Respiratory System Flashcards
Cellular Respiration equation
o2 + glucose = co2 + h20 + energy
What is cellular respiration?
the process of breaking sugar into a form that the cell can use as energy. The process take in food and uses it to create ATP (chemical)
State the functions of this system?
The main function is gas exchange.
Homeostasis - maintains pH so blood doesn’t become acidic
Allows us to speak and smell
Define gas exchange
the delivery of oxygen from the lungs to the bloodstream, and the elimination of carbon dioxide from the bloodstream to the lungs and out of the body
What does this system do to maintain homeostasis?
maintains the pH so blood doesn’t become acidic and therefore dangerous
Where and how does gas exchange occur?
the air sacs of the lungs (the alveoli) by passive diffusion
What is passive diffusion?
movement of any substance to an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration
How does breathing aid gas exchange?
continually renewing the air in the lungs
How does perfusion (blood supply to the lungs) aid gas exchange?
Perfusion of the lungs aids gas exchange by removing blood rich in oxygen and supplying blood rich in co2.
Describe the 7 step repetitive process of gas exchange and transport around the body
1 - breathing 2 - gas exchange 3 - gas transport 4 - gas exchange backwards 5 - gas transport 6 - gas exchange 7 - breathing
Two lungs are enclosed within the…
thoracic cage
What does the thoracic cage hold?
ribs, sternum, vertebral column
How many lobes make up the left lung?
2 lobes
How many lobes make up the right lung?
3 lobes
Name the pleura membranes in the lung
‘visceral’ and ‘parietal’
The pleura is 1 membrane folded to create 2, that lines the lungs and the inside of the chest wall. True or False?
True
What does the visceral pleura do?
lines the lungs
What does the parietal pleura do?
lines the inside of the chest wall
The two pleura are continuous forming..
the pleural cavity
Tiny spaces in the the membranes is filled with lubricant called..
pleural fluid
What fluid lines the pleural cavity to allow the two layers to slide past one another when we breathe?
Serous fluid
What 3 things are in the upper respiratory tract?
Nose, Pharynx (throat), Larynx (voice box)
What 4 things are in the lower respiratory tract?
Trachea, Bronchi, Bronchioles, Alveoli
What is most of the airways lined with, apart from the alveoli (air sacs of the lungs)?
ciliated epithelium (epithelium = tissue)
What do goblet cells secrete?
mucus which traps dust particles
Describe inhalation of breath
- volume of chest capacity increases
- this causes the pressure to decrease
- air is drawn into the lungs
Describe the exhalation of breath
- volume of chest capacity decreases
- pressure increases
- air is pushed out of the lugs
How is oxygen transported in the blood?
Oxygen is carried by haemoglobin in red blood cells. Oxygen combines with haemoglobin to form oxyhemoglobin - this is a reversible reaction when the blood offloads the oxygen at organs/large tissues
How many oxygen molecules can be carried by haemoglobin?
4
State the 3 ways that carbon dioxide is transported in the blood
- gas dissolves in the plasma (10%)
- combines with haemoglobin forming carbaminohaemoglobin (30%)
- carried as a bicarbonate ion (charge particle) in the blood (60%)
When breathing what happens during inhalation?
nerve impulse are sent from respiratory centres (in the brain) to the diaphragm and external intercostal muscles which contract
When breathing what happens during exhalation?
the nerve impulses switch off, the diaphragm and external intercostal muscles relax, the passive recoil of lungs and chest wall bring about exhalation
What alters the regulation of breathing?
Chemoreceptors - nerve cells endings which detect the concentration of chemicals
Why is there a need for increased oxygen during pregnancy?
increased metabolic needs of the maternal body and veto-placental unit. Foetus and placenta as a whole new organ
Why does breathing become more thoracic rather than abdominal in pregnancy?
increased diaphragmatic movement
What is the effect of pregnancy progesterone on this system?
Increases ‘carbon anhydrase’ in red cells facilities co2 transfer. This creates a mild respiratory alkalosis (alkaline pH) which aids for gas exchange across the placenta
How does progesterone offer greater airway flow when pregnant?
Progesterone relaxes the muscles to decrease airway resistance (up to 50%) - reduces the work of breathing and facilities greater airway flow
How much does inhalation capacity increase throughout pregnancy?
300ml
How much does expiration capacity increase throughout pregnancy?
200ml
In pregnancy oxygen consumption increases by ….% and alveolar ventilation increases by ….%
16%
50%
