Respiratory System Flashcards
State the general function of the respiratory system.
the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the air and the blood
Name the parts of the upper repiratory tract.
- nose
- nasal cavities
- pharynx
- larynx
- upper trachea
Name the parts of the lower respiratory tract.
- lower trachea
- the lungs
- diaphragm
- intercostal muscles
What part of the upper respiratory tract is made of bone and cartilage, covered and skin, and contains hair to block the entry of dust and pathogens?
Nose
The nasal cavities are seperated by.
A bony plate made called the nasal septum.
Define nasal mucosa.
The lining of the nasal cavities that contain ciliated epithelium that producs mucus
Name the shelf like bones on the lateral wall of each nasal cavity.
Conchae
State the location of the pharynx and name its three parts.
Posterior to the nasal and oral cavities. nasopharynx oropharynx laryngopharynx
Air only can be passed through what part of the pharynx?
nasopharynx
Air and food can be passed through what parts of the pharynx?
oropharynx laryngopharynx
What two parts of the pharynx are part of the swallowing reflex?
oropharynx laryngopharynx
State the location of the laryngopharynx.
The most inferior part of the pharynx. Contains an anterior opening to the larynx and a posterior opening to the esophagus.
State the functions of the larynx.
- air passagway between the pharynx and the trachea
- epiglottis closes during swallowing
- contains the vocal chords
How many pieces of carilage is the larynx made of and name the largest?
9 thyroid cartilage
State the location and function of the epiglottis.
The uppermost piece of cartilage in the larynx. Closes during swallowing to prevent food and liquid from entering the airway.
Define glottis.
The opening in the larynx between the vocal chords.
Define pyriform fossa.
pockets on either side of the larynx
State the location of the trachea.
between the larynx and the primary bronchi
Describe the cartilage of the trachea and their purpose.
C shaped The gaps are located in back of the trachea to allow the esophagus to expand during swallowing.
All cilia in the respiratory sweep toward the…
pharynx
What two branches of the primary bronchi enter the lungs?
right and left primary bronchi
What is the point where the right and left bronchi split called?
carina, which is the last section of tracheal cartilage
State how the primary bronchus branch into smaller branches in the lungs.
pimary branch into secondary, three right and two left secondary branch into bronchioles, which contain no cartilage bronchioles terminate into alveoli, air sacs
State the location of the lungs.
- either side of the heart
- encircled by the rib cage
- on top of the diaphragm
- the apex is level with the clavicle
- contains alveoli
Describe the alveoli.
They are located in the lungs. Between the clusters of alveoli are elastic connective tissue, which is important for exhalation. They are surrounded by a network of pulmonary capillaries. They permit the diffusion of gases, oxygen and carbon dioxide.
State the pathway of the respiratory system in order of its structures.
- nose
- nasal cavities
- nasopharynx
- oropharynx
- laryngopharynx
- glottis of the larynx
- trachea
- right and left primary bronchi
- bronchioles
- alveoli
State the function of the conchae.
Increases the mucosal surface area which trap nongaseous particles.
State the function of the mucosa present in the respiratory tract.
- trap dust, bacteria, and other debris
* contains an antibacterial enzyme to destroy bacteria
Define surfactant and its purpose in the respiratory system.
A lipoprotein secreted by alveolar cells. It mixes with the tissue fluid of the alveoli and decreases surface tension, allowing the alveoli to inflate.
Describe how the vocal chords function.
During exhalation the muscles pull the vocal chords accross the glottis. The air vibrates the vocal chords to produce sound. Controlled by the vagus nerve.
State the role of the visceral and parietal pleura in respiration.
The serous fluid between them prevents friction and prevents seperation.
List the main muscles of respiration and their location.
- diaphragm - dome shaped muscle below the lungs
* intercostal muscles - between the ribs
Describe how respirations are regulated.
Through reciprocal inhibitions: During inhilation, baroreceptors detect strectching and the medulla begins depressing inhilation impulses. This process is called the Hering-Breuer reflex, which helps overinflation of the lungs. As inhilation impules are depressed, expiration impulses become more active, and so on…
How can regular respirations be affected?
- hypothalamus can modify output
* cerebral cortex can modify respirations, but the medulla will eventually resume control
Define hypoxemia.
decrease in blood level of oxygen
What effect does chemoreceptors, located in the aortic and corotid bodies, have on chemical regulation of the respiratory system?
They detect changes in blood gases(pH) and signal the medulla to increase respiratory rate or depth or both.
What effect does excess CO2 in the blood have on respiration?
Causes the body to be acidic, low pH. The medulla will respond by increasing respirations to blow of the excess CO2.
Exhaled air contains how much oxygen?
16%
What is the major regulator of respiration?
Carbon Dioxide - it effects the pH of the blood.
State the sequence of events of inhilation.
The diaphragm contracts expanding the chest cavity from top the bottom. The intercostal muscles pull the ribs up and out, expanding the chest cavity from side to side and front and back. The parietal pleura is expanded. Because of the serous fluid between the parietal pleura and the visceral pleura surronding the lungs, the lungs expand.
Describe the changes in air pressure during respirations.
The lungs expand causing a decrease in air pressure in the chest cavity. Air enters the body through the lungs to the alveoli until the pressure in the lungs equal atmospheric pressure. The diaphragm and intercostal muscles relax causing the chest cavity to become smaller. The pressure increases in the chest cavity forcing exhalation.
Is inhilation an active or passive process?
active
Is exhalation an active or passive process?
passive
Define Tidal Volume.
the amount of air involved in one normal respiration
Define Minute Respiratory Volume(MRV).
the amount of air inhaled and exhaled in one minute
Define Residual Air.
the amount of air that remains in the lungs after the most forceful exhalation
Define partial pressure.
The concentration of each gas in a particular site. Abbreviated as P. Measured in mmHg.
What is hemoglobin?
a protein in red blood cells allowing it to carry oxygen and carbon dioxide
Explain how diffusion of gases in external and internal respirations occur.
LOOK AT YOUR NOTES!
Explain how respiration affects the pH of certain body fluids.
Respirations regulate the amount of carbon dioxide in the fluids.
Define respiratory acidosis.
Occurs when the rate or effeciency of respiration descreases causing carbon dioxide to accumulate in body fluids.
Define respiratory alkalosis.
Occurs when the rate of respiration increases causing carbon dioxide to be rapidly exhaled.
How does the respiratory system respond to metabolic acidosis?
Increases rate and depth of respirations to exhale more carbon dioxide.
How does the repiratory system respond to metabolic alkalosis?
Decreases respirations to retain carbon dioxide.
