🫁respiratory system Flashcards
🫁What’s protecting the lungs?
The ribcage
🫁 What’s another word for the windpipe?
Trachea
🫁 What does the trachea branch into?
Bronchi (then left and right lung)
🫁 What do bronchi’s split into?
Bronchioles
🫁 Describe the structure of the bronchioles and how they’re adapted to their function.
They have tough cartilage, which allows air of a high-pressure to be carried to and from the lungs.
🫁 How is alveoli adapted to its function?
It has a large surface area which allows lots of diffusion to happen.
🫁 What is alveoli surrounded by?
A capillary network
🫁 What does the capillary network help to do? Exchange
Take oxygen away and bring carbon dioxide back.
🫁 What are the alveoli?
Tiny air sacs in the lungs
🫁 Describe the transfer of oxygen from the alveoli.
Oxygen is transferred from alveoli, into the capillaries and carried to tissues throughout the body
🫁 Describe the transfer of carbon dioxide.
Carbon dioxide comes from the capillaries into the alveoli to be exhaled.
🫁 What is the site of gas exchange?
The capillaries
🫁 What muscles are in between the rib cage?
Intercostal muscles.
🫁 How do the external intercostal muscles help with breathing? + does the volume increase or decrease? +. Do ribs move up or down?
They contract which pulls the ribs upwards and outwards. This therefore increases the volume of chest cavity.
🫁 What effect does the external intercostal muscles contracting have on the pressure inside of the lungs? + (does more or less air flow in?)
The pressure inside the lungs decreases which causes more air flow in.
🫁 How do the internal intercostal muscles help with breathing during normal exhalation?
(zzz)
The intercostal muscles relax which allow the ribs to move back into the resting position.
🫁 During normal exhalation, what effect does the internal intercostal muscles relaxing have on the pressure inside of the lungs?
During normal exhalation, increased pressure in the lungs.
🫁 During forceful exhalation such as coughing or exercise, what happens to the internal intercostal muscles? +ribs movement. (reduced cc)
The internal intercostal muscles contract which pulls the ribs downwards to reduce the chest cavity and expel more forcefully.
🫁 Describe the diaphragm (abthax)
Dome shaped muscle between the thorax and abdomen.
🫁 How is the diaphragm adapted to its function?
(Elastic skeleton dome)
The dome shape allows it to expand and contract efficiently.
It has skeletal muscle fibres which are strong and fatigue resistant .
It has a degree of elasticity which allows it to return to its dome shape
🫁 What is the function of the pleura membrane? Separate
To separate the lungs from the rib cage
🫁 What are the two types of pleural membrane/the pleural cavity?
Parietal pleura & Visceral pleura.
🫁 What is in between the pleural cavity? And what does it help with?
There’s a small amount of fluid which aids in lubrication to allow easy movement and inflation.
🫁 Where are the two pleural membranes positioned?
Parietal pleura - connected to rib cage.
Visceral pleura - surrounds the lungs like a balloon.
🫁 What happens to the diaphragm when you inhale?
Moves down
🫁 What happened to the diaphragm when you exhale?
Moves up.
🫁 What functions promote diffusion?
The capillary walls are one cell thick, there is a small gap between alveolar walls and capillary network. (Large diffusion gradient.)
It is very moist, alveoli has a large surface area, very large diffusion gradient.
🫁 What does large diffusion gradient mean?
There is a short distance, but a very big difference in concentration,
🫁 What is the tidal volume?
The difference in air between breathing in and breathing out. (Peak & trough)
🫁 What is the inspiratory reserve volume?
The extra air left when you breathe in as much as you can
🫁 What is the expiratory reserve volume?
The extra air left over when you breathe out as much as you can
🫁 What is the residual volume?
The volume that remains when you exhale as much as you can
🫁 What is the vital capacity?
The difference between the maximum volume and the minimum volume
🫁 What is the total lung capacity? +
Vital capacity + residual volume
🫁 What is spirometry?
Measuring the volume of air exhaled using a spirometer.
🫁 What could a spirometer be used to diagnose?
COPD, asthma, and bronchitis.
🫁 How do you use a spirometer?
He asked the patient to relax and take a deep breath, place a clip on their nose. Tell them to breathe out as quick as possible and as much as they can. Repeat this three times to get an average.
🫁 What is the peak flow vary with?
Age, sex and height
🫁 What are the alveoli and capillary walls made up of? EPI
Squamous epithelium. (flat cells)
