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Body Systems > Respiratory System > Flashcards

Respiratory System Flashcards

1
Q

What are the two divisions of the respiratory tract?

A
  • Upper respiratory tract (nose, pharynx, larynx)
  • Lower respiratory tract (trachea, bronchial tree, and lungs)
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2
Q

Differentiate between the respiratory membrane and the respiratory mucosa.

A

The respiratory membrane separates the air in the alveoli from the blood in surrounding capillaries.
The respiratory mucosa is covered with mucus and lines the tubes of the respiratory tree.

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3
Q

Describe the structure of the respiratory mucosa.

A
  • ciliated pseudostratified columnar epithelium (lines most of tract; produces mucus)
  • stratified squamous epithelium (lines nostrils, vocal folds, pharynx; protective function)
  • simple squamous epithelium (lines alveoli; facilitates gas exchange)
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4
Q

Describe the function of respiratory mucosa.

A
  • more than 125mL of mucus produced each day forms a “mucous blanket” over much of the respiratory mucosa
  • mucus serves as an air purification mechanism by trapping inspired irritants such as dust and pollen
  • ciliary escalator (cilia on mucosal cells beat in only one direction, moving mucus upward to pharynx for removal
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5
Q

Describe the structure of the nose.

A
  • nasal septum separates interior of nose into two cavities
  • lined by mucous membrane
  • frontal, maxillary, sphenoid and ethmoid sinuses drain into nose
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6
Q

Describe the function of the nose.

A
  • warms, filters and moistens air
  • contains sense organs of smell (olfactory receptors)
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7
Q

Describe the structure of the pharynx.

A
  • (throat) about 12.5cm long
  • divided into nasopharynx, oropharynx, and laryngopharynx
  • two nasal cavities, mouth, esophagus, larynx, and auditory tubes all have openings into the pharynx
  • tonsils form a ring of lymphoid tissue around throat (pharyngeal tonsils open into nasopharynx, lingual and palatine tonsils found in oropharynx)
  • lined by mucous membrane
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8
Q

Describe the function of the pharynx.

A
  • passageway for food and liquids
  • air distribution; passageway for air
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9
Q

Describe the structure of the larynx.

A
  • nine pieces of cartilage form framework
  • thyroid cartilage (Adam’s apple) is largest
  • epiglottis partially covers opening into larynx
    mucous lining
  • vocal cords stretch across interior of larynx
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10
Q

Describe the function of the larynx.

A
  • air distribution; passageway for air to move to and from lungs
  • voice production
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11
Q

Describe the structure of the trachea.

A
  • tube about 11cm long and 2.5cm wide
  • extends from larynx into the thoracic cavity
  • mucous lining
  • c-shaped rings of cartilage hold trachea open (but allow for swallowing)
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12
Q

Describe the function of the trachea.

A
  • passageway for air to move to and from the lungs
  • obstruction (blockage of trachea occludes the airway and, if complete, causes death in minutes)
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13
Q

Describe the structure of the bronchial tree.

A
  • trachea branches into right and left bronchi
  • each bronchus branches into smaller and smaller tubes eventually leading to bronchioles
  • bronchioles end in clusters of microscopic alveolar sacs, the walls of which are made up of alveoli
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14
Q

Describe the function of the bronchial tree.

A
  • air distribution
  • passageway for air to move to and from the alveoli
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15
Q

Describe the structure and function of alveoli.

A
  • respiratory membrane (thin wall that separates pulmonary blood from alveolar air, allowing diffusion of gases
  • exchange of gases between air and blood
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16
Q

What is surfactant?

A

Surfactant is a substance released into alveoli to reduce surface tension and thus prevent collapse of alveoli.

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17
Q

Describe the structure and function of the lungs.

A
  • size - large enough to fill the chest cavity, except for middle space occupied by heart, large blood vessels, thymus, and esophagus
  • apex - narrow upper part of each lung, under collarbone
  • base - broad lower part of each lung, rests on diaphragm
  • function - external respiration
18
Q

What is the pleura?

A
  • thin membrane that lines thoracic cavity (parietal pleura) and covers outer surface of each lung (visceral pleura)
  • moist, smooth, slippery serous membrane reduces friction between the lungs and chest wall during breathing
  • Pleurisy (pleuritis) - inflammation of the pleura
19
Q

What are the three types of respiration?

A
  • External respiration - pulmonary ventilation (breathing) and pulmonary gas exchange
  • Cellular respiration - a series of chemical reactions that break down glucose to produce ATP, which may be used as energy to power many reactions throughout the body.
  • Internal respiration - systemic gas exchange between the body and body cells
20
Q

Describe the basic principles of the mechanics of breathing.

A
  • pulmonary ventilation includes two phases called inspiration (movement of air into lungs) and expiration (movement of air out of lungs)
  • changes in size and shape of thorax cause changes in air pressure within that cavity and in the lungs
  • pressure differences (gradients) cause air to move into and out of the lungs
21
Q

Describe the process of inspiration (inhalation).

A
  • active process - air moves into lungs
  • inspiratory muscles include diaphragm and external intercostals
  • diaphragm flattens when stimulated by phrenic nerve during inspiration (increases top-to-bottom length of thorax)
  • external intercostal muscles contract and elevate the ribs (increases the size of the thorax from the front to the back and from side to side)
  • increase in the size of the chest cavity reduces pressure within it; air then enters the lungs by moving down its pressure gradient
22
Q

Describe the process of expiration (exhalation).

A
  • quiet expiration is ordinarily a passive process
  • during expiration, thorax returns to its resting size and shape
  • elastic recoil of lung tissues aids in expiration
  • expiratory muscles used in forceful expiration are internal intercostals and abdominal muscles
  • internal intercostals (contraction depresses the rib cage and decreases the size of the thorax from the front to back)
  • abdominal muscles (contraction elevates the diaphragm, thus decreasing size of the thoracic cavity from the top to bottom)
  • reduction in size of the thoracic cavity increases its pressure and air leaves the lungs
23
Q

What is Tidal Volume (TV)?

A

The amount of air normally breathed in or our with each breath.

24
Q

What is Vital Capacity (VC)?

A

The greatest amount of air that one can breath out in one expiration.

25
Q

What is Expiratory Reserve Volume (ERV)?

A

The amount of air that can be forcibly exhaled after expiring the tidal volume.

26
Q

What is Inspiratory Reserve Volume (IRV)?

A

The amount of air that can be forcibly inhaled after normal respiration.

27
Q

What is Residual Volume (RV)?

A

The air that remains in the lungs after the most forceful expiration.

28
Q

Describe the brainstem control of respiration.

A
  • most important central regulatory centers in the brainstem are called respiratory control centers
  • medullary centers - under resting conditions the medullary rhythmicity area produces a normal rate and depth of respirations (12-18/min)
  • pontine centers - as conditions in the body vary, these centers in the pons can alter the activity of the medullary rhythmicity area, this adjusting breathing rhythm
  • brainstem centers - influenced by info from other parts of the brain and from sensory receptors located in other body regions.
29
Q

Describe the cerebral cortexes role in respiration.

A

Voluntary (but limited) control of respiratory activity.

30
Q

Describe the two respiratory reflexes.

A
  • Chemoreflexes - chemoreceptors respond to changes in carbon dioxide, oxygen, and blood acid levels (receptors located in carotid and aortic bodies)
  • Pulmonary stretch reflexes - respond to the stretch receptors in lungs, this protecting respiratory organs from overinflation
31
Q

What is Eupnea?

A

Normal breathing

32
Q

What is hyperventilation?

A

Rapid and deep respirations

33
Q

What is hypoventilation?

A

Slow and shallow respirations

34
Q

What is dyspnea?

A

Laboured or difficult respirations

35
Q

What is apnea?

A

Briefly stopped respiration

36
Q

What is respiratory arrest?

A

Failure to resume breathing after a period of apnea.

37
Q

What is Cheyne-Stokes respiration (CSR)?

A

Cycles of alternating apnea and hyperventilation associated with critical conditions

38
Q

Describe pulmonary gas exchange (exchange of gases in lungs).

A
  • carbaminohemoglobin breaks down into carbon dioxide and hemoglobin
  • carbon dioxide moves out of lung capillary blood into alveolar air and out of body in expired air
  • oxygen moves from alveoli into lung capillaries
  • hemoglobin combines with oxygen, producing oxyhemoglobin
39
Q

Describe systemic gas exchange (exchange of gases in tissue).

A
  • oxyhemoglobin breaks down into oxygen and hemoglobin
  • oxygen moves out of tissue capillary blood into tissue cells
  • carbon dioxide moves from tissue cells into tissue capillary blood
  • hemoglobin combines with carbon dioxide, forming carbaminohemoglobin
40
Q

Describe the blood transport of oxygen.

A
  • only small amounts of oxygen can be dissolved in blood
  • most oxygen combines with hemoglobin to form oxyhemoglobin (HbO2) to be carried in blood
41
Q

Describe the blood transport of carbon dioxide.

A
  • dissolved carbon dioxide - 10%
  • carbaminohemoglobin - 20%
  • bicarbonate ions - 70%

Body Systems (14 decks)

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