The Human Respiratory System Flashcards
What is the role of the epiglottis?
Keeps food and liquid from getting into your respiratory system.
What is the role of the larynx?
Protect the lower respiratory tract from aspirating food into the trachea while breathing and contains vocal chordsfor function as a voice box.
What is the role of the trachea?
Carry air in and out of the lungs.
What is the role of the ribs?
Protects the organs in the thoracic cavity and assists in respiration.
What is the role of the intercostal muscles?
Provides assistance in exhalation and help in the movement of ribs while breathing.
What is the role of the pleural cavity?
This lubricated cavity allows the lungs to move freely during breathing.
What is the role of the pleural membrane?
Provides lungs with lubrication and the cushioning needed to inhale and exhale.
What is the role of the diaphragm?
Contracts and flattens when you inhale
What is the role of the bronchiole?
Air passages inside the lungs to deliver air to a diffuse network of alveoli.
What is the role of the bronchus?
Distributes the air throughout the lungs until reaching the respiratory bronchioles and alveolar sacs.
What is the purpose of the respiratory system?
To move fresh air into the body while removing waste gases.
What is inspiration?
Inhalation (breathing in)
What is expiration?
Exhalation (breathing out).
Describe the process of inspiration.
- External intercostal muscles relax
- Internal intercostal muscles contract
- Ribs moved downwards and inwards (diaphragm up) as a result
- Diaphragm muscles relax (diaphragm pushed up and abdomen in)
Describe the process of expiration:
- External intercostal muscles relax
- Internal intercostal muscles contract
- Ribs moved downwards and inwards (diaphragm up) as a result
- Diaphragm muscles relax (diaphragm pushed up and abdomen in)
What is ventilation?
The gaseous exchange between the air and the blood
Also due to air movements indirectly:
- Creates noise (speaking)
- Smell chemicals
What is rate of diffusion proportional to?
Surface area x difference in concentration / thickness of surface exchanged
What a the role of the pulmonary surfactant?
- Lowers the surface tension which is an attractive force between water molecules that would cause the alveolar walls to stick to each other
- This prevents alveolar collapse at the end of expiration due to repulsion of lipid molecules to water
- Surfactant also allows gases to dissolve so they can cross the lining of the alveoli
How is breathing rate increased/decreased?
- Basic rhythm of breathing is controlled by respiratory centres located in the brain stem.
- Build up of CO2 causes an equivalent build up of disassociated hydrogen ions (CO2 releases H+ ions when carried) which decreases the pH of the blood.
- pH sensors on brain stem instantly sense a fall in pH causing respiratory center to increase the rate and depth of breathing.
- Chemoreceptors in peripheral nervous system detect variation of the concentration of oxygen in the arterial blood to increase/decrease rate and depth of breathing.
How is breathing rate increased/decreased?
- Basic rhythm of breathing is controlled by respiratory centres located in the brain stem.
- Build up of CO2 causes an equivalent build up of disassociated hydrogen ions (CO2 releases H+ ions when carried) which decreases the pH of the blood.
- pH sensors on brain stem instantly sense a fall in pH causing respiratory center to increase the rate and depth of breathing.
- Chemoreceptors in peripheral nervous system detect variation of the concentration of oxygen in the arterial blood to increase/decrease rate and depth of breathing.
What do the pulmonary stretch receptors do?
They send signals to the brain through the vagus nerve which signals the diaphragm and acessory muscles to stop contracting.
What are the 3 types of lung disease?
Airway disease, lung tissue disease, lung circulation disease.
What does the airway disease affect?
The body’s ability to move air in and out of the lungs.
What does the lung tissue disease affect?
Damaged tissue from scarring or injury.
What does the lung circulation disease affect?
The circulation of blood to and from the lungs.
What are some examples of airway diseases?
Asthma, COPD, bronchitis, emphysema
What are some examples of lung tissue
Diseases?
Pulmonary fibrosis, sarcoidosis
What are some examples of lung circulation diseases?
Pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary edema
