Respiratory system function

Question 1

Carbon Dioxide Transport

Answer 1

• normal active body cells produce about 200ml CO2/min=amount excreted by lungs/min

Question 2

What are the three forms that CO2 is transported in?

Answer 2

1. Dissolved in plasma
2. Chemically bound to hemoglobin (carbaminohemoglobin): just over 20%
3. As bicarbonate ion in plasma: about 70%

Question 3

The process is reversed in the lungs

Answer 3

1. Dissolved in plasma: moves out
2. Bound to Hb: released and moves out
3. Bicarbonate ion: back into RBC, back to CO2 and H2O and moves out

Question 4

What is the influence of CO2 on blood pH?

Question 6

where are the neurons found that are a part of the respiratory system?

Answer 6

Medulla and pons

Question 7

The neurons found in the medulla and pons are responsible for what?

Answer 7

controlling respiration

Question 8

Ventral Respiratory group (VRG): network brain stem-upper end of spinal cord to pons/medulla junction

Answer 8

most responsible for controlling respiration/inspiratory center, responsible for the rate at which we breathe in and out

Question 9

Eupnea

Answer 9

The normal rate of breathing– 12-15 breaths/min

Question 10

Dorsal Respiratory group (DRG): cluster of neurons located dorsally near root cranial nerve IX

Question 11

Pacesetting respiratory center = ?

Answer 11

inspiratory center

Question 12

What is Depth determined by?

Answer 12

how actively respiratory center stimulate respiratory muscles

Question 13

Respiratory centers are affected by: (4)

Answer 13

1. Chemical factors
2. Influence of higher brain centers
3. Pulmonary irritant reflexes
4. Inflation reflex

Question 14

What is Rate determined by?

Answer 14

how long center is active

Question 15

Of the factors that affect the respiratory center, which one is the most important? and why?

Answer 15

Chemical factors
–> they change the

Question 16

What is this describing?

Most potent resp. stimulant and most closely controlled

Answer 16

CO2

Question 17

Hypercapnia

Answer 17

increased PCO2

Question 18

Hyperventilation

Answer 18

increased rate/depth of breathing that excees the body’s need to remove CO2

Question 19

Why is hyperventilation self-limiting?

Answer 19

ends when PCO2 back to normal

Question 20

What is PCO2?

Answer 20

Partial pressure Carbon Dioxide
–> the measure of carbon dioxide within arterial or venous blood.

Question 21

What does the P stand for in PCO2 and PO2?

Answer 21

Partial pressure

Question 22

What is Partial Pressure?

Question 23

Why do swimmers sometimes voluntarily hyperventilate?

Answer 23

This allows them to hold their breath longer. Causes a drop in PCO2,, which causes a delay in respiration, as PCO2 levels need to build back up
Can cause dangerous drops in PO2 levels

Question 24

What may cause hyperventilation?

Answer 24

anxiety attacks

Question 25

Hyperventilation may lead to?

Answer 25

decreased blood CO2 levels (hypocapnia)

Question 26

DRG

Answer 26

Not completely understood, it exists, but right now their exact function is unknown

Question 27

influence of arterial pH

Question 28

Hyperpnea

Answer 28

Physically more active–>

Answer 29

getting enough oxygen to the capillary beds, so the idea of inhaling pure oxygen is going to spread up the whole process is probably more of a placebo affect than actually working