Respiratory System Flashcards
Alveoli
terminal air sacs that exchange gases with the blood
Conducting passageways that purify, humidify, and warm incoming air
nose pharynx larynx trachea bronchi bronchioles lungs
nose
- 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
nasal cavity
- lateral walls are uneven bc of 3 conchae
- separated from oral cavity by palate
conchae
- increases surface area that is exposed to air
- increases air turbulence (traps particles in mucous)
hard palate
area supported by bone
soft palate
unsupported posterior part
sinuses location
- frontal
- sphenoid
- ethmoid
- maxillary
sinuses function
- lighten skull and act as resonance chambers for speech
- produce mucus which drains into the nasal cavities (and tears from the lacrimal ducts)
pharynx
- 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
larynx
- 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
what creates adams apple
thyroid cartilage
epiglottis function
protects the superior opening of the larynx (prevents entry of food)
trachea
- 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
primary bronchi
- 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
lungs
- 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
4 distinct events
- pulmonary ventilation
- external respiration
- respiratory gas transport
- internal respiration
mechanics of pulmonary ventilation
- 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)
pulmonary ventilation inspiration
- 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
pulmonary ventilation
- 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)
nonrespiratory air movements
- cough
- sneeze
- crying
- laughing
- hiccups
- yawn
cough
taking a deep breath, closing glottis, forcing air superiorly from lungs against glottis;glottis opens suddenly and blast of air rushes upward
sneeze
expelled air directed through nasal cavity as well as through oral cavity
crying
inspiration followed by releasing air in a number of short expirations
hiccups
sudden inspirations resulting from spasms of diaphragm; believed to be initiated by irritation of diaphragm or phrenic nerves
yawn
very deep inspiration, taken with jaws wide open; not believed to be triggered by levels of oxygen or co2 in blood
tidal volume
amount of air moved into and out of lungs with each breath(normal breathing)
inspiratory reserve volume
amount of air that can be inhaled after initial breath
expiratory reserve volume
amount of air that can be exhaled after normal expiration
spirometer
tests respiratory functioning and possible diseases
bronchial sounds
air rushing through passageway
vesicular breathing sounds
air fills alveoli
external respiration
- gas exchanges occur following law of diffusion
- movement of gases between alveoli and bloodstream
- always more o2 in alveoli than in blood
- tissue cells release co2 into blood to carry to alveoli
gas trasnport
- o2 is transported in blood either attached to hemoglobin or dissolved in plasma
- co2 is transported either as bicarbonate ions or inside rbcs
- to diffuse from blood into alveoli, must be released from bicarbonate ion form, so combines w/ hydrogen ions to form carbonic acid then splits to form water and co2
internal respiration
- co2 diffuses out of tissue into blood
- combines w/ water to form carbonic acid, releasing bicarbonate into blood plasma
- o2 is released from hemoglobin out of blood into tissue cells
control of respiration
- neural impulses
- physical factors
- conscious control
- emotional factors
- chemical factors
neural impulses
- caused by phrenic and intercostal nerves within the medulla and pons
- exercise increases our respiration pattern
hyperpnea
increased depth of breathing when required to meet metabolic demand of body tissues
physical factors
- increased body temp increases breathing rate
- nonrespiratory movements
conscious control
singing, talking, swimming
-respiratory centers will eventually ignore messages
emotional factors
-hypothalamus causes changes from emotional stimuli such as fear or trauma
chemical factors
o2 and co2 levels in blood determine breathing w/ decreased blood ph
- hyperventilation
- hypoventilation
hyperventilation
blood pH becomes acidic and body needs to rid co2 by blowing it out
hypoventilation
blood pH is too basic then breathing becomes slow and shallow (accumulate co2 in blood)
emphysema
alveoli enlarge, causing fibrosis of lungs and airways collapse
chronic bronchitis
mucosa becomes inflamed with pooled mucous, causing infections and pneumonias
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- aka copd
- patients have history of smoking, dyspnea occurs and becomes progressively worse, coughing w/ frequent infections are common, and most copd victims are hypoxic and develop respiratory failure
- caused by emphysema and chronic bronchitis
apnea
cessation of breathing until co2 builds back up in the blood
cyanosis
breathing stops for a period of time due to insufficient o2 in blood
hypoxia
inadequate o2 delivery to body tissue (bluish skin)
carbon monoxide poisoning
co binds to same site as hemoglobin and out crowds o2
study development
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