Respiratory System Flashcards
Functions of the upper respiratory tract
receive air and filter/condition air
upper respiratory tract organs
nose, nasal cavity, sinuses, pharynx
functions of lower respiratory tract
transport and gas exchange
organs of lower respiratory tract
larynx, trachea, bronchial tree, and lungs
nose characteristics related to function
nostrils lined with hair, take in air and trap large particles
nasal cavity function and features
conditions air y adding moisture and bring it to body temperature
nasal conchae trap particles and increase surface area
mucous membrane trap particles and adds moisture to air
Sinuses : functions and characteristics
have mucous secretions
help w/ sound quality
help reduce weight of skull
pharynx
functions: helps in speech production, aids in transport, shared passageway btwn respiratory and digestive system
what are the 3 regions of the pharynx
nasopharynx - nasal cavity enter the top of the pharynx
oropharynx - behind oral cavity
larynopharynx - pharynx connects to larynx
larynx functions
structure
functions: air transport, keeps foreign objects out of trachea
3 large unpaired cartilages and 2 small unpaired cartilages
- thyroid, cricoid, epiglottic
-arytenoid, corniculate, cuneiform
trachea structure
flexible cylindrical tube, lined in a mucus membrane (mucus escalator)
made of C shaped cartilages to prevent collapse and allow for expansion
bronchial tree structure
main bronchi - lobar bronchi 3 on right/2 on left - segmental bronchi - terminal bronchiole - respiratory bronchiole – alveolar duct - alveolar sac
bronchial tree tube function
transport w/ very little filtration
alveoli function
gas exchange; give lungs larger surface area
lungs structure
soft and spongy
right - 3 lobes
left -2 lobes (heart takes up space)
define ventilation
combination of inspiration and exhalation
diaphragm - muscle used in ventilation
inspiration
increase volume of lungs - pressure decreases
exhalation
decrease volume of lungs - pressure rises
list some other air movements, define
coughing - removes substance from trachea, involuntary
sneezing - remove substance from nasal cavity
laugh/cry - breath released in series of short expirations used to express emotions, generally voluntary
hiccup - diaphragm spasm
yawn
how is ventilation controlled?
controlled by respiratory areas in brain, groups of neurons that adjust breathing to meet the body’s needs
Define Medullary Respiratory center and VRG/DRG
respiratory area in brain
ventral respiratory group - sets basic breathing rhythm
dorsal respiratory group - stimulates inspiratory muscles
alveolar pores
gaps in membranes that connect alveoli; allow air to pass btwn alveoli
alveoli:
type 1 cells
type II cells
make up alveoli membranes; simple squamous epithelial
secrete surfactant; reduces surface tension; prevents collapse
alveolar macrophages
phagocytotic cells remove debris
what does the oxygen saturation curve measure
how much O2 is bound to hemoglobin
what factors effect O2 saturation curve?
CO2 - if increased– curve decreases bc O2 will want to move into tissues/other parts of body
temperature - if lower temp then curve decreases due to same reasons as CO2
pH - if pH decreases then curve will decrease
what are the 3 ways CO2 is transported?
- dissolved w/in blood
- carbaminohemoglobin –CO2 attaches to an amine group on hemoglobin
- bicarbonate ion –70% of CO2 transported this way
