Respiratory System - Module 3 Flashcards
How is the Respiratory System divided?
- Upper Airway - extends from oral/nasal cavity to the bottom of the larynx (voice box)
- Lower Airway - extends from trachea to alveoli in lungs
How does air enter through the nose? What moistens/protects the nasal cavity?
- Through the nostrils and into the nasal cavity
- Nasal cavity is lined with mucous membrane and cilia (tiny hairs that moisten/filter air)
- Nasolacrimal ducts add moisture through draining tears from the eye and into the nose
How does air enter through the mouth?
- Air enters through mouth and into the oral cavity
- Tonsils at the back of the throat help resist infection
What are sinuses? What do they do?
Hollow spaces in the skull which connect to nasal cavity
- Filter air
- Regulate temperature before reaching lungs
- Give air a place to vibrate to augment vocal sounds (resonance)
What is the Pharynx? What are its parts?
The pharynx (throat) is located behind the nasal cavity and is divided into three sections:
- Nasopharynx - most superior and contains hard/soft palates
- Oropharynx - located in the middle and contains the base of the tongue, tonsils, and vallecula
- Laryngopharynx - most inferior and is the point where the esophagus (food pipe) and trachea (wind pipe) branch
the vallecula is the throat’s depression
What is the Epiglottis?
Small, leaf-like flap of tissue (at the bottom of the laryngopharynx) which closes when a person swallows to prevent food/liquid from entering air passages
What/where is the Larynx? What does it do?
The larynx (voice box) is below the epiglottis
- Contains vocal cords which produce (audio) sound when vibrated
- Contains thyroid cartilage (Adam’s Apple)
- Contains cricoid cartilage (only completely circular ring of cartilage in upper airway)
What/where is the Trachea? What does it do?
Marks the beginning of the lower airway (after larynx) which extends from cricoid cartilage to the carina (point of division into two bronchi)
- Passageway of air into lungs
- Front is compoed of rigid, C-shaped cartilage rings (which provide support)
- Back of trachea is completely visceral muscle
What are the Bronchi, Bronchioles, and Alveoli?
- Bronchi - branches of trachea into lungs (consists of right and left mainstream broncho) the right mainstream bronchus is shorter, wider, and more vertical than the left
- Bronchioles - Smaller, branched bronchial tubes within the lungs
- Alveoli - Tiny sacs at the ends of bronchioles where oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange occurs (surrounded by a web of capillaries)
How are the lungs structured?
- Separated by mediastinum (sect. which contains the heart, esophagus, and trachea)
- The right lung is divided into three lobes: superior, middle, and inferior
- The left lung is smaller to make space for the heart and is divided into two lobes: superior and inferior
What is pleura? What does it do?
- Thin, slippery double membrane
- Space b/w two layers contains pleural fluid to lubricate and reduce friction
How do the diaphragm and intercostals behave when inhaling and exhaling?
- When inhaling - diaphragm and intercostals contract
- When exhaling - diaphragm and intercostals relax
What is ventillation, inhalation, and exhalation?
- Ventillation - physical act of breathing w/ two phases (inhalation and exhalation)
- Inhalation - process of taking in air
- Exhalation - process of releasing air
What is internal and external respiration?
- External - first stage (transfer of o2/co2 into pulmonary bloodstream)
- Internal - second stage (transfer of gases b/w bloodstream and body cells through metabolism)
What percentage of inhaled air is oxygen? How much does our body use?
21% of inhaled air is oxygen, and only 5% is used by our bodies
