Respiratory System Flashcards
Name the primary structures of the upper Respiratory Tract.
Nose, Nasal Cavity, Sinuses, pharynx, and larynx.
What is the role alveoli in the respiratory system?
These are sites of gas exchange where oxygen diffuses into the blood, and carbon dioxide diffuses out into the lungs 🫁
What is the primary muscle responsible for respiration?
The Diaphragm.
Define Tidal Volume.
Tidal volume is the amount of air inhaled or exhaled during a normal resting breath.
Explain the process of gas exchange in the lungs.
Oxygen moves from the alveoli into the blood due to a partial pressure gradient (difference in concentration of a gas), while carbon dioxide moves from the blood into the alveoli to be exhaled.
What’s the difference between external and internal respiration?
External respiration is gas exchange between the alveoli and blood, while internal respiration is gas exchange between blood and tissues.
What’s is the difference between inspiration and expiration?
Inspiration is the active process of drawing air into the lungs, requiring muscle contraction, while expiration is usually passive, involving muscle relaxation.
What is dead space in the respiratory system?
Dead space is the portion of the respiratory system where no gas exchange takes place, such as the trachea and bronchi.
What is the significance of the oxygen-heamoglobin dissociation curve?
It shows how readily heamoglobin binds and releases oxygen, influenced by factors like pH, temp, and carbon dioxide levels (Bohr effect).
What happens during a pneumothorax?
Air enters the pleural space, causing lung collapse due to the loss of negative intrapleural pressure (treated with needle decompression).
What is the role of the medulla oblongata in respiration?
It contains the respiratory centers that regulate the depth and rate of breathing.
How do chemoreceptors regulate breathing?
Chemoreceptors in the medulla, carotid bodies, and the aortic bodies detect changes in CO2, 02, and pH levels, adjusting ventilation accordingly.
What is hypoxemia and how does it differ from hypoxia?
Hypoxemia is low oxygen levels in the blood, while hypoxia refers to insufficient oxygen reaching the tissues.
What changes occur in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)?
COPD leads to airflow limitation due to chronic inflammation, bronchial constriction, and destruction of the alveoli, causing decreased gas exchange.
What is vital capacity and how is it calculated?
Vital capacity is the maximum amount of air a person can exhale after a maximum inhalation. It is the sum of tidal volume, inspiratory reserve volume, and expiratory reserve volume.
