Respiratory System Flashcards
Lung shape and size
-related to body size and o2 demand for metabolism
-female have less than 4 l capacity whereas men have a capacity bigge than 4l.
Difference is about 1.5 l
-right lung has 3 lobes and the left lung has 2 due to the cardiac notch on the left
Muscilatory escalator
Mucus cell found in the respiratory epithelium produce mucus which traps foreign objects.The debris is moved from small bronchioles to the top of trachea to be swallowed
Components of the upper respiratory system
Nose
Nasal cavity
Sinuses
Pharynx
Components of the lower respiratory system
Larynx
Trachea
Bronchus
Brioncholes
Smallest brionchioles
Alveoli
Bronchial tree
At the bottom here is no longer plates but rings of cartilage due to the more flexible muscle tissue
Respiratory tree
• Primary bronchi divide to form secondary, tertiary bronchi etc
• Terminal bronchioles divide into respiratory bronchioles which divide into alveolar ducts that supply air to alveoli
• Gas exchange takes place in the alveoli:
~ O2 is absorbed for cellular respiration (to form ATP)
~ CO2 is eliminated as a waste product of metabolism
Alveoli
-lungs contain about 500 million tiny alveoli sacs
-alveoli are 250 μm wide and are surrounded by capillaries
How does alveolar epithelium maximise gas exchange
-large surfaced area (100-140 m2)
-thin cellular membranes (0.5-1 μm)
-excellent blood supply (5-25l per minute)
-wet surface alveolar fluid which contains surfactant which raises surface tension
What type of cells secrete surfactant
Alveolar epithelial type 2 cells
Link between foetal development and alveolar epithelial cells
-lungs must produce surfactant to be ready to breathe at birth
-alveolar type 2 cells secrete surfactant
-type 2 cells fully mature in the 36w
-premature babies can develop respiratory distress syndrome due to the type 2 cells not being mature and Being unable to produce surfactant
-alveolar type 1 cells exchange gases
Pneumocyte
Alveolar cells
Alveolar macrophage
Immune cells which engulf bacteria
Inspiration
-active process
-diaphragm and external inter coastal muscles contract which expands the thoracic cage
-air flows into the lungs by negative pressure -1mmHg ( down a pressure gradient)|
Expiration
-passive process
-external intercostal muscles relax allowing thoracic cavity to recoil to its resting position
-air flows out of the lungs by positive pressure +1 mmHg
Other name for quiet breathing
Eupnea
What muscles are involved In inhalation
-external intercostal muscles with the assistance From the accessory respiratory muscles as needed
List the accessory respiratory muscles (inhalation)
- sternocleidomastoid muscle
-scalene muscles
-pectoral is minor muscles
-serrated anterior muscle
Primary respiratory muscles(inhalation)
External intercostal muscles
Diaphragm
Accessory respiratory muscles(exhalation)
Transfer out thoracis muscle
Internal intercostal muscles
Recuts abdominis( force air out)
What happens during exhalation
The tranversus thoracis and internal intercostal muscles actively depress the ribs and the abdominal muscles compress the abdomen and push the diaphragm up
What is the main stimulus for inspiration
High c02 levels in the blood
How does co2 affect the control of breathing
- the medulla monitors falling ph levels(high co2 concentration) in the cerebrospinal fluid and blood
-breathing rate and depth increase as co2 levels rise
How does o2 affects the control of breathing
-little effect on breathing except where levels are very low such as High altitude and sleep apnoea
-low 02 levels stimulate deeper breathing, but doesn’t change the rate of breathing
Effect of exercise on breathing
-can increase breathing from 5 to 100 litres per minute
-breathing remains high after vigorous exercise to clear oxygen debts caused by anaerobic respiration
Central nervous system control of breathing
- pons enable voluntary control and smooths the transition between breathing in and out
-medulla detects ph changes due to rising co2 levels and controls the breathing rate -primarily chemo receptors in the VRG; the rhythm is set by neurons in the pre-botzinger complex
Nerves from medulla respiratory groups stimulate the diaphragm and rib muscles to inhale/exhale.
What are pons used for
Integrating high level function signalled by the medulla
Peripheral control of breathing
-sensors in the caratoid artery detect blood o2 ,co2 and ph levels to help regulated the activity of the medulla
-carotid body sensors only stimulate greater breathing when blood 02 levels fall to very low levels eg below 60%
- sensors in muscles and tendons (proproceptors) also help to increase respiratory rate during movement
Why are chemoreceptors more sensitive to co2 levels
-there are oxygen reserves
- the body can’t deal with high co2 levels as it will cause acidification of the blood which might caused degradation of protein whereas the body can function with low o2 levels until the levels are extremely low such as below 60%
Thoracic cavity -
- an enclosed cavity
-each lung sits inside a pleural cavity
-cavity is lined by pleural membrane
-space between layers contains intrapleural fluid which lubricates lung movement
-voluntary motor neurons stimulate muscle contractions
-the lung and thoracic wall contain elastic tissue which enables chest to relax and exhale passively as exhalation is a passive process
Types of pressures involved in respiration
-atmospheric
-alveolar(intrapulmonary)
-intrapleural
-trampulmonary
Atmospheric pressure
All pressure values are made relative to atmospheric pressure (760 mmHg at sea level)
Alveolar(intrapulmonary) pressure
Determines direction of air flow
Pressure within alveoli ,equalizes between breaths