Respiratory System Flashcards
What are the upper respiratory airways?
-nasopharyngeal
-larynx
-tracheobronchial tree
What does the nasopharyngeal airway consist of?
-nose (primary air intake)
-mouth (alternate airway)
-lined with mucous membranes
What does the larynx do in upper airways?
-connects oropharynx and trachea
-vocal cords (folds and elongated opening-glottis)
-epiglottis (when swallowing closes over pharynx)
What does the tracheobronchial tree consist of?
-trachea
-bronchi
-bronchioles
What do lobules do in the lungs?
-gas exchange
-terminal bronchioles/ alveolar ducts/ sacs
What does alveoli do in the lungs?
-terminal air space of respiratory tract
-lined with epithelial tissue
-Type I and II cells
-alveolar macrophages
What are Type I Alveolar cells
squamous cells form barrier between air and alveolar wall
What are type II alveolar cells?
-cuboid cells: produces pulmonary surfactant
-decreases surface tension in alveoli
-phospholipid
What are alveolar macrophages?
responsible for removal of foreign agents
What is a pulmonary vasculature?
pulmonary and bronchial circulation
What happens in the pulmonary circulation?
-pulmonary artery carries poorly oxygenated venous blood to lung capillaries for gas exchange
-pulmonary veins carry freshly oxygenated blood into left side of heart
What happens in bronchial circulation?
-distributes blood to the connecting airways
-provides blood supply to the lung structure
What are the Pleura and Pleural cavity?
-double layered serous membrane
-lines thoracic cavity
-encases lungs, thoracic wall, mediastinum, and diaphragm
What is the thoracic cavity potential space for?
inflammatory exudate to accumulate
What is pleural effusion?
abnormal collection of fluid or exudate in pleural cavity
What is ventilation?
the mechanism of breathing
What is breathing controlled by?
medulla oblongata in the lower brain
What monitors blood levels of CO2, O2, and blood pH?
chemoreceptors in the medulla, carotid arteries, and aorta
What is CO2 narcosis?
-in people with chronic hypercarbia
-people who no linger respond to stimulus and rely upon decreased blood oxygen to increase ventilation
What is the main chemical that determines the rate of breathing?
CO2
What happens when there is too much CO2 in the blood?
breathing rate increases
Decreased pressure inside chest compares to:
air pressure outside chest
What must combine for adequate oxygenation of the blood?
ventilation (V) and perfusion (Q)
What is the normal ventilation-perfusion match?
a ratio of 4:5 or also written as 0.8 (gold standard value)