Respiratory System Flashcards
What structures comprise the respiratory system?
- nose
- moth
- nasal cavity
- sinuses
- pharynx
- larnyx
- trachea
- bronchial tree
- lungs
What is the primary function of the respiratory system?
The organs facilitate the delivery of oxygen to the cells of the body for use in cellular respiration and help remove waste in the form of carbon dioxide.
What are secondary functions of the respiratory system?
- pH regulation of the blood
- thermoregulation
- odor detection
- production of speech
What is the generalized structure of the lungs?
The lungs are spongy, porous organs that occupy most of the thoracic cavity. A serous membrane called the pleura lines the thoracic cavity (parietal pleura) as well as the surface of the lungs (visceral pleura). The three-lobed right lung is separated from the two-lobed left lung by the mediastinum. The trachea forms into primary bronchi which enter the left and right lung (along with blood and lymphatic vessels) at a region called the hilum.
What are the divisions of the passages to the lungs?
The trachea splits into two primary bronchi (one for each lung), which split repeatedly into secondary bronchi, tertiary bronchi, and bronchioles to form the bronchial tree. The terminal bronchioles further divide into respiratory bronchioles, which are characterized by the presence of some alveoli. The respiratory bronchioles lead into alveolar ducts, which terminate in alveolar sacs.
What is the general mechanism for breathing?
When the diaphragm and external intercostals contract, the volume of the thoracic cavity increases, and the rib cage and sternum elevate and expand outward. The increase in volume results in a decrease in intrapleural pressure, and air enters the lungs in a process called inspiration. As the volume of the thoracic cavity decreases, intrapleural pressure increases, and air leaves the lungs in the more passive process of expiration.
What is gas exchange?
the loading of oxygen into pulmonary blood, and the removal of carbon dioxide.
what is thermoregulation?
the regulation of body temperature
what is the alveoli?
microscopic pouches where gas exchange occurs
what is Boyle’s law?
the pressure and volume of a gas have an inverse relationship, assuming the temperature is constant
The increase in volume results in a decrease in intrapleural pressure, and air enters the lungs in a process called ___.
inspiration
what is negative-pressure breathing?
pressure in the lungs is lower than atmospheric pressure (and gases move down the pressure gradient)
_____ is usually a more passive process, and it is achieved by simply relaxing the same muscles that facilitated inhalation
expiration
inspiration or expiration?
- thoracic cavity expands
- external intercostal muscles contract
- diaphragm contracts
inspiration
inspiration or expiration?
- thoracic cavity reduces
- external intercostal muscle relax
- diaphragm relaxes
expiration
