Respiratory System (Anatomy and Physiology) Flashcards
understand what the functions of the Respiratory Systems are:
-ventilation: breathing, movement of air into/out of lungs
-external respiration: exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the air in the lungs
-gas transport: oxygen and carbon dioxide travel in the blood to and from cells
-internal respiration: exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between blood and tissues
what structures (in order) make up the respiratory system?
nasal cavity, pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi and lungs
what makes up the upper respiratory tract?
external nose, nasal cavity, pharynx
what makes 3 things make up the nasal cavity?
superior, middle and inferior turbinates
what are the 3 regions of the pharynx and where are they located?
-nasopharynx: posterior to nasal cavity
-oropharynx: posterior oral cavity
-laryngopharynx: above the larynx
what makes up the lower respiratory tract?
larynx, tranchea bronchi and lungs
what are the cartilages within the larynx?
thyroid cartilage: think adams apple
cricoid cartilage: where the vocal cords attach
what is the epiglottis and its function?
cartilage flap that prevents swallowed material from backflow (coming back up)
what is laryngitis?
inflammation of the vocal cords caused by overuse, dry air or infection
force of air determines ________,
tension of the chords determines _________
loudness, pitch
TRUE or FALSE: when air moves past vocal cords, they vibrate and sound is produced?
TRUE
what type of epithelium is the trachea lined with?
ciliated pseudostratified columnar epithelium
TRUE or FALSE: smoking kills cillia
TRUE: so dont smoke lol
what is the primary bronchi lined with?
cilia
understand the basic pathway of lungs:
bronchi to bronchioles to alveoli
what is an asthma attack?
contraction of smooth muscle in terminal bronchioles leads to reduced air flow into the alveoli
why is the left lobe of the lung smaller than the right?
the heart sits in front of it!
what is the respiratory membrane?
where gas exchange between air and blood occurs
what cells can be found in the layers of the respiratory membrane?
endothelial cells and alveolar cells
what happens if the respiratory membrane gets smaller?
it makes it hard to diffuse gasses due to swelling and fluid buildup along the alveoli
QUESTION FOR MASTERS: what happens if the surface area of the respiratory membrane becomes smaller?
the lung capacity would decrease
what is the pleura?
double-layered membrane around lungs
what are the phases of ventilation?
inspiration: think breathe in
expiration: think breathing out
what is the function of the pleura?
maintain negative pressure to suction the lungs to the body wall
when the diaphragm contracts, air pressure in the alveoli does what?
decreases
(think about inverse relationship between air pressure and volume…when one is increased, the other is decreased)
understand the pulmonary volumes:
-tidal volume (TV): normal inhale
-inspiratory reserve volume (IRV): think deep inhale
-expiratory reserve volume (ERV): think sighhhhhh
-residual volume (RV): think when the wind is knocked out of you
what is the diaphragm innervated by?
the Phrenic Nerve
what is surfactant?
-liquid that surrounds the alveoli
-reduces surface tension
-keeps the alveoli from sticking together and collapsing
what are the 3 factors that influence the rates of gas diffusion through the respiratory membrane?
-partial pressure gradients of oxygen and carbon dioxide
-thickness of respiratory membrane
-surface area of respiratory membrane
in the tissue capillary beds, where would partial pressure of oxygen be greater?
the blood stream
in the tissue capillary beds, where would partial pressure of carbon dioxide be greater?
in the tissues
in the lungs, where is the partial pressure of oxygen higher?
in the alveoli
in the lungs, where is the partial pressure of carbon dioxide higher?
in the bloodstream
what can cause an increase in respiration rate?
decreases PO2 in the blood
