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Respiratory System Flashcards

1
Q

What are the two main divisions of the respiratory system?

A

Upper respiratory tract and lower respiratory tract

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2
Q

What structures are included in the upper respiratory tract?

A

Nose and pharynx

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3
Q

What structures are included in the lower respiratory tract?

A

Larynx, trachea, bronchi, and lungs

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4
Q

What are the two regions of the nose?

A

External nose and internal nose (nasal cavity)

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5
Q

What are the main functions of the nose?

A

Warming, moistening, and filtering incoming air; detecting olfactory stimuli; modifying sound vibrations (speech)

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6
Q

What is the external nose composed of?

A

Cartilage anteriorly and portions of the frontal bone, nasal bones, and maxilla posteriorly

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7
Q

What does the skin of the inner surface of the external nose contain?

A

Hairs, which filter incoming air

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8
Q

How is the nasal cavity separated into left and right sides?

A

By the nasal septum, which consists of cartilage anteriorly and the perpendicular plate of the ethmoid bone and vomer posteriorly

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9
Q

Where are olfactory receptors located in the nasal cavity?

A

In the roof of the nasal cavity

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10
Q

Through what structure do the axons of olfactory receptors pass?

A

Through the olfactory foramina in the cribriform plate of the ethmoid bone

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11
Q

Where do the axons of olfactory receptors stimulate neurons?

A

In the olfactory bulbs

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12
Q

Where are the primary olfactory areas located?

A

In the temporal lobes

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13
Q

What do the lateral walls of the nasal cavity contain?

A

Mucous membranes and the superior, middle, and inferior nasal conchae

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14
Q

Which bones contain paranasal sinuses with openings into the nasal cavity?

A

Frontal bone, sphenoid bone, ethmoid bone, and maxilla

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15
Q

What is the function of paranasal sinuses in relation to the nasal cavity?

A

They help to warm, moisten incoming air and modify outgoing sound vibrations

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16
Q

What innervates the pharynx?

A

Cranial nerves IX (glossopharyngeal) and X (vagus)

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17
Q

What are the main functions of the pharynx?

A

Serve as a passageway for air/food, assist in swallowing, modify sound vibrations, and house tonsils for immune response

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18
Q

What is the superior section of the pharynx called?

A

Nasal pharynx

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19
Q

What does the nasal pharynx contain openings for?

A

Auditory tubes, which connect the pharynx to the middle ear cavities within the temporal bones

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20
Q

What is the middle section of the pharynx called?

A

Oral pharynx

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21
Q

What is the function of the auditory tubes in the nasal pharynx?

A

To assist with pressure equalization in the middle ears

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22
Q

Oropharynx

A

The middle portion of the pharynx that is posterior to the oral cavity (mouth)

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23
Q

Laryngopharynx

A

The inferior portion of the pharynx that opens into the larynx and esophagus

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24
Q

What is the inferior section of the pharynx called?

A

Laryngopharynx

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25
What is the main function of the larynx?
To produce sound vibrations (speech) and serve as a passageway for air into and out of the lungs
26
What is the larynx composed of?
Two cartilaginous plates connected to each other and the hyoid bone by connective tissue
27
What is the more superior cartilaginous plate of the larynx called?
Thyroid cartilage
28
What is the space within the larynx called?
Glottis
29
What is the function of the epiglottis?
To cover the glottis during swallowing to prevent food from entering the lower respiratory tract
30
epiglottis
Piece of cartilage that is attached to the inner surface of the thyroid cartilage Moves down during swallowing to cover the glottis and prevent food/liquid from entering the larynx (and therefore the lungs)
31
Cricoid cartilage
Ring of cartilage that forms the inferior border of the larynx
32
Thyroid cartilage
(“Adam’s apple”) Fused plates of cartilage that forms the anterior & lateral walls of the larynx
33
What are the folds of mucous membranes within the glottis called?
Ventricular folds and vocal folds
34
What is the function of the ventricular folds?
To assist the epiglottis in preventing food from entering the lower respiratory tract during swallowing
35
What are the ventricular folds commonly known as?
False vocal cords
36
What are the vocal folds commonly known as?
True vocal cords
37
What innervates the skeletal muscles attached to the vocal folds?
Cranial nerve X (vagus nerve)
38
How do the vocal folds produce sound vibrations?
As air passes through them, and their tension is modified by skeletal muscle contraction
39
What is the function of the trachea?
To act as a passageway for air from the larynx to the bronchi
40
What is the composition of the trachea?
Series of C-shaped rings of cartilage, connective tissue, epithelial tissue, and smooth muscle
41
How does the autonomic nervous system adjust airflow within the lower respiratory tract?
By causing relaxation (dilation) or contraction (constriction) of the smooth muscle in the trachea and bronchi
42
What is a tracheostomy?
An incision into the trachea to provide an alternate passageway for air to reach the lungs
43
When is a tracheostomy primarily used?
In acute situations to bypass a blockage of the upper airway, such as a foreign object or inflammation, and in chronic smokers requiring assistance with breathing or who develop throat cancer
44
What do the left and right primary bronchi divide into within the lungs?
Secondary bronchi
45
How many lobes does each lung have?
The left lung has two lobes, and the right lung has three lobes.
46
What level does the trachea divide into the left and right primary bronchi?
Approximately at T5
47
What structure conducts air deep into the lung tissue?
The bronchial tree, formed by the series of divisions of the bronchi
48
What is the function of bronchodilators?
To relax the smooth muscle in the airways and increase airflow, particularly in conditions like asthma
49
How do β2 agonists and anticholinergics work as bronchodilators?
β2 agonists act on receptors for epinephrine/norepinephrine, while anticholinergics block the action of acetylcholine, both leading to relaxation of smooth muscle in the airways.
50
Describe the bronchial tree within each lung:
Within each lobe, the secondary bronchi divide into tertiary bronchi, which divide further into bronchioles, terminal bronchioles, thereby forming a bronchial tree within each lung.
51
What are the three spaces within the thoracic cavity?
Two lateral pleural cavities containing the lungs, and the mediastinum containing the heart, great vessels, and thymus
52
Where is the hilum located on each lung?
On the medial surface, serving as the single-entry point for the primary bronchus, pulmonary arteries, and pulmonary veins
53
What is the function of the pleural cavity?
To reduce friction between the two layers of the pleural membrane and to allow the lungs to expand during inhalation by creating surface tension
54
What creates the pulling force on the lungs during inhalation?
Surface tension created by the fluid within the pleural cavity between the two layers of the pleural membrane
55
What is pleural effusion?
An excess of pleural fluid within the pleural cavity
56
What effect does pleural effusion have on lung function?
It restricts the ability of the lung to expand, compromising respiration
57
What conditions can lead to pleural effusion?
Conditions such as heart failure and pneumonia
58
What is pneumothorax?
An influx of air into the pleural cavity causing one lung to collapse
59
What can cause pneumothorax?
It usually occurs secondary to trauma but can also occur spontaneously in people with or without underlying lung disease
60
Where does gas exchange primarily occur in the respiratory system?
In the respiratory bronchioles, alveolar ducts, and alveoli
61
What is the function of surfactant in the alveoli?
To coat the alveolar surface and prevent it from collapsing
62
How is lung tissue supplied with blood?
By pulmonary arteries for gas exchange and bronchial arteries from the thoracic aorta for oxygenation of lung tissue
63
What is pulmonary ventilation?
It involves alternating cycles of inhalation (inflow of air) and exhalation (outflow of air)
64
What muscles are primarily involved in inhalation and exhalation at rest?
At rest, inhalation is accomplished by the diaphragm and external intercostals contracting, while exhalation is accomplished by the passive relaxation of these muscles.
65
Which muscles assist with forced inspiration?
Pectoralis minor, serratus anterior, sternocleidomastoid, scalenes, and quadratus lumborum
66
Which muscles assist with forced expiration?
Internal intercostals and muscles of the abdominal wall
67
What is Boyle's Law?
It describes an inverse relationship between the volume and pressure of a fluid or gas.
68
How do changes in thoracic cavity pressure affect pulmonary ventilation?
An increase in thoracic cavity volume during inhalation decreases pressure, allowing air to flow in, while a decrease in thoracic cavity volume during exhalation increases pressure, allowing air to flow out.
69
What occurs during inhalation in terms of muscle contraction?
Contraction of the inspiratory muscles, such as the diaphragm and external intercostals
70
How does the expansion of the thoracic cavity during inhalation affect the pleural membranes?
The expansion of the thoracic cavity "pulls" on the parietal pleura, which in turn "pulls" on the visceral pleura due to the surface tension created by pleural fluid
71
What effect does the "pulling" of the visceral pleura have on the lung tissue?
It increases lung volume by stretching the lung tissue
72
What happens to the pressure inside the alveoli during inhalation?
It decreases, causing air to be "sucked" into the airways to equalize the pressure gradient
73
What occurs during exhalation in terms of muscle activity?
Relaxation of the inspiratory muscles, and possibly contraction of expiratory muscles
74
What effect does the decrease in thoracic cavity size during exhalation have on lung volume?
It decreases lung volume by reducing the space available for the lungs to expand
75
What happens to the pressure inside the alveoli during exhalation?
It increases, causing air to be "pushed" out of the airways to equalize the pressure gradient
76
What controls the basic rhythm of respiration?
A collection of nuclei in the pons and medulla oblongata referred to as the respiratory centre
77
What structures provide input to the respiratory centre?
The cerebral cortex, which permits voluntary alterations in respiratory rate, and chemoreceptors, which relay signals regarding the levels of O2, CO2, and H+ in the blood to the respiratory centre via CN IX and CN X.
78
What arteries and structure contain receptors that monitor blood pressure and chemical concentrations in the blood?
The carotid arteries and the arch of the aorta
79
How is information from these receptors transmitted to the brain?
Via the glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX) and vagus nerve (CN X)
80
What does the respiratory center do with the information received from these receptors?
It can reflexively adjust the respiratory rate to maintain homeostasis.
81
What happens to carbon dioxide when it enters the blood in the tissues?
Most of it is converted to bicarbonate through a chemical reaction that also produces a hydrogen ion, increasing blood acidity.
82
What occurs when carbon dioxide is reformed and leaves the blood in the lungs?
The reverse chemical reaction occurs, removing a hydrogen ion and decreasing blood acidity.
83
How does adjusting the respiratory rate affect the acid-base balance in the blood?
By regulating the amount of carbon dioxide exhaled, which in turn affects the concentration of hydrogen ions and blood acidity.
84
How does vigorous exercise affect blood carbon dioxide and hydrogen ion levels?
It increases them, leading to an increase in blood acidity.
85
How do chemoreceptors respond to changes in blood acidity during vigorous exercise?
They detect the increased blood acidity and send this information to the respiratory center.
86
What effect does the respiratory center have on breathing rate in response to increased blood acidity during exercise?
It increases the breathing rate, leading to more carbon dioxide being released from the blood in the lungs, which lowers blood acidity.
87
What are the main functions of the respiratory system?
Gas exchange (O2 and CO2) between the air and blood Voice (and other sound) production Assisting in the regulation of the acid-base balance of the body

Anatomy (34 decks)

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