Respiratory - The lung 2/2 Flashcards
How do the epithelial cells change as the cells get deeper into the reparatory tract?
They become shorter (i.e. go from columnar to cuboidal to squamous in the alveoli)
What is the purpose of the smooth muscle surrounding the bronchiole?
Can constrict or relax to control flow of air
What does the control of smooth muscle in the bronchiole make it?
The main controller of air flow
What happens in an asthma attack related to the bronchioles?
Asthma is when the smooth muscle in the bronchioles constrict
How can an asthma attack be alleviated?
With a bronchodilator (relaxes the smooth muscle)
What is a common bronchodilator?
Salbutamol
Label the diagram
What are alveolar sacs?
A group of alveoli
In the terminal bronchiole, is there gas exchange? Why?
No because the wall of the bronchiole is too thick to allow the diffusion of gases (i.e. gas exchange)
What are alveoli?
A group of alveolus
What are alveolus?
An individual air sac in the lung
Label the diagram
What is the function of the surfactant cells?
It secretes a surfactant that decreases the surface tension inside the alveolus
What is the advantage of secreting a surfactant inside the alveolus?
It prevents it from collapsing therefore reducing the work of breathing as it means the alveolus doesn’t have to re-inflate the cells every time you breathe
What is the function of the alveolar macrophage?
It is a last line of immune defence against any foreign bodies that get into the lungs
What is the location of the alveolar macrophage?
They move around so don’t have a specific position
Label the diagram
What is the diffusion barrier trying to do?
Trying to minimise its distance between the blood and air