Respiratory system - Gas Exchange Flashcards
What is the trachea lined with?
Ciliated epithelium cells with goblet cells
What are the goblet cells for?
To produce mucus to trap cells
Describe the alveolar ducts
No cartilage or ciliated epitherlium
What is gas exchange?
Movement of respiratory gases in and out of the body tissues
What causes a larger concentration gradient at alveoli?
High concentration of O2 than in blood
Blood flow in capillary brings de-oxygenated blood low O2 but high in CO2
Ventilation brings air rich in O2 to remove CO2
What makes alveoli have a large surface area?
Millions alveoli
Rounded shape
More gas exchange at one time
What makes alveoli have a thin and permeable surface?
Layer moisture
Squamous endothelial cells
Short distance between alveoli and capillaries
What is ventilation?
Movements that cause air to flow in and out of the respiratory system
What kind of process is ventilation?
Active process
What happens to the diaphragm an E,I,M during inspiration?
Contract
What happens when the diaphragm contracts?
Flattens
What happens to the E.I.M when they contract?
Ribs move up and out
What happens to the volume of thorax during inspiration?
Increases
What happens to the pressure in the alveoli and thorax during inspiration?
Decreases
What happens to the diaphragm and E.I.M during expiration?
Relaxes
What happens to the diaphragm when it relaxes?
Domes
What happens to the E.I.M when it relaxes?
Ribs move in and down
What happens to the volume in the thorax during expiration?
Decreases
What happens to the pressure in the alveoli and thorax during expiration?
Increases
How does air move during expiration?
Forced out
What happens during strenous exercise with expiration?
Internal intercostal muscles are used to move ribs down rapidly
What is tidal volume?
The volume of air a human breaths in and out of their lungs at each breath when at rest
What is inspiratory reserve volume?
The maximum volume of air that can be taken in above tidal volume
What is expiratory reserve volume?
The maximum amount of air that can be breathed out above tidal volume
What is residual volume?
The volume of air remaining in lungs after each breath
What is vital capacity?
The volume of air exchanged at a deep breath - sum of tidal volume, IRV and ERV
What is total lung volume?
Vital capacity + residual volume
What 2 ways can the respiratory system can be monitored?
Peak flow and spirometry
What is peak flow used to measure?
The force with which a person can exhale
What is the scale for the peak flow?
Litres of air per minute
How is the peak flow used?
Set scale to 0
Hold horizontally
Sit up and take deep breath
Seal lips
Breath out fast and hard
3x repeat
Highest value recorded
How does peak flow change with aging?
Decreases as elasticity in lungs decrease
How does peak flow change with height?
Increases
What is the average peak flow of a 35 yr old male?
625 l min-1
What is the average peak flow of a 35 yr old female?
430 l min-1
What is spirometry used to measure?
Tidal volume
Breathing rate
Inspiratory and expiratory reserves
How is the spirometre used?
Nose is sealed
Sit up and deep breath
Seal mouth on mouth piece
Breath out
Fast and Long
Repeat 3x
Average
What causes cystic fibrosis?
Recessive genetic mutation
What does this mutation is CF impact protein?
The protein called CFTR chnages so unable to transport chloride ions properly
Why is a CF sufferer tired?
Less aerobic respiration so less ATP produced so no energy
What is the difficulty with thick sticky mucus with regards to breathing?
It increases the diffusion distance so gas exchange is slower
Why is a CF sufferer breathless?
Less O2 enters the blood
What kind of condition is emphysema?
Progressive
What causes emphysema?
Exposure to tobacco smoke or toxic chemicals
How does emphysema impact the bronchioles?
Collapse them so air traps in alveoli
What happens to the alveoli when the bronchioles collapse?
Unable to recoil efficiently and cannot expel air fully so alveoli over-expand and rupture
What happens to the amount of alveoli in emphysema?
Fewer
How is air space in alveolous with emphysema?
Larger air space
How is surface area with emphysema?
Reduced so gas exchange is slower so less oxygenated blood
Symptoms of emphysema?
Shortness of breath
Hyperventilation
Expanded chest
What does COPD stand for?
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
What are the two types of CODP?
Emphysema and Chronic Bronchitis
What causes chronic bronchitis?
Long term exposure to tobacco smoke and air pollution
What is inflammed with chronic bronchitis?
The lining of the bronchi
What encourage bacteria growth with chronic bronchitis?
Over-production of mucus which restricts movement
Why is there less O2 with chronic bronchitis?
Reduced diffusion gradient so less gas exchange
How does respiration change with exercise?
Increases
How does exercise impact pH?
Reduces it as more CO2
What detects change in pH in blood?
Chemoreceptors in aorta or carotid artery
Where do the detectors of change send impulses?
Medulla
Where does the medulla send impulses and to do what?
Respiratory centre to cause more contraction of diaphragm and intercostal muscles
What do more impulses cause in the respiratory system?
Increase depth of breathing to remove CO2
