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Pe- Anatomy and Physiology > Respiratory system > Flashcards

Respiratory system Flashcards

1
Q

Function of the respiratory system?

A
  • To bring in air/ Oxygen to the body from the external environment so oxygen can be delivered to the muscles and tissues.
  • Expel carbon dioxide/ waste products from the body.
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2
Q

Nose (function)

A

Filters and warms the air with a mucus membrane and hairs (cilia)

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3
Q

Pharynx

A

Throat

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4
Q

Larynx

A

Voice box, meets the trachea

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5
Q

Epiglottis

A
  • Tissue that covers the trachea so food goes down the oesophagus
  • Ensures that food is diverted into the oesophagus and not the trachea.
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6
Q

Bronchi

A

Distribute air

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7
Q

Nasal passage

A

Humidify air

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8
Q

Diaphragm

A

Contracts and pulls air into the lungs

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9
Q

Inspiration (breathing in)- active process as it requires contraction

A
  • External intercostal muscles contact causing the ribcage to move upwards and outwards
  • Diaphragm which forms the floor of the thoraic cavity contracts downwards and flattens.
  • These actions together cause an increase in the volume of the thoraic cavity and decrease in the pressure within the lungs.
  • Pressure gradient ( high to low)
  • Air moves into lungs
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10
Q

Expiration (breathing out)- passive process since no muscular contractions are involved

A
  • External intercostal mucles relax causing the ribcage to move downwards and inwards
  • Diaphragm relaxes causing it to rise
  • These movements decrease the volume of the thoraic cavity
  • Then pressure increases within the lungs
  • Pressure gradient (high-low)
  • Air is forced out of the lungs
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11
Q

Why do the internal intercostal muscles and abdominals contract during exercise whilst expiring?

A
  • Breathing rates are increased during exercise
  • So expiration is aided by the internal intercostal muscles and abdominal muscles
  • These pull the ribcage down more quickly and with greater force
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12
Q

What is the difference between a lung volume and a lung capacity?

A

A lung capacity is made up of two or more volumes

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13
Q

Tidal volume (definition)

A
  • Volume of air inspired or expired per breath
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14
Q

Tidal volume (typical value at rest)

A

500ml

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15
Q

What is the change of tidal volume during exercise?

A

It increases

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16
Q

Inspiratory reserve volume (definition)

A

Following inspiration the amount of air that you could continue to inspire if required.

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17
Q

Inspiratory reserve volume (typical value at rest)

A

3100ml

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18
Q

What is the change of inspiratory reserve volume during exercise?

A

It decreases

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19
Q

Expiratory reserve volume (definition)

A

Volume of air that remains in the lungs after expiration

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20
Q

Expiratory reserve volume (typical value at rest)

A

1200ml

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21
Q

What is the change of expiratory reserve volume during exercise?

A

It decreases

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22
Q

Residual volume (definition)

A

The amount of air that remains in the lungs after maximal expiration

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23
Q

How do you work out residual voloume?

24
Q

Residual volume (typical value at rest)

25
Q

What is the change of residual volume during exercise?

A

It remains the same

26
Q

Inspiratory capacity (definition)

A

Maximum volume of air inspired from resting expiratory levels

27
Q

How do you work out Inspiratory capacity?

28
Q

Inspiratory capacity (typical value at rest)

29
Q

What is the change of inspiratory capacity during exercise?

A

It increases

30
Q

Vital capacity (definition)

A

The maximum volume expired follwing maximum inspiration

31
Q

How do you work out vital capacity?

A

IRV+TV+ERV

32
Q

Vital capacity (typical value at rest)

33
Q

What is the change to vital capacity during exercise?

A

Slight decrease

34
Q

Total lung capacity (definition)

A

The complete volume of air present in the lungs after maximal inspiration

35
Q

How do you work out total lung capacity?

36
Q

Total lung capacity (typical value at rest)

37
Q

What is the changes to total lung capacity during exercise?

A

Slight decrease

38
Q

Minute ventilation (definition)

A

The volume of air inspired or expired per minute

39
Q

How do you work out minute ventilation?

A

TV+ breathing rate

40
Q

Minute ventilation (typical value at rest)

41
Q

What are the changes to minute ventilation during exercise?

A

Dramatic increase

42
Q

Ventilation during exercise

A
  • During exercise both the rate (frequency) and depth (tidal volume of breathing increases in direct proportion to the intensity of the activity.
  • This is in order to satisfy the demand by the working muscles for oxygen and to remove the carbon dioxide and lactic acid that has been produced.
43
Q

How does tidal volume increase?

A

By utilising both the inspiratory and expiratory reserve volumes

44
Q

What are the two sites for gaseous exchange in the body?

A
  1. Between the air in the alveoli of the lungs and the blood in the surrounding alveolar capillaries
  2. Between the tissues/ muscles of the body and the surrounding blood capillaries
45
Q

What is partial pressure?

A

The pressure that is exerted by an individual gas when it exists in a mixture of gases.

46
Q

What gases is atmospheric pressure composed of and what are there percentages?

A

Nitrogen- 79%
Oxygen- 21%
Carbon dioxide- 0.03%
Together they exert a pressure of 760mmHg

47
Q

What is the total atmospheric pressure?

48
Q

How do you find out the partial pressure?

A

By doing
760 divided by the percentage then multiply it by 100

49
Q

How do you represent partial pressure of oxygen?

50
Q

What is the distance between 2 pressures called?

A

Pressure gradient

51
Q

Diffusion of o2

A
  • By the time air has reached the alveoli the partial pressure of oxygen has reduced to only 105mmHg
  • Blood entering the alveolar capillaries has a partial pressure of oxygen at 40mmHg
  • Pressure gradient of 65mmHg is formed
  • This causes oxygen to diffuse from the alveoli into the capillary blood. (high-low)
  • Process continues until the pressure on both sides of the repiratory membrane is equal.
52
Q

Diffusion of co2

A
  • In the meantime, the partial pressure of co2 within the blood entering the alveolar capillaries has a partial pressure of 45mmHg when compared to that of alveoli at 40mmHg.
  • Pressure gradient of 5mmHg
  • Carbon dioxide will diffuse from capillary blood into the alveoli until pressure on both sides of the respiratory membrane becomes equal
53
Q

What are factors that enable efficient diffusion at the alveoli ?

A
  • Thin capillary membrane (diffusion distance is short) between alveoli and the blood
  • The numerous alveoli create a large surface area
  • The alveoli are surrounded by a vast network of capillaries which further provides a huge surface area for gas exchange.
  • Slow flow of blood as reduced cross sectional area
54
Q

What factors determine the partial pressure of any gases?

A
  • Overall pressure
  • Concentration of individual gas (%)
55
Q

What significance does the size of the gradient have on the process of diffusion?

A

The higher the gradient the faster the diffusion

56
Q

What challenges does the body have at altitude? What is the impact of breathing and oxygen delivery?

A
  • Altitude lowers total air pressure
  • So partial pressure of oxygen will be lower in the alveoli
  • Smaller gradient now exists between the alveoli and capillary
  • Resulting in slower diffusion of oxygen into blood

Pe- Anatomy and Physiology (8 decks)

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