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
Gases diffuse from [ ____] to [____]; from ____ partial pressure to ____ partial pressure
high to low
Name the factors that INCREASE THE RATE of gas diffusion
- inc SA
- inc difference in conc. gradient
- shorter distance mlcs have to travel (that’s why THIN respiratory membrane allows for inc in gas exchange)
Definition
What is ventilation?
What type of breathing is it?
the intake and expulsion of air via the lungs through inhalation and exhalation
Negative pressure breathing
Ventilation
Explain what happens during inhalation
muscles (diaphgram) contract –> diaphgram moves DOWN –> volume of thoracic cavity INCREASES and so pressure (intrapleural) inside lungs DECREASES –> air goes INTO the lungs
What muscles are mainly responsible for ventilation (2)?
diaphragm and (external) intercostal muscles contraction and relaxation
Note: diaphrgam is the MAIN muscle of respiration.
- Is inhalation passive or active?
- Is exhalation passive or active?
- active
- passive
Ventilation
Explain Exhalation
muscle (diaphgram) relax –> diaphgram moves UP–> volume of thoracic cavity DECREASES and so pressure inside lungs INCREASES –> air moves OUT of the lungs
Breathing is controlled by _____
What is another name for this region?
MEDULLA in the brainstem
respiratory center
How does the medulla control breathing?
senses [CO2] and blood pH. If CO2 inc or blood pH decreases, it triggers the body to inhale.
Name an example of when CO2 would increase in the blood
when you are running
bc using energy makes CO2 byproduct?
What is tidal volume?
the amount of air inhaled or exhaled with each breath under RESTING conditions (aka no exercise or anything)
When does tidal volume decrease?
when the chest is constricted (ie. girdle or ACE bandage)
What happens when tidal volume INCREASES?
an increase in diffusion of CO2 out of the blood and O2 into the blood.
What is residual volume?
the amount of air REMAINING in the lungs after a forced expiration
Arteries bring blood ____ from the heart, and is usually carrying ____ blood
What is the exception to this?
- AWAY
- OXYgenated
- pulmonary artery
What are some environmental factors that impact the respiratory system (3)?
- air pollutants
- smoke
- pollen
Explain asthma
What can trigger asthma?
Something causes the airways to swell and also swell mucus membranes, leading to potential extra production of mucus –> narrowed airways–> difficulty breathing , SOB, wheezing
- pollen
Explain Cystic Fibrosis
production of ABNORMALLY THICK mucus –> blocks tubes, ducts, and passage ways and cilia is NOT able to sweep pathogens trapped in mucus upwards –> pathogens move into lungs
warm environment in the throat causes the pathogens to multiply
- What type of infections are cystic fibrosis patients susceptible to?
- What other manigestations can cystic fibrosis pt’s have?
- lung infections
- damage to the digestive system esp the pancreas
Lung surfactant insufficiency
Babies born with not enough surfactant production –> alveoli cant be kept open and lungs collapse
Note: if know bb will be premature, mom is given steroid shots to stimulate the bb’s surfactant production.
What are some lung pathogens?
- influenza - cause the flu
- TB
- pneumonia
- coronavirus- causes SARs and MERs and COVID-19.
How does one get a lower voice?
vocal cords in the larynx elongate/thicken during puberty , causing a lower voice.
What are 3 changes that occur as the bronchi keep branching?
- less protective cartilage
- less cilia
- more smooth m.
Note: BUT as we get to alveoli= LESS smooth muscle to decrease distance gas mlcs have to move
What is pleuritis?
inflammation of both pleura –> dec pleural space –> inc friction–> pain w/ breathing.
What is the function of the diaphgram?
- contracts and moves down when you inhale –> expand lungs
- relaxes and moves up to push air out when you exhale –> deflate lungs
Each lobe contains several bronchopulmonary segments separated by __________, which is _______
- elastic connective tissue
- stretchy to help lungs expand and spring back
What is fibrosis?
scarring of the lungs –> hard to expand and collapse –> hard to inhale and exhale forcefully.
During forced inhalation, what other muscle is utilized?
contraction of the:
* sternocleidomastoid to lift the sternum
* external intercostals to expand the ribcage
* pec minor
During forced exhalation, what other muscles are utilized?
abdominal muscles and internal intercostal muscles contracting
What is atmospheric pressure?
ALWAYS 760 mmHg , no matter if exhaling or inhaling
Intrapulmonary pressure changes during
* inhalation
* exhalation?
- -1 or 759 mmHg (negative pressure) to draw air in
*+1 or 761 mmHg to pull air out
Intrapleural pressure is ALWAYS ____ , so that lungs DON’T ___
negative (negative to atm and alveolar pressure); collapse
Note: -7 (753 mmhHg) during inhale and -4 (756 mmHg) during exhale
- What is another name for intrapulmonary pressure?
- What is another name for intrapleural pressure?
- alveolar pressure
- pleural cavity pressure - i think this is the general pressure we look at at the lungs
