respiratory system Flashcards
primary function of the respiration system
provides oxygen for metabolism in the tissues
removes CO2
secondary functions of the respiration system
produces speech
facilitates sense of smell
maintains acide base balance
maintains body water level
maintains heat balance
whats the function of the pleural membranes
cushions the lung
reduce any friction that may develop between between lung / rib cage
structure of pleural membranes
2 layered membrane that covers each lung
layers seperated by small amount of thick lubricant = pleural fluid
what medical conditions can affect the pleural membranes
collapsed lung, cancer
excess fluid can collect - would need to be drained
2 categories of pleural membranes
visceral pleura
parietal pleura
what type of membrane is the visceral pleura
internal membrane
what type of membrane is the parietal pleura
external membrane
what is the visceral pleura
thin, slippery membrane which covers surface of the lungs and dips into the areas seperating the different lobes of the lungs
what is the parietal pleura
lines the inner chest wall and diaphragm
where do the visceral + parietal pleura join?
helium
visceral + parietal pleura is the point of entry for ___
bronchus, blood vessels, nerves
from what is pleural fluid secreted from?
mesothelial cells
what is the function of the pleural fluid?
allows the layes to glide over each other as lungs inflate + deflate during respiration
what is the benefit of the structure of the pleura
essential to respiration - provides lungs with lubrication and cushioning
how much pleural fluid is in the intrapleural space?
4ccs - 5ccs
whats a property of the pleural fluid
slightly sticky
helps draw lungs outward - creates surface tension to help maintain position of lungs against chest wall
what does the pleurae serve as?
division between other organs in the body - preventing them from interfeering with lung function
basic definition of parietal pleura
adheres to the inside of the chest wall and diaphragm
basic definition of visceral pleura
adheres to the walls of the lungs, coverin each lobe
basic definition of pleural cavity
the area between the pleura containing a thin layer of thick fluid
defenition of epiglotis
seperates trachea from oesophagus and stops you breathing in food and drink
defnition of larynx
connects back of nose from trachea - forming an air passage to the lungs
also - where your voicebox is
defenition of diffusion
movement of particles from area of high conc to low conc
alveoli (2)
found at the end of the tiniest bronchioles
surrounded by capillary network where O2+CO2 exchanged through alveolar membrane
where does the trachea start and where does it subdivide to
starts at larynx
divides into 2 bronchi
lung
divide into bronchioles
where can you find rings of cartilage?
trachea + bronchi
why do some things have rings of cartilage?
stop them collapsing - maintain an open passage for air
what shape are the cartillage rings and why
C
gap at back to allow food down oesophagus (needs to stretch to allow food to pass down)
diaphragm definition
muscle anchored to the lower ribs that seperates the chest from the abdomen
what do intercoastal muscles do during inhilation?
lift + spread the ribs
what do intercoastal muscles do during exhilation?
pull the ribs inferiorly + closer together
how many intercoastal muscles do you have
22 pairs
what are intercoastal muscles
muscles found between the ribs
where are goblet cells found in
walls of trachea + bronchus
what do goblet cells secrete
mucus made of mucin
function of goblet cells
traps micro organisms + debris to keep the airways clear
what do cilliated cells need a lot of
mitochondria for energy
what happens to the mucus in the cilliated cells
you swallow the musuc and acid in the stomach destroys any bacteria
gas exchange process of CO2 in alevoli
co2 produced in respiration is carried back in the blood vessels to alevoli then exhaled
gas exchange process of O2 in alveoli
O2 inhaled diffuses through alveoli to the capillaries - distrubuted around for cellular respiration
modifications of alveoli
(4)
thin layer of cells form the wall - short diffusion distance
moist walls for gas exchnage
large surface area - more efficient
constant diffusion gradient
what are erythrocytes
red blood cells
what are alvelous composed of
squamous epithelial cells and surfactant-releasing cells
what does surfactant releasing cells actually do
reduces surface tension of the fluid - preventing walls of alveoli from collpasing / sticking together during breathing
allows gasses to dissolve before they diffuse in / out
what happens to the Intercostal Muscles during inhalation
contract
what happens to the Intercostal Muscles during exhalation
relax
what happens to the ribs during inhalation
moves up and out
what happens to the ribs during exhalation
moves down and in
what happens to the diaphragm during inhalation
contracts and flattens
what happens to the diaphragm during exhalation
relaxes and domes upwards
what happens to the volume of lungs during inhalation
Increase
what happens to the volume of lungs during exhalation
Decrease
what happens to the thoracic pressure during inhalation
increases
what happens to the thoracic pressure during exhalation
decreases
what happens to the air movement during inhalation
in
what happens to the air movement during exhalation
out
what monitors / senses oxygen / co2 levels in the blood
Sensory organs in the brain
aorta
carotid arteries
what happens with a high concentration of CO2 (breathing)
strongest stimulus to breathe more deeply and more frequently
what happens with a low concentration of CO2 (breathing)
the brain decreases the frequency and depth of breaths.
what does peak flow test measure
It measures the maximum rate of airflow that is blown out of the lungs during forced exhalation.
limitations of peak flow meter
Not breathing in deeply enough to start the test
Not breathing out forcefully enough
Poor seal around the mouthpiece
Use of medicines that open the airways (bronchodilators)
oxygen inhaled
21%
CO2 inhaled
0.04%
water vapour inhaled
depends on climate
nitrogen inhaled
79%
oxygen expired air
16%
CO2 expired air
4%
water vapour expired air
saturated
nitrogen expired air
79%
what does spirometer measure
how much air you breath in / out
how quickly you can exhale
why would you need a spirometry test
wheezing
shortness of breath
cough
what is spirometry test used for
common test
used to monitor and diagnose lung conditions such as COPD
spirometery and the relevance of COPD
determine severity of COPD
set treatment goals
how are results shown in spirometery
forced vital capacity (FVC)
forced expiratory volume in one second (FEC1)
(FVC/FEV1)
limitations of spirometery
patient effort
incomplete inhalation
test quality - patients technique
how is spirometery performed?
- close nostrils with clip
- inhale as much air as possible
- seal lips around mouthpiece
- exhale as hard and as quickly as you can
- rest between each breath
