Respiratory System** Flashcards
Smallest conducting respiratory passageways
Bronchioles
Separates the oral and nasal cavities
Palate
Major nerve that stimulates the diaphragm
Phrenic nerve
Food passageway posterior to the trachea
Esophagus
Closes off the larynx during swallowing
Epiglottis
Windpipe
Trachea
Actual site of gas exchange
Alveoli
Pleural layer covering the thorax walls
Parietal pleura
Pleural layer covering the lungs
Visceral pleura
Lumen of the larynx
Glottis
Fleshy lobes in the nasal cavity which increase its surface area
Conchae
Pressure of air outside the body
Atmospheric pressure
What is the general function of the respiratory system?
Transport gases to and from the circulatory system
Exchanges gases
Respiration
Breakdown of glucose in the body using oxygen
Cellular respiration
How many lobes does the right lung have? Left?
3; 2
A double membrane surrounding the lungs; secretes a mucus that decreases friction
Pleura
Why are ribs expandable?
They aren’t completely ossified
What are the 7 openings in the throat cavity?
1 to esophagus, 1 to larynx, 1 to mouth, 2 nasal passages, 2 eustachian tubes
What are the functions of the nostrils?
Filter out dust, warm and moisten air
What are the 3 actions to inspiration?
Ribs expand, diaphragm down, pressure decreases
What are the 3 actions to expiration?
Ribs contract, diaphragm up, pressure increases
What is the regular breathing rate?
12-24 breaths/minute
What controls your breathing rate?
Medulla
How does high levels of carbon dioxide affect your breathing rate?
Causes you to inhale and exhale faster
What is the respiration flow?
Nose/throat, larynx, trachea, bronchi, bronchioles, alveoli, blood, cells
Tiny sacs where oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged
Alveoli
Maximum amount of air that the lungs can hold
Maximum lung capacity
Maximum amount of air that a person can inhale/exhale
Vital lung capacity
What are the percentages of nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon dioxide that you inhale?
78%, 21%, .04%
What are the percentages of nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon dioxide that you exhale?
78%, 15%, 5-6%
What makes up the upper respiratory tract?
Nose, nasal cavity, sinuses, pharynx
What makes up the lower respiratory tract?
Larynx, trachea, lungs, bronchial tree
Divides the nasal cavity
Nasal septum
Bones that curl out of the lateral walls of the nasal cavity
Nasal conchae
What are the functions of the nasal conchae?
Support the mucus membrane and increase surface ares
Reduce the weight of the skull and are resonant chambers that affect the quality of the voice
Paranasal sinuses
What is the function of the false vocal cords?
Close airway during swallowing
Common passageway for food traveling and air passing; aids in producing sounds for speech
Pharynx
What is the function of the true vocal cords?
Vibrations between these produce sound waves
Triangular slit where air passes through
Glottis
Why are the cartilage rings around the trachea incomplete?
Prevents the trachea from collapsing and blocking the airway
What keeps the alveoli from sticking to each other?
Surfactant
The measurement of different air volumes
Spirometry
Amount of air that leaves the lungs in one respiratory cycle
Tidal volume
During forced inspiration, an additional volume can be inhaled into the lungs
Inspiratory reserve volume
Volume that can be exhaled during forced breathing in addition to tidal volume
Expiratory reserve volume
Volume that remains in lungs after maximal expiration
Residual volume
How do you find the vital capacity?
Tidal volume + inspiratory + expiratory
How do you find the inspiratory capacity?
Tidal volume + inspiratory
Maximum volume of air that can be inhaled following exhalation of tidal volume
Inspiratory capacity
Volume of air that remains in lungs following exhalation and tidal volume
Functional residual capacity
How do you find the functional residual capacity?
Expiratory reserve volume + residual volume
Total volume of air the lungs can hold
Total lung capacity
What are 3 things that can affect breathing?
Chemicals, lung tissue stretching, emotional state
Breathing can also be called _________
respiration
What happens to the internal volume and pressure of the thorax, the size of lungs when the diaphragm is contracted?
Increase, decrease, increase
What is the direction of the air flow when the diaphragm contracts?
Goes into the lung
What happens to the internal volume and pressure of the thorax and the size of the lungs when the diaphragm is relaxed?
Decrease, increase, decrease
What is the direction of the air flow when the diaphragm is relaxed?
Out of lung
Lack or cessation of breathing
Apnea
Normal breathing in therms of rate and depth
Eupnea
Labored breathing or air hunger
Dyspnea
Chronic oxygen deficiency
Hypoxia
Condition characterized by fibrosis of the lungs and an increase in size of the alveolar chambers
Emphysema
Increased mucus production, which clogs respiratory passageways and promotes coughing
Chronic bronchitis
Respiratory passageways narrowed by bronchiolar spasms
Asthma
Incidence strongly associated with cigarette smoking
Lung cancer
Infection spread by airborne bacteria; a recent alarming increase in drug users and AIDS victims
Tuberculosis
