Respiratory System Flashcards
1
Q
List the 2 structures that anatomically lead into both the digestive and respiratory system
A
- nose
- pharynx
2
Q
List the 4 structures that are only part of the respiratory system (not digestive)
A
- larynx
- trachea
- bronchii
- lungs
3
Q
What are the 2 parts of the respiratory system?
A
Conducting portion and respiratory portion
4
Q
What is the function of the conducting portion of the respiratory system?
A
interconnecting cavities and tubes: filter/warm/moisten air and conducts it to lungs
5
Q
What are the parts of the conducting portion of the respiratory system?
A
- nose
- pharynx
- larynx
- trachea
- bronchi
- bronchioles
- terminal bronchioles
6
Q
What is the function of the respiratory portion of the respiratory system?
A
tissues within the lungs where gases are exchanged
7
Q
What are the parts of the respiratory portion of the respiratory system?
A
- respiratory bronchioles
- alveolar sacs
- alveoli (main site of gas exchange btwn air and blood)
8
Q
Nose: what is the external framework made of?
A
bone (superior) and hyaline cartilage (inferior)
9
Q
What is the nose covered with, and what is it lined with?
A
Covered: muscle and skin
Lined: mucous membrane
10
Q
What are the bones of the nose?
A
Frontal, nasal, maxilla
11
Q
What are the cartilages of the nose?
A
Septal, nasal, alar
12
Q
What are the 3 functions of the internal structures of the nose?
A
- warm, moisten, and filter incoming air
- detect olfactory stimuli
- modify speech vibrations as they pass through resonating chambers
13
Q
What is the point of the arrangement of conchae and meatuses of the nose?
A
increase surface area, prevent dehydration by trapping droplets of water during exhalation (create turbulence)
14
Q
Where are olfactory receptor cells found?
A
In the membrane lining the sup. conchae and septum
15
Q
What is inferior to the olfactory epithelium?
A
mucous membrane containing capillaries and many goblet cells
16
Q
What does the blood in the capillaries of the nasal mucous membrane do?
A
warms the air
17
Q
What do goblet cells do?
A
secrete mucous (trap dust)
18
Q
Where is the pharynx?
A
- extends from internal nares to lvl of cricoid cartilage (larynx)
- post. to nasal/oral cavities, ant. to cervical vertebrae
19
Q
What is the pharynx made of? what is the difference between the outer and inner layers/
A
Skeletal muscle lined w/ mucous membrane
- outer circular layer
- inner longitudinal layer
20
Q
What does the pharynx do?
A
- provides a resonating chamber for speech sounds
- houses tonsils: participate in immune rxns
21
Q
What are the 3 regions of the pharynx?
A
- nasopharynx
- oropharynx
- laryngopharynx
22
Q
Where is the nasopharynx?
A
- internal nares to uvula of soft palate
23
Q
What are the 5 openings of the nasopharynx?
A
2 from internal nares
2 to auditory tubes
1 to oropharynx
24
Q
What is on the posterior wall of the nasopharynx?
A
pharyngeal tonsils
25
What is the role of the nasopharynx?
- cilia moves mucous (air/dust) down
- small amts of air exchaged w/ eustachian tube (ear)
26
Where is the oropharynx?
soft palate to lvl of hyoid b.
27
How many openings are in the oropharynx?
1
28
What types of functions does the oropharynx have?
respiration and digestive
29
What are the tonsils in the oropharynx?
palatine and lingual tonsils
30
Where is the laryngopharynx and what does it open to?
- begins at hyoid b.
- opens into esophagus for food
- opens into larynx for air
31
What is the last common pathway for food and air?
laryngopharynx
32
Where is the larynx?
Btwn laryngopharynx and trachea
Ant. to C4-C6 vertebrae
33
What are the 9 pieces of cartilage of the larynx?
- thyroid (1)
- cricoid (1)
- epiglottis (1)
- arythenoid (2)
- corniculate (2)
- cuneiform (2)
34
What does the mucous in the larynx do and what folds does it form?
helps trap dust not removed in upper respiratory tract
- ventricular folds (false)
- vocal folds (true)
35
What is the glottis?
Verticle space when folds are open
36
What happens when air is directed against the vocal folds?
they vibrate and set-up sound waves in the column of air in the pharynx, nose and mouth
37
Greater pressure against vocal folds =
louder sounds
38
Pitch of sounds is controlled by:
tension on vocal folds
39
What gives a voice individual quality?
The pharynx, mouth, nasal cavity, and paranasal sinuses acting as resonating chambers
40
Where is the trachea located?
- ant. to esophagus
- from larynx to 5th thoracic vertebrae
41
What does the trachea do?
Protect against dust (like the membrane in the nasal cavity and larynx)
42
What are the layers of the trachea (deep to superficial)
- mucosa
- submucosa
- hyaline cartilage
- adventitia
43
What is the trachea made up of?
16-20 incomplete rings of hyaline cartilage
44
How does the trachea divide?
into R/L primary bronchi at level of T5 (at carina)
45
What's the difference btwn the R/L primary bronchi?
R: more vertical, shorter, wider
46
What is the carina?
- internal ridge where trachea divides into primary bronchi
- one of the most sensitive areas of the larynx and trachea for triggering a cough reflex
47
What is the path through the bronchi?
- primary bronchi
- secondary bronchi
- tertiary bronchi
- bronchioles
- terminal bronchioles
- bronchiole tree
48
How are the lungs separated and enclosed?
- separated by the heart and other structures in mediastinum
- enclosed and protected by the pleural membrane: parietal and visceral
49
Where are the lungs
extend from diaphragm to just above clavicle
- lie against the ribs anteriorly and posteriorly
50
What are the parts of the lungs?
- base
- apex
- costal surface
- mediastinal surface (contains hilus)
51
What is the hilum/root of the lung?
- pulmonary aa. and vv.
- primary bronchus
52
Which lung is smaller?
Left
53
How does the right lung compare to the left?
it is thicker, broader, shorter (accommodates liver)
54
What is the pleural cavity? what does it contain?
Space btwn visceral and parietal pleura
- contains lubricating fluid
55
What does the fluid in the pleural cavity do? where does it extend to?
- reduce friction btwn membranes
- allows pleura membranes to easily slide over one another
- extends below base of lung (6th costal cartilage to 12th rib)
56
What is pleuritis?
Inflammation of the pleura: causes pain due to friction btwn layers
- if inflammation persists: excess fluid accumulates in pleural space
57
What are the fissures of the left lung?
Oblique
58
What are the fissures of the right lung?
oblique + horizontal (divides btwn sup. and middle)
59
How many secondary bronchi are on the right side?
3
60
How many secondary bronchi are on the left side?
2
61
How many tertiary bronchi are in each lung?
10
62
What is a segment of the lung tissue called?
bronchopulmonary segment
63
Each bronchopulmonary segment has small compartments called
lobules
64
What are lobules wrapped in and what do they contain?
Wrapped in elastic connective tissue
- contains a lymphatic vessel, an arteriole, a venule, and a branch from a terminal bronchiole
65
Terminal bronchioles subdivide into microscopic branches called
respiratory bronchioles
66
Respiratory bronchioles subdivide into
several alveolar ducts
67
How many times do the respiratory passages branch from the trachea?
25
68
What is an alveolar sac?
2 or more alveoli that share a common opening
69
What are the types of epithelial cells in the walls of alveoli?
- Type I alveoli cells: main site of gas exchange
- Type II alveoli cells: secrete alveolar fluid, keep surface btwn cells and air moist
70
What are alveolar macrophages and what do they do?
Wandering phagocytes that remove fine dust particles and other debris in the alveolar spaces
71
Where does exchange of O2 and CO2 occur in the lungs? and how?
By diffusion across alveolar and capillary walls (through respiratory membrane)
72
Describe pulmonary circulation
- bronchial aa. (from aorta) deliver oxygenated blood to lungs
- blood perfuses walls of bronchi and bronchioles
- most of the blood returns via the pulmonary vv. but some returns via SVC (via azygos system)
73
What are the 3 basic steps of breathing?
- pulmonary ventilation (inspiration and expiration)
- external (pulmonary) respiration: exchange of gas btwn air and spaces in lungs
- internal (tissue) respiration: exchange of gas btwn blood in systemic capillaries and tissue cells
74
What is the air pressure in the lungs prior to inspiration?
= atmospheric pressure
75
For air to flow into the lungs, pressure in alveoli must become higher or lower than atmospheric pressure?
lower
76
What are the principle inspiratory muscles and what do they do to expand the alveoli of the lungs?
Diaphragm and external intercostals contract at the same time
77
What is the innervation of the diaphragm?
phrenic n.
78
Describe the diaphragm
dome-shaped skeletal m. that forms floor of thoracic cavity
79
What happens when the diaphragm contracts (what are some factors that can hinder this complete descent?)
Diaphragm flattens: vertical expansion of thoracic cavity
- pregrancy, obesity, and tight clothing can hinder this
80
What happens when external intercostals contract?
muscles run obliquely btwn ribs:
- pull ribs superiorly and push sternum anterior
- inc. anteroposterior and lateral diameter of cavity (3D)
81
What happens as thoracic cavity size increases? when does inspiration end?
- walls of lungs and pleura are pulled outward
- vol increases: pressure gradient established
- air rushes into lungs and inspiration happens until there is no more pressure difference
82
What accessory muscles help with deep inspiration?
- sternocleidomastoid (rises sternum)
- scalenes (rise ribs 1 and 2)
- pec minor (rises ribs 3-5)
83
When is expiration achieved?
when pressure in lungs exceeds that of atmospheric pressure
84
What are the 2 factors that expiration depend on?
- recoil of elastic fibers that were stretched during inspiration
- inward pull of surface tension due to the film of alveolar fluid
85
Where do the ribs and diaphragm move during expiration?
Ribs: move inferior
Diaphragm: moves up
86
What are the muscles of expiration and what do they do?
- abdominal muscles: move ribs inferior + compress abdominal viscera forcing diaphragm up
- internal intercostals: extend inferiorly and posteriorly btwn ribs, pulls ribs inferiorly
87
What are the 3 areas of the respiratory center? (clusters of neurons)
1. Medullary rhythmicity area (medulla oblongata)
2. Pneumotaxic area (pons)
3. Apneustic area (pons)
88
What does the medullary rhythmicity area of the respiratory center do?
- controls basic rhythm of respiration
- normal resting rate: inspiration (2sec) and expiration (3sec)
- inspiratory and expiratory areas
89
Explain the basic breathing rhythm in the inspiratory area (nerve impulses)
- inactive at beginning of expiration
- automatically activated 3seconds after: impulses from autorhythmic neurons
- nerve impulses last 2sec and reach diaphragm via phrenic n.
- diaphragm contracts: inspiration
90
During quiet breathing, neurons of expiratory area remain: active or inactive?
inactive
91
Where is the pneumotaxic area located?
superior portion of the pons
92
What is the function of the pneumotaxic area?
- help turn off inspiratory area before lungs become too full of air
- when pneumotaxic activity is increased, breathing rate is more rapid
93
Where is the apneustic area located?
inferior portion of pons
94
What is the function of the apneustic area?
- send stimulating impulses to inspiratory area that activate it and prolong inspiration, inhibiting expiration
95
What are the 3 other ways that rhythm can be modified?
1. cortical influence
2. chemical influence
3. inflation reflex
96
Describe cortical influence of respiration and how it is controlled.
- voluntarily alter breathing pattern
- Controlled by build-up of CO2 and H+ in blood
- nerve impulses from hypothalamus and limbic system (stress/emotions) can alter respiration
97
How does chemical regulation of respiration work?
Chemoreceptors in 2 locations monitor blood lvls of CO2 and O2
98
Where are central chemoreceptors located and what do they respond to?
- in medulla oblongata
- respond to changes in H+ and CO2 in CSF
99
Where are the peripheral chemoreceptors and what do they respond to?
- in walls of systemic aa., relay impulses to respiratory center
- in aortic and carotid body
- sensory fibers join CN X
- sensitive to changes in CO2 in blood
100
What is another way of saying inflation reflex and what are the receptors of this reflex
- Hering-breuer reflex
- baroreceptors (stretch receptors)
101
Where are baroreceptors and when are they stimulated?
- in walls of bronchi and bronchioles
- respond to stretch during over-inflation of lungs: send nerve impulses along vagus n. (CN X) to turn off inspiration and apneustic areas
102
What happens to the respiratory system during exercise?
- inc. rate of blood flow thru lungs
- inc. pick-up of O2
- inc. O2 diffusion from alveolar air to blood
- blood flows thru more pulm capillaries: inc. surface area for O2 diffusion into blood
- O2 consumption, CO2 production, and ventilation inc.
