Respiratory System Flashcards
1
Q
Alveoli
A
terminal air sacs that exchange gases with the blood
2
Q
Conducting passageways that purify, humidify, and warm incoming air
A
nose pharynx larynx trachea bronchi bronchioles lungs
3
Q
nose
A
- interior consists of nasal cavity divided by nasal septum
- mucus moistens air and traps incoming bacteria/debris
- cilia lined cells move mucus to pharynx where it’s swallowed and digested by stomach juices
4
Q
nasal cavity
A
- lateral walls are uneven bc of 3 conchae
- separated from oral cavity by palate
5
Q
conchae
A
- increases surface area that is exposed to air
- increases air turbulence (traps particles in mucous)
6
Q
hard palate
A
area supported by bone
7
Q
soft palate
A
unsupported posterior part
8
Q
sinuses location
A
- frontal
- sphenoid
- ethmoid
- maxillary
9
Q
sinuses function
A
- lighten skull and act as resonance chambers for speech
- produce mucus which drains into the nasal cavities (and tears from the lacrimal ducts)
10
Q
pharynx
A
- aka throat
- air enters nasopharynx then descends into oropharynx and laryngopharynx to the larynx below
- auditory tubes open to the nasopharynx, which causes a sore throat from ear infections
- contains the tonsils for protection
11
Q
larynx
A
- aka voice box
- routes air and food into the proper channels
- composed of hyaline cartilage and an elastic cartilage flap called the epiglottis
- contains the vocal folds or cords that vibrate when air is expelled, allowing us to speak
12
Q
what creates adams apple
A
thyroid cartilage
13
Q
epiglottis function
A
protects the superior opening of the larynx (prevents entry of food)
14
Q
trachea
A
- aka windpipe
- air travels down to 5th thoracic vertebra
- composed of c-shaped rings of hyaline cartilage allowing for the esophagus to expand with protection and support of the harder portion
- lined w/ ciliated mucosa that beat continuously in the opposite direction of the incoming air
- propels mucous away from the lungs to the throat where it is swallowed or spat out
15
Q
primary bronchi
A
- trachea splits into right and left primary bronchi
- right bronchus is wider, shorter, and straighter than the left(more common site for an inhaled object)
- incoming air is warm, cleansed of impurities, and well humidified
16
Q
lungs
A
- occupy the entire thoracic cavity except the mediastinum
- apex is deep to each clavicle
- broad lung area resting on diaphragm is base
- each lung is divided into lobes by fissures(left has 2 lobes, right has 3)
- surface of each lung is covered w/ pulmonary pleura
- walls of thoracic cavity are lined with parietal pleura
- produce fluid to reduce friction with expanding lungs
- bronchi continue to divide into lungs, creating bronchioles, lead to alveoli
17
Q
4 distinct events
A
- pulmonary ventilation
- external respiration
- respiratory gas transport
- internal respiration
18
Q
mechanics of pulmonary ventilation
A
- depends on volume changes occurring in the thoracic cavity
- respiratory gases conform to the shape of its container, filling the lungs (in large volume, particles are farther apart, and vice versa)
19
Q
pulmonary ventilation inspiration
A
- diaphragm and external intercostal muscles contract, the size of the thoracic cavity increases
- intercostals lift rib cage and moves sternum forward
- intrapulmonary volume increases, gases spread out to fill the larger space, producing vacuum
- vacuum sucks air into lungs until intrapulmonary pressure equals atmospheric pressure
20
Q
pulmonary ventilation
A
- as diaphragm and intercostals relax, rib cage descends and lungs recoil
- thoracic and intrapulmonary volume decrease
- pressure increases
- natural process unless asthma or respiratory disorders are present (leads to forced expiration)
