Respiratory System Organization and Function

Question 1

What is the respiratory system responsible for?

Answer 1

Transport of O2 from air into the blood and removal of CO2 from the blood and into the air

Question 2

What are the 7 main functions of the respiratory system?

Answer 2

1. Provides O2 to blood
2. Removes CO2 from blood
3. Regulates [H+] (blood pH)
4. Speech
5. Microbial Defense
6. Influences arterial concentration of chemical messengers
7. Traps and dissolves small blood clots

Question 3

Where are the lungs located?

Answer 3

Suspended in the thoracic cavity, above the diaphragm

Question 4

What is the purpose of the diaphragm?

Answer 4

Skeletal muscle separating thoracic cavity from abdominal cavity.
-Main breathing muscle of the lungs

Question 5

What is the intrapleural space?

Answer 5

The space between the lungs and chest wall

Question 6

Why do the lungs have different lobes?

Answer 6

The left lung only has 2 lobes because the heart has a slight tilt to the left, pressing up against the left lung to form the cardiac notch

Question 7

What are the 2 membranes surrounding the lungs?

Answer 7

Visceral Membrane: Stuck to the surface of the lung

Parietal Membrane: Stuck to the chest wall and the top of the diaphragm
-both membranes connect before the primary bronchi

Question 8

What and where is the intercostal muscle?

Answer 8

2 sets of muscle between the ribs to allow the ribcage to expand and compress with breathing

Question 9

Why is the intrapleural space filled with a little bit of fluid?

Answer 9

To allow the lungs to slide against the chest wall, helps with breathing easily

Question 10

What are the rings around the bronchi?

Answer 10

Cartilage to prevent the trachea and bronchi from collapsing

Question 11

What makes respiratory bronchioles different from bronchioles?

Answer 11

Respiratory have less cartilage and made of more smooth muscle

Question 12

What are the 2 divisions in the lungs?

Answer 12

Conducting Zone

Respiratory Zone

Question 13

What is the alveoli duct?

Answer 13

Connects the aveolar sac to the respiratory bronchioles

Question 14

What is the function of the conducting zone?

Answer 14

To conduct air to and from the alveoli

To remove particles/microorganisms: cilia on endothelial cells sweep all together in a motion in which to push the particle/organism towards the mouth
-Bacteria are trapped in the mucos and cilia sweep it up towards the airway

Question 15

What is the function of the respiratory zone?

Answer 15

Respiratory bronchols start to see the presence of alveoli on the bronchioles

This is where gas is exchanged

The regulation of [H+] happens as the alveoli

Question 16

Where do the pulmonary capillaries originate from?

Answer 16

Pulmonary artery

-capillaries wrap around each alveoli

Question 17

Where does gas exchange take place in the alveoli?

Answer 17

At the blood gas barrier

-separates the blood in pulmonary cpaillaries from air in the alveoli

Question 18

What are the 3 type of cells that make up the wall of the alveoli capillary?

Answer 18

Type 1: Most of the cell is made up of these thin cells. Used for gas exchange

Type 2: Cube shaped are used for normal function and produce surfactant

Macrophage: Go around the cell picking up particles/microorganisms that have gotten past

Question 19

What is better for gas exchange, deep or shallow breaths?

Answer 19

Deep breaths because shallow will only fill the tubes of the conducting zone and air will not get the alveoli for gas exchange

Question 20

What is pulmonary ventilation?

Answer 20

The amount of air entering the entire lungs (both conducting and respiratory zones) in one minute

Question 21

How is pulmonary ventilation calculated?

Answer 21

Tidal volume (volume of air in 1 breath) x Respiratory rate (number of breaths per min)

Question 22

What is the alveolar ventilation?

Answer 22

The volume of air entering only the respiratory zone each minute

Question 23

What is the anatomical dead space?

Answer 23

The conducting zone which is a big area that is not involved in gas exchange

Question 24

What is the equation for alveolar ventilation?

Answer 24

Pulmonary ventilation - Anatomical dead space ventilation

Question 25

How do you measure dead space volume?

Answer 25

For a normal person in the upright position is = to their approx. body weight in pounds

Question 26

Why is the alveolar ventilation important?

Answer 26

Represents the volume of fresh air available for gas exchange