Respiratory System Flashcards
Function of the respiratory system
Facilitate gaseous exchange of O2 into the blood (inhalation) and CO2 out of the blood
Structure of the respiratory tract
Passage where air passes through during inspiration and expiration, lined by mucous membrane
- Upper: nasal cavity/nose, oral cavity/mouth, larynx, pharynx
- Lower: trachea, bronchi, bronchioles, alveoli, lungs
What is A?
Nose
What is B and what is its structure and function?
Nasal cavity
- S = large irregular cavity split into 2 equal parts by the septum, lined with mucous membrane
- F = warm, moisten, filter air to make it easier to enter the respiratory system. main route for air entry bc largest cavity
What is C?
Mouth
What is D?
Oral cavity
Structure and function of the pharynx
- S = tube containing smooth muscle lined with mucous membrane. Contains 3 parts: nasopharynx oropharynx, laryngopharynx
- F = provide passageway for food and air from nasal or oral cavity to larynx
What is I?
Nasopharynx
What is J?
Oropharynx
What is K?
Laryngopharynx
What is L and what is its structure and function?
Larynx
- S = flexible structure composed of diff types of cartilage, located between the pharynx and trachea
- F = allow air to pass through trachea while stopping food from entering respiratory tract and house vocal cords which manipulate volume for speech
What is pulmonary aspiration?
A condition in which food, liquid, saliva or vomit is breathed into the airways
How does the larynx prevent pulmonary aspiration of a food bolus?
- Larynx lifts up to level of epiglottis
- Epiglottis closes over the opening to the larynx
- Food bolus passes into pharynx, avoiding the trachea
What is F and what is its structure and function?
Vocal cords
- S = 2 bands of smooth muscle in the larynx
- F = to produce sound by vibrating during exhalation, while the length and tension controls pitch
What is G and what is its structure and function?
Trachea
- S = windpipe that divides into the bronchi. Contains fibrous tissue, smooth muscle and rings of tough cartilage, lined with mucous membrane.
- F = provide a pathway for air between the larynx and bronchi
What is O and what is its structure and function?
Bronchi
- S = two large airways that branch off the trachea, right bronchus is shorter and wider
- F = provide a pathway for air between trachea and bronchioles
What is P and what is its structure and function?
Bronchioles
- S = smaller divisions of the bronchi, connect to alveoli. R) side has 3 bronchioles and L) side has 2 bronchioles (one for each lobe of the lung)
- F = provide a pathway for air between bronchi and alveoli
What is M and what is its structure and function?
Alveoli
- S = clusters of small, balloon-shaped air sacs that sit on the end of the bronchioles. thin walls, (short diffusion pathway), rich blood supply (maintain concentration gradient), moist, large SA
- F = facilitate gaseous exchange of O2 into the blood and CO2 out of the blood
Describe 4 features of alveoli which increase efficiency of gaseous exchange
- Thin walls: short diffusion pathway
- Rich blood supply: maintain conc grad
- Large SA:V ratio: increased rate
- Moist: gases dissolve before diffusion = increased rate
What is H and what is its structure and function?
Lung
- S = Two cone-shaped organs located in the thoracic (pleural) cavity, R) lung has 3 lobes and L) lung has 2 lobes (since heart sits on left to save room)
- F = to allow for gaseous exchange of O2 from the air into the blood and CO2 out of the blood into the air
Where can cilia be found?
Pharynx, larynx, trachea, alveoli, bronchi, bronchioles etc
NOT lungs> too general since the bronchi, bronchioles and alveoli are in the lungs
Structure and function of the pleura
- S = thin double layered sac (visceral is closer to lungs and parietal is further from lungs)
- F = to provide lubrication, reducing friction during the movement of lungs during breathing
What is E and what is its structure and function?
Epiglottis
- S = elastic cartilage
- F = to prevent food and liquid going into the trachea
What is Q and what is its structure and function?
Diaphragm
- S = a dome-shaped, skeletal (voluntary and striated) muscle that separates the abdominal and thoracic cavities
- F = contracts and flattens during inspiration, relaxes during expiration to help control intrathoracic volume and pressure
Accessory muscles for inspiration and expiration
- Inspiration: neck & chest muscles to expand ribs= sternocleidomastoid, scalenes (anterior, middle, posterior), pectoralis major and minor
- Expiration: rectus abdominis, internal and external obliques, transverse abdominis
Structure and function of intercostal muscles
- S = skeletal (voluntary and striated) muscles located between the ribs
- F = contracts during inspiration to lift ribs up and out, relaxes during expiration to move ribs in and down
Describe inspiration/inhalation
- Diaphragm contracts & flattens
- Intercostal muscles contract, moving ribcage up and out
- Visceral pleura is pulled out
- Air is sucked into the lungs, increasing thoracic volume which decreases intrathoracic/intrapulmonary pressure
Describe expiration/exhalation
- Diaphragm relaxes
- Intercostal muscles relax, moving ribcage down and in
- Visceral pleura is pulled in
- Air is expelled out of the lungs, decreasing thoracic volume which increases intrathoracic/intrapulmonary pressure
Gaseous exchange
The net movement of O2 from the alveoli to the blood, and CO2 from the blood to the alveoli, from a high concentration to a low concentration, down a conc gradient
Describe the pathway of oxygen entering the body and carbon dioxide leaving the body
Nose/mouth, pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, bronchioles, alveoli, CV system carries O2 to tissues via haemoglobin in RBC, diffuses into cells for aerobic cellular respiration and converted to CO2, diffuses out of cells into blood, pumped through heart, transported to lungs via pulmonary artery to be breathed out
Why do we measure RR?
- To determine if enough O2 is going in and enough CO2 is going out
- Can also indicate CV health
What is WNL for RR?
12-20 breaths/min
How is RR controlled?
Chemoreceptors detect CO2 levels - if too high, RR increases to expel CO2. If too low, RR decreases to keep CO2 in body.
How to maintain a healthy respiratory system
- Stop smoking to avoid harmful chemicals that can damage the lungs
- Exercise regularly which regularly expands lungs to increase strength and remove mucus
- Wash hands regularly to remove pathogens and prevent entry into the respiratory tract
- Adequate rest and sleep to assist with growth and repair of lung tissue
Explain the effect of immobility on the respiratory system
Decreased physical activity = decreased lung expansion = impaired gaseous exchange = increased risk of chest infections as lung secretions are not coughed out
What is a PE?
- Pulmonary embolism
- Blockage of vessels in the lung by foreign matter e.g. clot/tumour/air
Pneumonia
Abnormal condition of inflammation of the lungs and collection of infected materials in alveoli
What is asthma?
Difficulty breathing caused by spasm/constriction of the bronchi or a swelling of the bronchial mucous membrane = lung secretions can’t be coughed out
How is asthma treated?
Ventolin inhaler contains bronchodilators which relaxes the muscles that open the bronchi
What is HAP?
- Hospital-acquired pneumonia
- Being bedridden causes decreased air flow and decreased coughing so the Pt can’t remove lung secretions = risk of infection
Emphysema
Lung disorder where air is trapped in alveoli and bronchioles, preventing gaseous exchange causing loss of elasticity in lung tissue, accumulation of mucus and difficulty breathing
What is COPD and what are some examples?
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- Umbrella term for a number of lung diseases resulting from chronic limitation of airflow into and out of body, preventing normal breathing
- e.g. emphysema, chronic bronchitis, chronic asthma
Symptoms of COPD
SOB, wheezing, chest tightness, chronic cough, sputum production (saliva and mucus)
Chronic bronchitis
Long-term inflammation of the bronchi and mucus hypersecretion
Bronch/i,o
Bronchiol/o
Bronchus, bronchial tube
Bronchiole
Coni/o
Diaphragmat/o
Dust
Diaphragm
Epiglott/o
Laryng/o
Epiglottis
Larynx
Nas/o
Orth/o
Nose
Straight
Ox/i,o
Pharyng/o
Oxygen
Pharynx
Phren/o
Pneum/o
Diaphragm
Lung, air
Pneumat/o
Pneumon/o
Lung, air
Pulmon/o
Rhin/o
Lung
Nose
Sin/o
Sinus/o
Sinus
Spir/o
Trache/o
Breathe, breathing
Trachea
Apnoea
Orthopnoea
Temporary cessation of breathing, especially during sleep
Shortness of breath when lying flat
Atel/o
Imperfect, incomplete
Aer/o
Alveol/o
Air, gas
Alveolus
-pnoea
Cyan/o
Breathing
Blue
Thoracotomy
Surgical incision into the thoracic cavity, usually to remove a lung (pneumonectomy) or a lobe of a lung (lobectomy)
Hyper vs hypopnoea
- Hyperpnoea: breathing more rapid and deeper than at rest
- Hypopnoea: breathing slower and shallower than at rest
Cyanosis
Bluish discolouration of the skin due to deficient oxygen in the bloodstream
Haemothorax
Blood from the respiratory tract in the pleural cavity
Hypoxaemia
Abnormally low levels of oxygen in the blood
Aerobic cellular respiration
Chemical reactions in cells that use O2 to break down glucose, releasing energy
Haemoptysis
Abnormal condition of spitting up of blood
Ventilation
Movement of air into and out of the lungs via inhalation and exhalation (RR x TV)
Pneumoconiosis
Abnormal condition of dust in the lungs
Pneumothorax
Abnormal accumulation of air in the pleural cavity
Asphyxia
Deficiency of oxygen in the blood and increase in carbon dioxide in blood
What does OSA stand for and what is it?
Obstructive sleep apnoea - intermittent airflow blockage during sleep
Hypoxia
Abnormal condition of low O2 at a tissue level
Respiration
Movement of air/oxygen from external environment to the cells of the body
Internal vs external respiration
- Internal: gaseous exchange between capillaries and tissues
- External: gaseous exchange between alveoli and capillaries
