Respiratory System Flashcards

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1
Q

What is the primary function of the respiratory system?

A

Facilitate gas exchange between the body and external environment

Provide oxygen to the body by working with the cardiovascular system

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2
Q

What is the waste product of cellular metabolism?

A

Carbon dioxide

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3
Q

What is the pharynx?

A

Dividing point between the trachea and esophagus, where the throat senses the presence of food and triggers swallowing

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4
Q

What is the epiglottis?

A

Flap of cartilage in the pharynx that prevents food from entering the trachea

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5
Q

What is the trachea?

A

The tube that carries air from the mouth and nasal cavities to the lungs

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6
Q

What are bronchi?

A

Passages that carry air to the left and right lungs

Originates where the trachea splits

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7
Q

What are bronchioles?

A

The smaller passages formed from branching of the bronchi that carry air to the alveoli

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8
Q

What are alveoli?

A

Small sacs in the lungs that are the site of gas exchange, facilitated by walls only one cell layer thick

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9
Q

Overall pathway of the Respiratory System

A

Pharynx > larynx > trachea > bronchi > alveoli

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10
Q

What is the purpose of surfactant? Where is it found?

A

A detergent in the lungs that reduces surface tension to prevent lung collapse
-found in alveoli

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11
Q

What is the function of Cilia (in the respiratory tract)?

A

Hair like structures found on the cells of the respiratory tract that beat to move the mucus and other particles up and out of the lungs

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12
Q

Why is the left lung slightly smaller than the right lung?

A

-the heart in located on the left side of the body

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13
Q

How many lobes does the left and right lung have?

A

Left lobe: 2
Right lobe:3

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14
Q

What is the pleura of the lung?

A

A pair of tough membranes that surround the lungs

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15
Q

Where is pleural fluid found?

A

Found between the pleural membranes

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16
Q

Pathway of blood from heart to lung and back to heart

A

Right atrium > Pulmonary Artery carries Deoxygenated blood > lungs > capillaries surround alveoli (CO2 exchanged for O2 here) > O2 rich blood exits lungs > pulmonary vein > Left atrium > left ventricle > aorta > body wide circulation

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17
Q

What is the process of simple diffusion?

A

The movement of membrane permeable solutes down a concentration

18
Q

The exchange of carbon dioxide and oxygen at the alveoli relies on what kind of process?

A

Simple diffusion

19
Q

What is a diffusion rate?

A

The speed of movement down a concentration gradient

20
Q

Ventilation rate is controlled by which structure of the brain?

A

Medulla oblongata
-it monitors blood pH and carbon dioxide concentration in the blood

21
Q

CO2 directly affects pH through what kind of system?

A

Bicarbonate blood buffering system
CO2 + H2O <->H2CO3 <-> H+ + HCO3-

22
Q

When CO2 concentration is high in the blood, what occurs?

A

Equilibrium shifts to the right of the bicarbonate blood buffering system
-favors protons and bicarbonate

Increase in protons decreases pH of blood > Acidosis > increase ventilation rate

23
Q

When CO2 concentration is low, what occurs?

A

Equilibrium is shifted in the bicarbonate blood buffering system
-favors CO2 and H2O

Decreases concentration of protons and Bicarbonate
-increase pH of blood >alkalosis > decrease in ventilation rate

24
Q

What is negative pressure breathing?

A

Inhalation of air due to a decreased pressure in the lungs

25
Q

Define total lung capacity

A

The maximum volume of air that moves during normal breathing
-approx 6L (adult male)

26
Q

The total lung capacity can be divided into what volumes?

A

Vital capacity
Residual volume

27
Q

What is the residual volume?

A

Amount of air that always resides within the lungs an functions to prevent lung collapse

28
Q

What is the vital capacity? Can be divided into what volumes?

A

Total volume of air that can be exchanged through inhalation and exhalation
-further divided into tidal volume, inspiratory reserve, and expiratory reserve volume

29
Q

What is tidal volume?

A

Amount of air inhaled and exhaled during normal breathing

30
Q

What is inspiratory reserve volume?

A

The additional volume of air that can be inhaled following normal inhalation

31
Q

What is expiratory reserve volume?

A

The additional volume of air that can be exhaled following normal exhalation

32
Q

What factors can negatively impact lung function?

A

Genetic disorders
Environmental factors
Infection

33
Q

What are some lung diseases that have a genetic component?

A

Cystic fibrosis

Surfactant insufficiency

Asthma

34
Q

What is cystic fibrosis?

A

the production of thick mucus due to a mutation of a protein expressed in the respiratory tract
-leads to difficulty breathing and frequent lung infections

35
Q

What is surfactant insufficiency? (At risk?)

A

Causes a difficulty in breathing due to a mutation in the surfactant proteins
-common in newborns causing respiratory distress

36
Q

What is asthma? (causes?)

A

Characterized by the inflammation and subsequent narrowing of the airway that makes breathing difficult
-involves environmental triggers as well as genetic predisposition

37
Q

What is emphysema? (Causes?)

A

Breakdown of the alveoli
-due to prolonged smoking and chemical exposure damaging the cilia. Can also cause inflammation and allergies

38
Q

Symptoms of the influenza virus? (Cause?)

A

Coughing, sneezing, runny nose, fatigue
-caused by a coronavirus

39
Q

Symptoms of tuberculosis (cause?)

A

Coughing up blood, weight loss, Chronic tuberculosis causes scarring of lungs
-caused by a myobacterium

40
Q

Symptoms of walking pneumonia (cause?)

A

Mild coughing and headaches
-mycoplasma bacteria