name structure and specific part of structure) via the ________
What are the O2 and CO2 characteristics of the blood?
- OXYgenated
- heart, L Atrium –> L ventricle –> aorta –> systemic circuit
- pulmonary VEIN
- high O2 and low CO2
What 2 parts are the respiratory membrane composed of?
What is the thickness of the membrane?
What may happen to it in dz?
- alveoli and capillary membrane
- thin, for gas exchange
- may thicken, fibrose during dz and impair gas exchange/ diffusion