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Anatomy > Respiratory System > Flashcards

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
Q

What is the main function of the larynx?

A

To produce sound vibrations (speech) and serve as a passageway for air into and out of the lungs

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26
Q

What is the larynx composed of?

A

Two cartilaginous plates connected to each other and the hyoid bone by connective tissue

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27
Q

What is the more superior cartilaginous plate of the larynx called?

A

Thyroid cartilage

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28
Q

What is the space within the larynx called?

A

Glottis

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29
Q

What is the function of the epiglottis?

A

To cover the glottis during swallowing to prevent food from entering the lower respiratory tract

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30
Q

epiglottis

A

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)

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31
Q

Cricoid cartilage

A

Ring of cartilage that forms the
inferior border of the larynx

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32
Q

Thyroid cartilage

A

(“Adam’s apple”)
Fused plates of cartilage that forms the
anterior & lateral walls of the larynx

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33
Q

What are the folds of mucous membranes within the glottis called?

A

Ventricular folds and vocal folds

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34
Q

What is the function of the ventricular folds?

A

To assist the epiglottis in preventing food from entering the lower respiratory tract during swallowing

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35
Q

What are the ventricular folds commonly known as?

A

False vocal cords

36
Q

What are the vocal folds commonly known as?

A

True vocal cords

37
Q

What innervates the skeletal muscles attached to the vocal folds?

A

Cranial nerve X (vagus nerve)

38
Q

How do the vocal folds produce sound vibrations?

A

As air passes through them, and their tension is modified by skeletal muscle contraction

39
Q

What is the function of the trachea?

A

To act as a passageway for air from the larynx to the bronchi

40
Q

What is the composition of the trachea?

A

Series of C-shaped rings of cartilage, connective tissue, epithelial tissue, and smooth muscle

41
Q

How does the autonomic nervous system adjust airflow within the lower respiratory tract?

A

By causing relaxation (dilation) or contraction (constriction) of the smooth muscle in the trachea and bronchi

42
Q

What is a tracheostomy?

A

An incision into the trachea to provide an alternate passageway for air to reach the lungs

43
Q

When is a tracheostomy primarily used?

A

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
Q

What do the left and right primary bronchi divide into within the lungs?

A

Secondary bronchi

45
Q

How many lobes does each lung have?

A

The left lung has two lobes, and the right lung has three lobes.

46
Q

What level does the trachea divide into the left and right primary bronchi?

A

Approximately at T5

47
Q

What structure conducts air deep into the lung tissue?

A

The bronchial tree, formed by the series of divisions of the bronchi

48
Q

What is the function of bronchodilators?

A

To relax the smooth muscle in the airways and increase airflow, particularly in conditions like asthma

49
Q

How do β2 agonists and anticholinergics work as bronchodilators?

A

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
Q

Describe the bronchial tree within each lung:

A

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
Q

What are the three spaces within the thoracic cavity?

A

Two lateral pleural cavities containing the lungs, and the mediastinum containing the heart, great vessels, and thymus

52
Q

Where is the hilum located on each lung?

A

On the medial surface, serving as the single-entry point for the primary bronchus, pulmonary arteries, and pulmonary veins

53
Q

What is the function of the pleural cavity?

A

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
Q

What creates the pulling force on the lungs during inhalation?

A

Surface tension created by the fluid within the pleural cavity between the two layers of the pleural membrane

55
Q

What is pleural effusion?

A

An excess of pleural fluid within the pleural cavity

56
Q

What effect does pleural effusion have on lung function?

A

It restricts the ability of the lung to expand, compromising respiration

57
Q

What conditions can lead to pleural effusion?

A

Conditions such as heart failure and pneumonia

58
Q

What is pneumothorax?

A

An influx of air into the pleural cavity causing one lung to collapse

59
Q

What can cause pneumothorax?

A

It usually occurs secondary to trauma but can also occur spontaneously in people with or without underlying lung disease

60
Q

Where does gas exchange primarily occur in the respiratory system?

A

In the respiratory bronchioles, alveolar ducts, and alveoli

61
Q

What is the function of surfactant in the alveoli?

A

To coat the alveolar surface and prevent it from collapsing

62
Q

How is lung tissue supplied with blood?

A

By pulmonary arteries for gas exchange and bronchial arteries from the thoracic aorta for oxygenation of lung tissue

63
Q

What is pulmonary ventilation?

A

It involves alternating cycles of inhalation (inflow of air) and exhalation (outflow of air)

64
Q

What muscles are primarily involved in inhalation and exhalation at rest?

A

At rest, inhalation is accomplished by the diaphragm and external intercostals contracting, while exhalation is accomplished by the passive relaxation of these muscles.

65
Q

Which muscles assist with forced inspiration?

A

Pectoralis minor, serratus anterior, sternocleidomastoid, scalenes, and quadratus lumborum

66
Q

Which muscles assist with forced expiration?

A

Internal intercostals and muscles of the abdominal wall

67
Q

What is Boyle’s Law?

A

It describes an inverse relationship between the volume and pressure of a fluid or gas.

68
Q

How do changes in thoracic cavity pressure affect pulmonary ventilation?

A

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
Q

What occurs during inhalation in terms of muscle contraction?

A

Contraction of the inspiratory muscles, such as the diaphragm and external intercostals

70
Q

How does the expansion of the thoracic cavity during inhalation affect the pleural membranes?

A

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
Q

What effect does the “pulling” of the visceral pleura have on the lung tissue?

A

It increases lung volume by stretching the lung tissue

72
Q

What happens to the pressure inside the alveoli during inhalation?

A

It decreases, causing air to be “sucked” into the airways to equalize the pressure gradient

73
Q

What occurs during exhalation in terms of muscle activity?

A

Relaxation of the inspiratory muscles, and possibly contraction of expiratory muscles

74
Q

What effect does the decrease in thoracic cavity size during exhalation have on lung volume?

A

It decreases lung volume by reducing the space available for the lungs to expand

75
Q

What happens to the pressure inside the alveoli during exhalation?

A

It increases, causing air to be “pushed” out of the airways to equalize the pressure gradient

76
Q

What controls the basic rhythm of respiration?

A

A collection of nuclei in the pons and medulla oblongata referred to as the respiratory centre

77
Q

What structures provide input to the respiratory centre?

A

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
Q

What arteries and structure contain receptors that monitor blood pressure and chemical concentrations in the blood?

A

The carotid arteries and the arch of the aorta

79
Q

How is information from these receptors transmitted to the brain?

A

Via the glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX) and vagus nerve (CN X)

80
Q

What does the respiratory center do with the information received from these receptors?

A

It can reflexively adjust the respiratory rate to maintain homeostasis.

81
Q

What happens to carbon dioxide when it enters the blood in the tissues?

A

Most of it is converted to bicarbonate through a chemical reaction that also produces a hydrogen ion, increasing blood acidity.

82
Q

What occurs when carbon dioxide is reformed and leaves the blood in the lungs?

A

The reverse chemical reaction occurs, removing a hydrogen ion and decreasing blood acidity.

83
Q

How does adjusting the respiratory rate affect the acid-base balance in the blood?

A

By regulating the amount of carbon dioxide exhaled, which in turn affects the concentration of hydrogen ions and blood acidity.

84
Q

How does vigorous exercise affect blood carbon dioxide and hydrogen ion levels?

A

It increases them, leading to an increase in blood acidity.

85
Q

How do chemoreceptors respond to changes in blood acidity during vigorous exercise?

A

They detect the increased blood acidity and send this information to the respiratory center.

86
Q

What effect does the respiratory center have on breathing rate in response to increased blood acidity during exercise?

A

It increases the breathing rate, leading to more carbon dioxide being released from the blood in the lungs, which lowers blood acidity.

87
Q

What are the main functions of the respiratory system?

A

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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