Respiratory System Flashcards
Gas Exchange:
Facilitates the intake of oxygen and removal or CO2
Gas flow > Diffusion of gasses > Perfusion for blood flow
Acid-base balance
Regulates pH of blood, prevents alkalosis and acidosis
Phonation
Production of speech sounds
Filtration
The entire cardiac output from the right ventricle passes via pulmonary circulation.
–> Allows lungs to act as a filter and prevent air bubbles passing from left side of the heart to the systemic circulation
Metabolic
Transformation or removal of chemical substances in pulmonary circulation
i.e. Inactivates noradrenaline
Pulmonary Defence Mechanism
Protects the body from airborne threats; uses adaptive and innate immunity.
What is the lung incased in?
Parietal pleura (outtermost)
Pleural cavity (between)
Visceral pleura (innermost)
The pleurae of the Lungs: Lubrication serves to…
Reduce friction during breathing
The pleurae of the Lungs: Surface tension
helps position of the lungs against the thoracic wall
The pleurae of the Lungs: Division
isolates the respiratory system from other major organs
Fick’s Law of Diffusion
Shorter distance – Greater rate of diffusion
Greater surface area – Great rate of diffusion
Type I pneumocytes / Type 1 alveolar cells
Most abundant (97%), involved in gas exchange
Type II pneumocytes / Type 2 alveolar cells
Produce and secrete surfactant, a phospholipid
(both hydrophilic and hydrophobic) that lines the inner
alveolar surface to reduce surface tension.
Alveoli macrophages
Phagocytic cells that remove foreign debris and pathogens
The conducting zone is comprised of:
Nose –> Pharynx –> Larynx –> Trachea –> Bronchi –> Bronchioles
The respiratory system is isolated from all other systems. T/F
True
The conducing zone acts to:
- Humidifies air
- Facilitates the passage of air in & out of TRS
- Traps debris and pathogens via mucous membrane
The respiratory zone is comprised of:
Terminal bronchioles –> Alveolar ducts –> Alveolar sacs –> Plural Alveoli
The respiratory zone acts to:
Exchange of gas between the respiratory system and the circulatory system
Capillaries are wrapped around the alveolar sacs to form the respiratory membrane.
Simple diffusion of gasses between blood and air
Epithelia along the start of the respiratory tract (trachea/bronchus) consist of…
thick, pseudostratified layer with submucosal glands.
The bronchiolus consists of:
cuboidal epithelium
In the alveolus, squamous epithelial cells form a thin, single-layered continuous membrane that allows diffusion to easily occur. T/F
True
What is responsible for increasing surface area availability during gas exchange?
Alveoli
Terminal bronchi is encased in…
Smooth muscle
Pulmonary Ventilation:
Movement of gas between atmosphere and alveoli
Pulmonary Ventilation is driven by:
Volume changes in thoracic cavity –> contraction/relaxation of intercostals and diaphrag
Alveoli Macrophages:
Phagocytic cells that remove pathogens and debris
External Respiration:
Gas exchange across alveoli and blood
Internal Respiration:
Gas exchange between the blood and cells.
Via capillary-interstitial fluid-cell membrane
Gas Transport:
Transfer of O2 and CO2 via blood
Cellular Respiration:
Utilisation of O2 and production of CO2 by cells in the mitochondria
Atmospheric Pressure:
The pressure exerted by air surrounding the body
1atm = 760mmHg
Intra-alveolar & Intra-pulmonary Pressure:
Pressure within the alveoli; changes with ventilation.
Always equalises with the atmospheric pressure
Intra-alveolar & Intra-pulmonary Pressure always equalises with the atmospheric pressure. T/F
True
Intrapleural Pressure:
Air within the pleural cavity (between visceral and parietal pleura).
Fluctuates with breathing but remains relativity stable at ~-4mmHg relative to the atmosphere.
The negative pressure is generated by…
Elastic connective tissue connecting the lung to the pleura.This inward pull is counteracted by an opposing connection between the parietal (outer) pleura and the thoracic wall
Trans-pulmonary Pressure:
The difference between the intra-pleural and intra-alveolar pressures.
The inward pull from the intra-alveolar pressure and the outward tug from the intra-pleural keeps the airways open and dictates the size of the lungs.
Pneumothorax
When the intra-alveolar and intra-plaural pressure difference is zero (Ptp = 0), the lung collapses
Pneumothorax measurments:
Atmospheric pressure = 0cmH2O
Alveolar pressure = 0cmH2O
Intra-pleural pressure = 0cmH2O
A Healthy chest wall measurements
Atmospheric pressure = 0cmH2O
Alveolar pressure = 0cmH2O
Intra-pleural pressure = -5cmH2O
Humans inspire via…
-ve pressure breathing
The diaphragm and external intercostal muscles contract, causing –>
The rib cage rises –> the lungs stretch –>intra-alveolarvolume increases –> decreasing the alveolar pressure.
Δ in volume (lung) → Δ in pressure → flow of gases
Δ in volume (lung) → Δ in pressure → flow of gases
Boyle’s law:
an inverse relationship between pressure and volume (assuming that temperature is kept constant)
–> P1V1 = P2V2
Quiet Breathing or Eupnea
Without cognitive thought of the individual. Contraction of the diaphragm and external intercostals.
Deep Breathing
Requires the diaphragm to contract deeply and air passively leaves the lungs as the diaphragm relaxes.
Shallow Breathing
Requires the intercostal muscles to contract and air passively leaves the lungs as the intercostal muscle relax.
Forced Breathing or Hypernea (Inspiration)
Requires contraction of accessory muscles, in addition to the diaphragm and intercostal muscles.
During forced inspiration, muscles of the neck contract and lift the thoracic wall, increasing lung volume.
Forced Breathing or Hypernea (Expiration)
During forced expiration, musclesinthe abdomen (i.e. obliques) contract forcing abdominal organs upwards pushing the diaphragm into the thorax, and pushing more air out the lungs.
*The internal intercostals contract to compress the rib cage, which also reduces the volume of the thoracic cavity.
Which of the following describes the difference between the intra-alveolar pressure and intrapleural pressures?
Transpulmonary pressure
During quiet breathing, at the start of inspiration the intrapleural pressure is about -4 mmHg (relative to atmospheric pressure). As inspiration proceeds, intrapleural pressure reaches approximately
-8mmHg
Compliance:
The change in volume per unit change in pressure (ΔV/ΔP)
As trans-pulmonary pressure increases, lung volume…
decreases
The relationship between changes in pressure distending the alveoli and changes in lung volume determines…
How easily the lungs inflate with each breath.
Trans-pulmonary pressure:
Pressure that distends the alveoli = intra-alveolar pressure - intra-pleural pressure
The pressure difference across the whole lung
Hysteresis:
The difference between the pressure-volume curve for inflation and the curve for deflation
Reflects surfactant surface tension
The lungs have a tendency to collapse due to….
Elastic Recoil
Compliance is _____ related to elastic recoil
Inversely
i.e.
High compliance = less elastic recoil
Low compliance = more elastic recoil
Pulmonary Surfactant & Surface Tension
- Lowers elastic recoil due to surface tension
- Increases lung compliance
- Decreases work required during inspiration
Pulmonary surfactant is synthesised by…
type ll alveolar cells; consists of lipids and proteins
Surfactant reduces surface tension on alveoli –>
Reduces the collapsing pressure of small alveoli
Dipalmitoyl-phosphatidylcholine (DPPC)
Molecules of DPPC are amphoteric and align themselves on the alveolar surface with their hydrophobic portions attracted to each-other, and hydrophilic regions repelled.
DPPC breaks up the liquid molecules that were responsible for high alveolar surface tension.
–> When surfactant is present, surface tension and collapsing pressures are…
Reduced and small alveoli can be kept open.
*Surfactant stabilises alveoli
Airway Resistance
The two sources of frictional resistance; the lung and the chest wall (minor) and the resistance of airways to airflow (major)
Gas flow is a mixture of laminar and turbulent flow
Resistance increases in proportion to gas flow
Resistance is directly proportional to gas density, and inversely proportional to:
the 5th power of the radius
–> turbulent gas flow is extremely sensitive to airway calibre
The greatest resistance occurs in the medium-sized bronchi
- Resistance in large bronchi is small because of their large diameter
- Resistance in small bronchi is low because of the large cross-sectional area
Increased Airway Resistance can lead to:
- Bronchospasm
- Secretions
- Mucosal oedema
- Volume & flow related airway collapse
i.e. Asthma suffers increase airway resistance by causing spastic contraction of smooth muscles of the bronchioles –> incr. Mucus secretion, an inflammation of bronchioles