Respiratory System Flashcards
True or False: Type I pneumocytes are responsible for alveolar regeneration.
False, Type II pneumocytes handle regeneration and surfactant production.
What are the main functions of the respiratory system?
Smell, O2 and CO2 exchange, phonation.
Which immune cells are commonly found in the lamina propria?
Lymphocytes, eosinophils, macrophages, mast cells.
How does the epiglottis function in respiration?
It prevents food from entering the airway during swallowing.
How does smooth muscle contribute to bronchiole function?
It regulates airway diameter through contraction and relaxation.
Which part of the respiratory system has the highest resistance to airflow?
Bronchioles, due to their small diameter and smooth muscle regulation.
What are the functions of the paranasal sinuses?
Lighten the skull, warm and humidify air, contribute to voice resonance.
List the tissue layers of the trachea from innermost to outermost.
Mucosa, submucosa, cartilaginous layer, adventitia.
Explain the significance of the alveolar-capillary barrier.
It allows efficient gas exchange while preventing fluid leakage into the alveoli.
What structural adaptations help in air filtration in the nasal cavity?
Vibrissae (hair follicles) and sebaceous glands.
Fill in the blank: The trachea divides into the ______ at the carina.
Primary bronchi.
Why are the right and left primary bronchi different in size and orientation?
The right bronchus is wider and more vertical, making it more susceptible to foreign object aspiration.
What condition results from a deficiency of surfactant in newborns?
Neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (NRDS).
Explain the difference between the conducting and respiratory portions of the respiratory system.
The conducting portion conditions air (warming, moistening, filtering), while the respiratory portion facilitates gas exchange.
Explain the function of neuroendocrine cells in the respiratory system.
They regulate epithelial cell function.
List the structures that belong to the conducting portion of the respiratory system.
Nasal cavities, pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, terminal bronchiole.
How do infections affect the respiratory mucosa?
They can cause inflammation, excessive mucus production, and damage to cilia.
What are Clara cells, and what is their function?
Non-ciliated cells in the bronchioles that secrete surfactant and help regenerate bronchial epithelium.
Describe the role of the trachealis muscle.
It adjusts the diameter of the trachea to regulate airflow.
How does metaplasia affect the tracheal epithelium?
It leads to loss or reduction of cilia, thickening of the basal membrane, and increased goblet cell numbers.
True or False: The bronchioles contain cartilage.
False, bronchioles lack cartilage.
Why is the left lung smaller than the right lung?
To accommodate the position of the heart.
Fill in the blank: The nasal cavity is lined with ______ epithelium in the respiratory region.
Pseudostratified ciliated columnar.
What is the role of pulmonary surfactant in lung compliance?
It reduces surface tension, preventing alveolar collapse and making expansion easier.
