Respiratory System Flashcards
What must an efficient respiratory system do?
do more than merely moving air
The cardiovascular system is the link between your _______ and the _____________.
the cardiovascular system is the link between your interstitial
fluids and the exchange surfaces of your lungs.
_____ diffuses across the thin respiratory exchange surfaces _________
O2 and CO2 diffuses across the thin respiratory exchange surfaces of the lungs
Where does diffusion take place? (Respiratory)
diffusion takes place between the air and the blood.
What are the basic functions of the respiratory system? (5x)
- Moving air to and from the exchange surfaces of the lungs along the respiratory passageways.
- Providing an extensive surface area for gas exchange between air and circulating blood.
- Protecting respiratory surfaces from dehydration, temperature changes, and pathogens.
- Producing sounds for speaking, singing, and other forms of communication.
- Detecting odors by olfactory receptors in the superior portions of the nasal cavity.
How do you anatomically divide the respiratory system?
Anatomically, we can divide the system into an upper respiratory system and a lower respiratory system.
What does the upper respiratory system consist of? (4x)
The upper respiratory system consists of the nose, nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses, and pharynx (throat).
What does the lower respiratory system consist of? (5x)
The lower respiratory system includes the larynx (voice box), trachea (windpipe), bronchi and bronchioles (air-conducting passageways), and alveoli (air-filled pockets within the lungs).
What are alveoli?
alveoli (air-filled pockets within the lungs)
What is the general function of the larynx?
larynx (voice box)
What is the general function of the trachea?
trachea (windpipe)
What is the general function of the bronchi and bronchioles?
bronchi and bronchioles (air-conducting passageways)
The upper respiratory system contains the _______ of the ______ portion
the upper respiratory system contains the upper part of the conducting portion,
The lower respiratory system contains the ___________ and the _____________
lower respiratory system includes the rest of the conducting portion and all of the respiratory portion.
How is the respiratory system functionally organized?
the conducting portion & the respiratory portion
What is the conducting portion?
consists of the passageways that carry air to and from the lung exchange surfaces
What is the respiratory portion?
where gas exchange between air and blood takes place.
What does the conducting portion consist of? (From beginning to end)
the conducting portion, beginning at the nasal cavity and extending through the pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, and larger bronchioles.
What does the respiratory portion consist of?
includes the smallest, thinnest respiratory bronchioles and the associated alveoli,
What is the function of the passageways of the conducting portion of the upper respiratory system?
The passageways of the conducting portion of the upper respiratory system filter, warm, and humidify inhaled air, protecting the more delicate surfaces of the lower respiratory system.
By the time air reaches the alveoli, ____________ have been removed and __________ are within acceptable limits.
By the time air reaches the alveoli, most foreign particles and pathogens have been removed, and the humidity and temperature are within acceptable limits.
What is the reason the conditioning process is successful?
The success of this “conditioning process” is due to the
respiratory mucosa.
What is the conditioning process?
filter, warm, and humidify inhaled air, protecting the more delicate surfaces of the lower respiratory system.
What is mucosa?
mucous membrane
What can a respiratory mucosa do?
provides a series of filtration mechanisms that make up the respiratory defense system.
Where is the respiratory mucosa?
lines the conducting portion of the respiratory system.
The respirator defense system does what?
reduces the amount of debris or pathogens in inhaled air, which can severely damage the exchange surfaces of the respiratory system.
What is a tissue membrane and what does it do?
Line or cover body surfaces ➠ form physical barriers
What dies a tissue membrane made up of?
Consist of an epithelium supported by connective tissue
What are the 4 types of tissue membranes?
- Mucous membranes (Mucosa)
- Serous membranes (Serosa)
- Cutaneous membrane
- Synovial membranes
What is a tissue membrane made up of?
Consist of an epithelium supported by connective tissue
Where can you find mucous membrane? (4x)
Line passageways including respiratory, digestive, urinary, and reproductive tracts
What is the mucous membrane made up of? (2x)
- Epithelium covered by a layer of mucous secretion
- Connective tissue: lamina propria
How does the epithelium covered by a layer of mucous secretion help the mucous membrane? (2x)
To reduce friction
To facilitate absorption or secretion
Why must the pharyngeal epithelium protect against abrasion and chemicals?
The inferior pharynx conducts air to the larynx and also carry food to the esophagus.
What is lamina propria?
underlying layer of areolar tissue (connective tissue)
What is the underlying areolar tissue that supports the respiratory epithelium?
lamina propria
In the upper respiratory system, trachea, and bronchi the lamina propria contains what?
lamina propria contains mucous glands that discharge their secretion onto the epithelial surface.
What lines the nasal cavity and the superior portion of the pharynx?
pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium with secretory/mucous cells
What lines the inferior portion of the pharynx? What is it similar to?
stratified squamous epithelium similar to that of the oral cavity.
What does the inferior pharynx conduct ______ and carry ______?
The inferior pharynx conducts air to the larynx and also carries food to the esophagus.
The smaller bronchioles have a ______ epithelium with __________.
The smaller bronchioles have a cuboidal epithelium with scattered cilia.
The exchange surfaces of the alveoli are made up of what type of epithelium?
The exchange surfaces of the alveoli are made up of a simple squamous epithelium.
What lines the superior portion of the lower respiratory system? What is it similar to?
pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium, comparable to that of the nasal cavity,
Along the respiratory tract, ________________in the epithelium and ____________ in the lamina propria produce ______________________.
secretory cells; mucous glands; sticky mucus that bathes exposed surfaces.
In the nasal cavity, cilia sweep _______________________ toward the pharynx ➠ it is __________________.
sticky mucus and any trapped debris or microorganisms; swallowed and exposed to the acids and enzymes in the stomach.
In the lower respiratory system, the cilia _____ toward the pharynx, moving a carpet of _________________________
beat; mucus in that direction and clean the respiratory surfaces.
What is the primary passageway for air entering the respiratory system?
The nose
Air enters through __________ which open into the _______ (1st)
Air enters through the paired nostrils, which open into the nasal cavity.
What is the nasal vestibule?
the space within the flexible tissues of the nose.
The epithelium of the vestibule contains _________?
coarse hairs
The epithelium of the vestibule contains coarse hairs that do what? (2x)
trap large airborne particles and prevent them from entering the nasal cavity.
The nasal cavity mucosa prepares ________ for arrival at the ________.
The nasal cavity mucosa prepares inhaled air for arrival at the lower respiratory system.
Throughout the nasal cavity, the lamina propria
contains an abundance of what?
arteries, veins, and capillaries.
What warms and humidifies the incoming air (in relation to the nose)?
vascularization of the nose
As cool, dry air comes in through the nasal cavity, the epithelium radiates heat, and water in the mucus evaporates ➠ _____________________➠ _____________________
air is heated to body temperature and saturated with water vapor ➠ avoid chilling or drying.
The pharynx is also known as the
the throat
What two body system share the pharynx?
a chamber shared by the digestive and respiratory systems.
The pharynx is divided into three parts:
the nasopharynx, the oropharynx, and the laryngopharynx.
The nasopharynx is lined by what? which is similar to what?
The nasopharynx is lined by the same pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium as in the nasal cavity.
Where is the pharyngeal tonsil located?
located on the posterior wall of the nasopharynx.
At the boundary between the nasopharynx and the oropharynx, the epithelium changes from ______________ to _________________
from pseudostratified columnar epithelium o stratified squamous epithelium.
The laryngopharynx is also lined with what?
a stratified squamous epithelium
Why is the laryngopharynx also lined with a stratified squamous epithelium?
resists abrasion, chemicals, and pathogens.
What is the larynx?
a cartilaginous tube that surrounds and protects the glottis
What is the glottis?
the “voice box” of the larynx
larynx has incomplete __________ that are stabilized by _____________ and ________
Like a cylinder, the larynx has incomplete cartilage that are stabilized by ligaments and laryngeal muscles
The larynx begins at level of vertebrae _____ or _______ and ends at _______
C4 or C5 and ends at C6
How do you produce sounds?
Air passing through your glottis vibrates its vocal folds and produces sound waves.
What is the trachea?
a tough, flexible tube. At its end, it branches to form the left and right main bronchi.
Bronchial Tree
Together, the main, lobar bronchi and their branches form the bronchial tree.
main bronchi enter the right and left lungs, respectively, and
divide to form smaller passageways ➠
lobar bronchi, segmental bronchi, and much smaller bronchioles.
In functional terms, bronchioles are to the respiratory system what ___________ are to the cardiovascular system.
Arterioles
Changes in the diameter of the bronchioles control what?
control the resistance to airflow and the distribution of air in the lungs.
Each terminal bronchiole branches to form several __________
respiratory bronchioles
Respiratory bronchioles are connected to _______ and ___________
individual alveoli and to multiple alveoli via alveolar ducts.
Alveolar sacs refer to what?
the common chambers connected to multiple individual alveoli.
What surrounds each alveolus?
A network of capillaries, supported by bands of elastic fibers
What occurs at alveoli?
Gas exchange
A network of __________ surrounds the capillaries.
elastic fibers
What do the elastic fibers that surround the capillaries help with?
These fibers help maintain the relative positions of the alveoli and respiratory bronchioles.
What happens when the elastic fibers of the capillaries recoil?
they reduce the size of the alveoli and help push air out of the lungs.
When do the elastic fibers of capillaries recoil?
During exhalation
The alveolar cell consists of what?
simple squamous epithelium and sites of gas exchange
What is pneumocytes type I (type I alveolar cells)?
simple squamous epithelium in alveolar cells
Roaming alveolar macrophages patrol the epithelial surface ➠
engulf any particles that have eluded other defenses.
Large pneumocytes type II (type II alveolar cells) are located where?
scatter among the squamous cells.
What do Large pneumocytes type II (type II alveolar cells) produce?
surfactant
What is surfactant?
an oily secretion containing phospholipids and proteins, essential in keeping the alveoli open.
What is the function of surfactant?
reduces surface tension at the alveolar surface.
What causes surface tension at the alveolar surface?
the attraction between water molecules at an air-water boundary
What does surface tension cause?
collapse small air bubbles and collapse the alveoli
What happens when pneumocytes type II produce inadequate amounts of surfactant?
alveoli collapse after each exhalation, which makes respiration difficult
What causes pneumocytes type II to produce inadequate amounts of surfactant
injury or genetic abnormalities,
Why does inadequate surfactant make respiration difficult?
With each breath, the inhalation must be forceful enough to open the alveoli.
What is respiratory distress syndrome (RDS)?
A person without enough surfactant is soon exhausted by the effort of inflating and deflating the lungs.
What is Neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (NRDS)?
is more common in premature infants whose lungs are immature with insufficient surfactant produced.
Gas exchange occurs across the _____________________ of the alveoli
three-layered blood air barrier
What is Blood Air Barrier made up of? (3x)
(1) the alveolar cell layer
(2) the capillary endothelial layer
(3) the fused basement membrane between them.
Gas exchange can take place ________ and ___________ at the blood-air barrier
quickly; efficiently
Why can Gas exchange take place quickly and efficiently at the blood-air barrier? (3x)
(1) only a very short distance separates alveolar air from blood, (2) both O2 and CO2 are small, lipid-soluble molecules,
(3) the surface area of the blood air barrier is very large.
What is a disease that can compromise the function of the blood air barrier.
Pneumonia
What does Pneumonia develop from?
an infection or inflammation within the lung.
As inflammation occurs, (in relation to the lungs)
fluids leak into the alveoli.
The respiratory bronchioles swell,
narrowing passageways and restricting airflow.
When bacteria are involved, they are generally types that normally inhabit the _____ and _________ but have managed to evade the ______________________.
When bacteria are involved, they are generally, types that normally inhabit the mouth and pharynx but have managed to evade the respiratory defenses.
The left and right lungs are surrounded by the left and right _________________, respectively
pleural cavities
The lungs have distinct lobes; the right lung has ______ lobes and the left lung has _____ lobes.
3; 2
The right lung has three lobes:
superior, middle, and inferior.
The left lung has two lobes:
superior and inferior.
Pulmonary circuit: O2-poor blood carried by the _____________ enters the lungs flowing through a network of capillaries surrounding each ___________. At the blood-air barrier, ___________ occurs generating O2-rich blood. Such blood enters the ___________ flowing back to the ______________.
pulmonary arteries; alveolus; gas exchange; pulmonary veins; left atrium
The conducting passageways receive O2 and nutrients from _______________ supplied by ____________, which is part of the systemic circulation. The venous blood from these bronchial capillaries may return to the heart by either _________________.
bronchial capillaries; bronchial arteries; the systemic circuit or the pulmonary circuit
What is the 3 different respiration?
- External Respiration
- Internal Respiration
- Cellular Respiration
External respiration includes (2x)
(1) breathing: bringing air into the lungs (inhalation) and releasing air into the atmosphere (exhalation),
(2) gas exchange at the blood-air barrier in the lungs.
What is Internal respiration?
is gas (O2 and CO2) exchange between tissue cells and capillary beds; is gas exchange within the body;
What is External respiration?
is the gas exchange between the body and the external environment;
What is cellular respiration?
to the biochemical processes, the cells carry out to generate
energy while consuming O2 and producing CO2.
What is the primary function of the respiratory system?
to meet the respiratory demands of cells ➠ external respiration,
internal respiration can only happen with effective
external respiration
Abnormalities affecting any of the steps involved in external respiration ultimately affect (2x)
the concentration of gases in interstitial fluids (internal respiration) and thus cellular activities.
If the O2 level declines, the affected tissues will become
starved for oxygen.
What does Hypoxia limit?
the metabolic activities of the affected tissue cells ➠ cell injury.
What is anoxia?
If the oxygen supply is cut off completely
What does anoxia do?
kills cells very quickly
Much of the damage from strokes and heart attacks results from
local anoxia
What is Ischemia?
is insufficient blood flow and the inability to provide adequate oxygenation
Ischemia leads to
tissue hypoxia (reduced oxygen) or anoxia (absence of oxygen).
Gas Exchange (External Respiration)
At the blood-air barrier, higher partial pressure of O2 in the
alveolar space drives O2 diffusion to the alveolar-capillary; at the same time, lower partial pressure of CO2 in the alveolar space allows diffusion of CO2 from capillary to alveolar space.
Gas Exchange (Internal Respiration)
At the capillary beds, the higher partial pressure of O2 in the capillary drives O2 diffusion to the tissue; at the same time, the lower partial pressure of CO2 in the capillary allows diffusion of CO2 from tissue to capillary.
O2 Transport: After gas exchange at the blood-air barrier, O2 enters ________________ which is then mostly absorbed by _____ but also absorbed by ________. At capillary beds, ____________
dissociates (as well as some _______) and diffuses to ____________. These O2 are uptaken by _______ and consumed in ___________.
blood circulation; Hb in RBCs; plasma; Hb-bound O2; tissue fluid; some dissolved O2; cells; cellular respiration
CO2 Transport: CO2 generated by _____ diffuses into
____________. The majority of the CO2 diffuses into ____
➠ 23% binds to Hb + 70% is converted to H2CO3 (carbonic acid) dissociates into H+ and HCO3. The rest of the CO2 is dissolved in __________ the form of _____. The dissolved 7% CO2 and Hb bound 23% CO2 generates ___________ of CO2, allowing exchange at the blood-air barrier (some CO2 diffuses into the _______).
cells; circulation; RBCs; plasma; CO2; partial pressure; alveolar space
