Respiratory System (II) Flashcards by Jennifer Lyons

What are the 9 functions of the respiratory system?

Upon inhalation, draw air into lungs for O₂
To transfer O₂ from air into bloodstream
Acid/base regulation
Humidification of inspired air
Thermoregulation
Defense against environmental contaminants
To provide sensory input via olfactory cells
Communication
To assist in defecation and parturition

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What “sweeps” away particles?

Ciliated mucosa

Cilia

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Body loses heat by…

Exhaling hot air to cool body

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Blood takes CO₂ to _____ to become expired

Alveoli

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What traps contaminants (bacteria and allergens)?

Mucus

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What makes up the roof of the mouth?

Hard palate and soft palate

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Acts as a gate and needs to be strong

Epiglottis

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What’s the function of the epiglottis?

Closes off trachea when swallowing and holds down soft palate when breathing. Does not close off esophagus

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What warms the air?

Concha

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What does the trachea have that keeps it open all the time and prevents it from collapsing?

Cartilage rings

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What’s the function of the pharynx?

Allows communication between the posterior nares and the larynx.

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How big is the pharynx in the adult horse?

15cm

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What are two things that can happen when food enters the trachea?

Asphyxia and Pnemonia

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_____ are holes in the skull. Makes the skull lighter.

Sinuses

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Paralysis usually in the left arytenoid cartilage

Laryngeal hemiplagia

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The laryngeal hemiplegia is idiopathic. Meaning?

No one knows the cause

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This disease involves the epiglottis. Some horses have a weak epiglottis and their soft palate displaces and goes up which hinders _____.

Dorsal displacement of the soft palate

Hinders breathing

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Horses have about _____ branches before arriving at alveoli

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Which are the smallest blood vessels?

Capillaries

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There’s smooth muscle around _____, _____ and _____.

Trachea, bronchi and bronchioles

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Irritants causes muscles to _____

Contract

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What happens when you breathe in cold air?

Bronchial constriction

Why do alveoli and capillaries have such thin membranes?

To diffuse CO₂ and O₂

This muscle is extremely important for breathing

Diaphragm

The thoracic cavity has _____ atmospheric pressure which keeps the lungs open all the time.

Negative

What happens when thoracic cavity is punctured?

Lungs collapse

The diaphragm contracts to _____ the pressure. This makes the pressure more _____ and draws air \_\_\_\_\_.

Decrease the pressure; more negative; draw air in

The diaphragm separates the _____ and \_\_\_\_\_.

Thoracic and abdominal cavity

The pleural space outside of the lungs aims to

Reduce friction

What shape does the diaphragm have?

Dome shape

The left lung has an area where

The heart rests

You can condition the circulatory system, but not the respiratory system. The nose and trachea have

A maximum amount of oxygen they can bring in

Horses can be conditioned to utilize oxygen better by way of \_\_\_\_\_. _____ can strengthen, too.

Skeletal and heart muscles

Air in the trachea is more turbulent. Why?

There is **less area** for it to go through

The air is more placid when it reaches the lungs because there is an increase in

The area - necessary for gas exchange

Can the trachea expand?

No. Only one size!

What are the parts of the upper airway?

Nose, pharynx, larynx

What are the parts of the lower airway?

Tracheobronchial tree (trachea, bronchi, bronchioles) and alveoli

Gas exchange in the \_\_\_\_\_

Alveoli

The upper airway _____ and _____ the air. Provides \_\_\_\_\_% of the resistance to air flow.

Warms and humidifies. 60%

Horses are obligate nasal breathers. This means what?

During exercise, horses cannot use their mouths to breathe - they have to breathe through their nose.

How can nasal resistance be decreased during exercise?

Flaring of nares and vasoconstriction of vascular tissue in nose

Lungs have a compliance which means...

They have a certain extent to which they can expand and elasticize

What is the limiting factor once a horse reaches peak performance?

Respiratory tract

Nasal cavity, pharynx and larynx contribute \_\_\_\_\_% airway resistance Trachea, bronchi and bronchioles contribute \_\_\_\_\_%

Upper = 50-70% Lower = 30-50%

What is the limiting factor for tidal volume in performance horses?

Nasal cavity

Tidal volume is like a tidal wave. It is the volume of air in each \_\_\_\_\_

Breath

What is the tracheobronchial tree lined by?

Secretory ciliated epithelium

Trachea and bronchi are supported by cartilage to prevent \_\_\_\_\_

Collapsing

Trachea and bronchi have specialized cells to secrete

Mucus

Tracheobronchial tree is a branching system that delivers air to \_\_\_\_\_. Horses have _____ branches. Humans have 24.

Alveoli 40

Laminar airflow in bronchioles is _____ for gas exchange. What's it cause?

Slow; produces no sound so you cannot hear normal lung sounds with a stethoscope

Smooth muscles actively regulates _____ in response to stimuli.

Airway diameter