Respiratory System Part 1

Question 1

What type of mechanism are the lungs?

Answer 1

Defence mechanism

Question 2

What are the respiratory organs?

Answer 2

Lungs, epiglottis, trachea, bronchi, mouth, nose, larynx, pharynx

Question 3

What are some of the main functions of the respiratory system?

Answer 3

Moves oxygen from the outside environment into the body
Removes carbon dioxide and water from the body
Main site for gas exchange
Site for immune system reaction and functions- provides protection

Question 4

What do lung capacities and lung volumes refer to?

Answer 4

The volume of air in the lungs at different phases of the respiratory cycle

Question 5

What is the average total lung capacity for males and females?

Answer 5

Males= 6 litres
Females= 4-5 litres

Question 6

What is tidal breathing?

Answer 6

Breathing at rest

Question 7

What is tidal volume?

Answer 7

The volume of air that is inhaled or exhaled in only a single breath

Question 8

What is the average adult respiratory rate?

Answer 8

12-20 breaths per minute

Question 9

What is the average respiratory rate at birth?

Answer 9

3-60 breaths per minute

Question 10

What is the inspiratory reserve?

Answer 10

3100 ml
The amount of air a person can inhale forcefully after normal tidal volume inspiration

Question 11

What is the tidal volume?

Answer 11

500 ml

Question 12

What is the expiratory reserve volume?

Answer 12

1200 ml
The volume below the tidal end-expiratory level that can be forcefully expired from the lungs

Question 13

What is the residual volume?

Answer 13

1200 ml
The air that remains in the lungs after maximum forceful expiration

Question 14

What is the inspiratory capacity?

Answer 14

3600 ml
The maximum volume of air that can be inspired after reaching the end of a normal, quiet expiration
It is the sum of the TIDAL VOLUME and the INSPIRATORY RESERVE VOLUME

Question 15

What is the functional residual capacity?

Answer 15

2400 ml
The volume of air present in the lungs at the end of passive expiration

Question 16

What is the vital capacity?

Answer 16

4800 ml
The maximum amount of air that a person can exhale from their lungs after taking a deep breath
It is typically measured using a spirometer or vitalograph, and a normal, healthy adult has a vital capacity between 3 and 5 liters

Question 17

What is the total lung capacity?

Answer 17

6000 ml

Question 18

What happens during a spirometry test?

Answer 18

Measure of forceful expulsion of air
It is used to identify respiratory conditions such as asthma, pulmonary fibrosis, cystic fibrosis, and COPD by analyzing breathing patterns

Question 19

What happens when you breathe in?

Answer 19

Rib muscles relax
Diaphragm contracts
Air leaves the alveoli
Air moves between the chest wall and the lung

Question 20

What occurs during inspiration?

Answer 20

During inspiration (inhalation), the diaphragm and intercostal muscles contract

Question 21

What occurs during exhalation?

Answer 21

During exhalation, the intercostal muscles relax and the diaphragm domes upwards

Question 22

How does air move into and out of the respiratory system?

Answer 22

Pressure gradient

Question 23

What occurs during the mechanics of breathing?

Answer 23

Prior to breathing in: the diaphragm and intercostal muscles are relaxed

During inhalation (active): diaphragm contracts and flattens, intercostal muscles contract and rise, pressure in the lungs decreases so air rushes in

During exhalation (passive): diaphragm relaxes, intercostal muscles relax and fall, increasing pressure in the lungs so air is pushed out

Question 24

What does circulatory refer to?

Answer 24

The link between the heart and the lungs

Question 25

How are the respiratory and cardiovascular system linked?

Answer 25

Gas exchange at the lungs and in the body cells moves oxygen into cells (via blood stream) and carbon dioxide out

Question 26

Which structure is responsible for gas exchange in the lungs?

Answer 26

Alveoli, which are moist thin-walled pockets that are the site of gas exchange

Question 27

Why do the alveoli walls not collapse on themselves or stick together?

Answer 27

There is a slightly oily surfactant present

Question 28

What are the additional benefits of the alveoli?

Answer 28

Provide a larger surface area Thin walls= shorter diffusion pathway= increased rate of gas exchange Slightly oily so therefore will prevent friction and inflammation

Question 29

What is the respiratory surface made up of?

Answer 29

Alveoli and capillary walls

Question 30

What is significant about the respiratory surfaces' alveoli and capillary walls?

Answer 30

They share the same membrane

Question 31

How are the capillaries and alveoli adapted to improve efficiency?

Answer 31

The epithelium of the alveoli are 1 cell thick and so contain blood capillaries The blood capillaries have a small diameter and so only allow one red blood cell through at a time

Question 32

Where does blood enter the alveoli from?

Answer 32

The pulmonary artery and leaves via the pulmonary vein

Question 33

How do erythrocytes carry oxygen?

Answer 33

The oxygen associates with haemoglobin

Question 34

What happens to carbon dioxide in the blood?

Answer 34

Diffuses out and is then exhaled

Question 35

What is significant about the air entering the lungs?

Answer 35

The air entering the lungs has more oxygen and less carbon dioxide than the blood that flows in the pulmonary capillaries

Question 36

How does air enter the blood stream from the pulmonary capillaries?

Answer 36

Haemoglobin has a greater affinity for oxygen than the carbon dioxide and so will associate with the oxygen and allow oxygen to enter the blood stream Hb binds to the oxygen that diffuses into the bloodstream

Question 37

What are some of the benefits of haemoglobin being used to distribute oxygen in the body?

Answer 37

Controlled way of distributing oxygen in the body Prevents too much oxygen being taken up by cells and tissues which could then damage them Many haemoglobin molecules in a red blood cell, and each molecule has 4 binding sites for oxygen, therefore meaning that a large quantity of oxygen can be distributed

Question 38

What can carbon dioxide do in the body, but more specifically the cells?

Answer 38

Can dissolve in plasma, and approximately 70% forms bicarbonate ions

Question 39

What is dangerous about carbon dioxide?

Answer 39

Some carbon dioxide can bind to haemoglobin for transport

Question 40

How is carbon dioxide able to bind to haemoglobin?

Answer 40

Quicker/increased use of oxygen for cellular respiration Causes a shift in the diffusion concentration gradient Leads to an increase in carbon dioxide concentration Hb has a higher affinity for carbon dioxide than oxygen

Question 41

What does the Bohr's affect describe?

Answer 41

The oxygen binding affinity of haemoglobin

Question 42

What does a graph of the Bohr's effect normally show?

Answer 42

Oxygen transport Bound to Hb Myoglobin Different Hb forms

Question 43

How do cilia cells and mucus act as defence mechanisms for the respiratory system?

Answer 43

Cilia cells are finger like projections that help to waft things away Mucus helps to trap pathogens

Question 44

What are the components of the respiratory tract that act as the first line of defence?

Answer 44

Nasal hairs Mucus secretions Irregular chambers Cilia cells Cough reflex Specific immune cells

Question 45

How does the line of defence help the respiratory system?

Answer 45

Traps pathogens and triggers the immune response

Question 46

How do irregular chambers help defend the respiratory system?

Answer 46

Trap things/particles so as to prevent them from reaching the lungs

Question 47

How do cilia cells help to defend the respiratory system?

Answer 47

Cilia cells waft the mucus so that it can be coughed up and the trapped pathogens in the mucus are also expelled

Question 48

Why is a decreased cough reflex dangerous?

Answer 48

The person becomes more prone to respiratory conditions as the pathogens are not expelled

Question 49

What are the structures of small airways and alveoli?

Answer 49

Epithelial cells Alveolar macrophages Lymphocytes Immune factors

Question 50

What are the structures of the nasopharynx?

Answer 50

Squamous epithelial Nasal hairs Turbinates and mucosal lymphoid tissue Ciliated epithelium Mucus layer Immune factors

Question 51

What are the structures of the larynx?

Answer 51

Cords Epiglottis Cough reflex

Question 52

What are the structures of the trachea and bronchi?

Answer 52

Ciliated epithelium Mucociliary escalator Cough reflex

Question 53

What are the physical and physiological mechanisms regarding the respiratory system?

Answer 53

Humidification Particle removal Particle expulsion Respiratory tract excretions

Question 54

What is the benefit of humidification?

Answer 54

Prevents dehydration of the epithelium

Question 55

What is significant about particle removal?

Answer 55

90% of particles over 10um are removed in the nostril or nasopharynx – includes pollen, 5-10um become impacted in carina, smaller than 1um remain airborne. Thus particles between 1-5um capable of reaching lung

Question 56

What effects particle expulsion?

Answer 56

Coughing, sneezing or gagging

Question 57

Why is it important to remove respiratory tract excretions?

Answer 57

Mucus of resp tract is gelatinous substance mainly acid and neutral polysaccahrides, impermeable to water Floats on liquid ‘sol layer’ present around the epithelial cells/cillia Gel layer is secreted by goblet cells and mucous glands. Under normal conditions cillia in contact with gel blanket and movement helps to move mucous

Question 58

What properties of the particle that could determine the particle interaction?

Answer 58

Surface Volume Shape Density Aerodynamic diameter (Speed)

Question 59

What would happen if a particle is smoother?

Answer 59

The particle could get trapped further down

Question 60

What is an example of a therapeutic use of particles?

Answer 60

Asthma inhalers: theory of understanding as to inhaler techniques

Question 61

Why are carbon particulates hazardous to health?

Answer 61

The carbon particulates can bind to lungs and decrease lung volume

Question 62

What is one way that the number of harmful particles could be decreased?

Answer 62

By improving the air quality of external environments