Respiratory System Flashcards
What is the main function of the respiratory system?
-exchanging gases; CO2 for O2
Name the two zones of the respiratory system:
-conducting zone
-respiratory zone
Which zone does gas exchange occur in?
-respiratory zone
What are the paranasal sinuses?
-several bones that help form the walls of the nasal cavity that have air-containing spaces
-frontal sinus
-maxillary sinus
-sphenoidal sinus
-ethmoidal sinus
What are the functions of the sinuses?
-producing mucus
-lightening the weight of the skull
The conchae, meatuses, and paranasal sinuses are lined by what type of tissue?
-respiratory epithelium: pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium
What are goblet cells?
-specialized columnar epithelial cells that produce mucus to trap debris
What is the purpose of the cilia of the respiratory epithelium?
-removing the mucus and debris from the nasal cavity with a constant beating motion
-sweeping materials towards the throat to be swallowed
What is the pharynx?
-a tube formed by skeletal muscle and lined by mucous membrane that is continuous with the nasal cavities
What are the three major regions of the pharynx?
-nasopharynx
-oropharynx
-laryngopharynx
Where are samples taken from to test for strep throat?
-oropharynx
Which type of epithelial tissue lines the oropharynx and the laryngopharynx?
-stratified squamous epithelium, non-keratinized
As the nasopharynx becomes the oropharynx, the epithelium changes from what to what?
-from pseudostratified ciliated columnar to stratified squamous (non-keratinized)
Name the two distinct sets of tonsils in the oropharynx:
-palatine
-lingual
Where is the laryngopharynx located?
-inferior to the oropharynx and posterior to the larynx
What does the laryngopharynx do?
-continues to the route for ingested material and air until its inferior end, where the digestive and respiratory systems diverge
What is the larynx continuous with?
-the laryngopharynx
From what tissue does the larynx transition into what other tissue?
-it transitions from stratified squamous epithelium into pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium + goblet cells
What do the cilia in the larynx do?
-beat the mucus upward towards the laryngopharynx, where it can be swallowed down the esophagus
Describe the anatomy of the trachea:
-extends from the larynx down toward the lungs
-formed by 16-20 stacked C-shaped pieces of hyaline cartilage that are connected by dense connective tissue
-inside lined by pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium
What is the bronchial tree?
-the trachea branches into the right and left primary (main stem) bronchi
-these bronchi are also lined with pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium + goblet cells
What does the respiratory zone include?
-structures that are directly involved with gas exchange
-begins where the terminal bronchioles join a respiratory bronchiole (smallest type)
-alveolar duct
-alveoli (simple squamous epithelium)
Where and how do O2 and CO2 exchange in the respiratory zone?
-passive diffusion through the simple squamous epithelium in the alveoli
-(non-polar molecules pass through the non-polar plasma membranes which are made of fat)
What do the alveoli include?
-alveolar duct (tube of smooth muscle and connective tissue)
-alveolus (one of the small sacs attached to the ducts)
-alveolar sac (cluster of individual alveoli)
Two main facts about lung tissue:
-majority is open space
-comprised of lots of connective tissue
Describe type I alveolar cells:
-simple squamous epithelium formed by these cells is attached to a thin, elastic basement membrane
-this epithelium is extremely thin and borders the endothelial membrane of capillaries
What is respiratory membrane?
-formed by the alveoli and capillary membranes
-0.5mm thick
-allows gasses to cross by simple diffusion
Describe the gross anatomy of the lungs:
-pyramid shaped
-connected to the trachea by the right and left bronchi
-bordered by the diaphragm on the inferior surface
What are the lungs enclosed by?
-pleurae (serous membrane) which are attached to the mediastinum
Why do the lungs require blood from pulmonary circulation to perform their function?
-blood supply contains deoxygenated blood and travels to the lungs where erythrocytes pick up oxygen to be transported to other tissues
Describe the process of pulmonary circulation:
-pulmonary artery arises from the pulmonary trunk and carries deoxygenated arterial blood to the alveoli
-the pulmonary branches into smaller and smaller branches until it forms the pulmonary capillary network
-the capillaries become so thin that when they reach to alveolar wall, the respiratory membrane is created
-after gas exchange occurs, it drains through pulmonary veins, which exit the lungs through the hilum
What is the difference between the visceral pleura and the parietal pleura?
-visceral pleura lines the lungs
-parietal lines the visceral
What is the the pleural cavity?
-the space between the visceral and parietal pleura that contains pleural fluid
-this allows the lungs to expand and contract smoothly by reducing friction
Which cells secrete pleural fluid?
-mesothelial cells
What is pulmonary ventilation?
-the mechanical act of breathing by moving air in and out of the lungs
What are the major mechanisms that drive pulmonary ventilation?
-atmospheric pressure
-alveolar pressure
-intrapleural pressure
What is intrapleural pressure?
-the pressure of the air within the pleural cavity
-approximately -4 mmHg throughout breathing cycle
What is transpulmonary pressure?
-the difference between the intrapleural and intra-alveolar pressures
-determines the size of the lungs
-higher transpulmonary pressure=larger lung
Name some physical factors that affect breathing:
-the contraction and relaxation of muscle fibers of the diaphragm and thorax
-the adhesive nature of pleural fluid allows the lungs to be pulled outward during inspiration
-recoil of the thoracic wall compresses the lungs
-most pressure changes caused by diaphragm and intercostal muscles
In which direction does air flow?
-from areas of higher pressure to areas of lower pressure
Which is greater: intra-alveolar pressure or intrapleural pressure?
-intra-alveolar
Which muscle groups are used during inspiration?
-diaphragm
-external intercostal
What causes expiration?
-expiration is passive-does not require energy
-elasticity of the lung tissue
-relaxation of the diaphragm and intercostal muscles
-interpulmonary pressure becomes higher than atmospheric pressure
What is gas exchange?
-when blood is oxygenated and CO2 is removed from the body
What causes gasses to diffuse faster?
-greater partial pressure difference between the two areas
Name the two sites of gas exchange and what occurs there:
-in the lungs where O2 is picked up and CO2 is released
-at the tissues, where O2 is released and CO2 is picked up
What is external respiration?
-the exchange of gasses with the external environment and occurs in the alveoli
What happens to the O2 in external respiration?
-a small amount of O2 dissolves directly into the plasma
-most is picked up by erythrocytes and bound to hemoglobin
What is occurring in this image?
-gas exchange in the alveolus
-CO2 leaves the erythrocyte
-O2 is picked up by the erythrocyte
What is internal respiration?
-gas exchange in the internal body tissues
What is occurring in this image?
-gas exchange in the body tissues
-O2 leaves erythrocyte
-CO2 is picked up by erythrocyte
Name the three major mechanisms of CO2 transport in the blood:
-CO2 molecules dissolved in blood
-HCO3- (bicarbonate) dissolved in plasma
-similar to O2 transport by erythrocytes
What are the combining form(s) meaning “adenoid”?
adenoid/o
What are the combining form(s) meaning “alveoli”?
alveol/o
What are the combining form(s) meaning “bronchial tube”?
bronch/o
What are the combining form(s) meaning “bronchiole”?
bronchiol/o
What are the combining form(s) meaning “blue”?
cyan/o
What are the combining form(s) meaning “epiglottis”?
epiglott/o
What are the combining form(s) meaning “larynx”?
laryng/o
What are the combining form(s) meaning “nose”?
nas/o
rhin/o
What are the combining form(s) meaning “pharynx”?
pharyng/o
What are the combining form(s) meaning “diaphragm”?
phren/o
What are the combining form(s) meaning “lung”?
pneumon/o
pulmon/o
What are the combining form(s) meaning “tonsils”?
tonsill/o
What are the combining form(s) meaning “trachea”?
trache/o
What is asphyxia?
deficiency of O2 and increase of CO2 in blood and tissues that can lead to unconsciousness or death
What is asthma?
spasm and narrowing of bronchi, leading to bronchial airway obstruction
What is atelectasis?
collapsed lung: atel/o means incomplete, -ectasis means dilation or expansion
What is emphysema?
hyperinflation of air sacs with destruction of alveolar walls
What is hemoptysis?
spitting up blood
What is hemothorax?
blood from respiratory tract in the pleural cavity
What is pneumoconiosis?
abnormal condition of dust (coni/o) in the lungs
What is pneumonia?
abnormal condition of the lungs marked by inflammation and collection of infected material in air sacs
What is tuberculosis?
infectious and inflammatory disease caused by bacteria (bacilli), lungs and other organs are affected, causes coughing, hemoptysis, pleuritic pain
What is a bronchoscopy
visual examination of the bronchial tubes with an endoscope
What is a chest x-ray film?
x-ray image of the chest in an anteroposterior, posteroanterior, or lateral view
What is a CT scan?
Computed Tomography is cross-sectional x-ray images of the chest
What is a laryngoscopy?
visual examination of the larynx via laryngoscope
What is an MRI?
Magnetic Resonance Imaging is the use of magnetic waves and radiofrequency waves to create images of the chest in three planes of the body
What is pulmonary angiography?
x-ray images of the blood vessels in the lung after an injection of contrast
What is a PFT?
a Pulmonary Function Test is the measurement of the ventilation of the lungs, using a spirometer to measure the air coming in and out of the lungs
What is a sputum test?
examination of mucus coughed up from a patient’s lungs to detect infection
What is a tuberculin test?
test for previous or current infection with tuberculosis based on skin reaction to agents
What is a ventilation-perfusion scan?
a nuclear medicine test that uses radioactive material to examine the air and blood flow in the lungs
What is an endotracheal intubation?
tube placed through the nose or mouth to establish an air way when patient is unable to breath on their own
What is a thoracentesis?
needle inserted into the pleural space to drain a pleural effusion
What is a thoracotomy?
incision of the chest to perform a pneumonectomy or lobectomy
What is a tracheostomy?
creation of an opening into the trachea through the neck and the insertion of a tube to create an airway
What does ABG mean?
Arterial Blood Gas
What does ARDS mean?
Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
What does CO2 mean?
Carbon Dioxide
What does COPD mean?
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
What does CPAP mean?
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure
What does CPR mean?
CardioPulmonary Resuscitation
What does CXR mean?
Chest X-Ray
What does O2 mean?
Oxygen
What does MDI mean?
Metered-Dose Inhaler
What does PE mean?
Pulmonary Embolism
What does PEEP mean?
Positive End-Expiratory Pressure
What does PFT mean?
Pulmonary Function Test
What does SOB mean?
Shortness Of Breath
What does URI mean?
Upper Respiratory Infection
What does VATS mean?
Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery
What does VQ mean?
Ventilation-Perfusion scan
What type of tissue is depicted here?
stratified squamous non-keratinized epithelium
What type of tissue is depicted here?
pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium
What type of tissue is depicted here?
hyaline cartilage
What type of tissue is depicted here? (Inner part of image)
Simple cuboidal epithelium
What type of tissue is depicted here?
Respiratory epithelium
