The Respiratory System Flashcards
Nasopharynx
the “back of the nose and throat” that leads to the larynx
Larynx
Cartilaginous structure that contains the vocal folds
Trachea
Midline, non-paired conducting airway
Bronchi
Branching airways that contain variable amounts of cartilage
Bronchioles
Branching airways that lack cartilage but are surrounded by smooth muscle
Alveoli
Delicate, balloon-like structures that are the main sites of gas exchange
- Site of pulmonary microvasculature
How is air moved through conducting airways
The skeletal muscles change the volume of the thoracic cavity. This leads to a pressure change. Which leads to air movement through conducting airways
What are the conducting airways?
Everything from the Nasopharynx to the terminal bronchiole
what is the volume of the conducting airways?
Volume – 150 mL
the respiratory or “exchange” zone is?
Diffusion
The movement of gas is driven by ________
The movement of gas is driven by concentration gradients
The lungs are made up of
- conducting and exchanging airways
- pleural space
The ventilatory apparatus is made up of? (3)
- the lungs
- chest wall
- muscles (intercostals, scalenes, SCM and Diaphragm)
How does inspiration work?
- the external intercostals and diaphragm contract
- intercostals move up
- diaphragm descends with contraction - the volume of the thoracic cavity increase
- drop in intrathoracic pressure
- drop in pressure of the airspaces of the lungs
- movement of air from the atmosphere into the lungs
How does expiration work?
- diaphragm (rises) and external intercostals relax
- the volume of the thoracic cavity decreases
- the intrathoracic pressure increases
- airspaces of the lungs increase pressure
- movement of air from the lungs back to the atmosphere
How does the chest wall/diaphragm “connect” to the delicate lungs?
The Pleura/Pleural Cavity
- movements of the chest wall and diaphragm are “tied” to it
Does the pleural cavity have a large or small amount of fluid?
small - 10-20 ml
What does the fluid in the pleural cavity connect?
the chest wall and delicate alveoli
What do movements of the thoracic cage and diaphragm cause?
changes in the pleural cavity pressure which leads to changes in the alveolar pressure
How many lobes does the right lung have?
3
superior, middle, and inferior lobe
How many lobes does the left lung have?
2
superioer and inferiorer
Where is the fissure dividing the superior lobe from the middle lobe (anteriorly) located?
4th rib – 4th intercostal space
where is the bifurcation of the trachea located?
under the sternum close to the joint of the 3rd rib
- The inferior lobe airspaces descend from the _____ posteriorly to the _____ on deep
inspiration
10th & 12th
Role of Nasal cavity
Warming and moistening of air
Role of Larynx
Phonation (speaking) and protection of the airways from food/liquids
Fluid in the pleural space =
pleural effusion
Causes of unilateral pleural effusion
Cancer, infection (i.e. pneumonia), trauma
Causes of bilateral pleural effusion
- Congestion due to heart failure
- Bilateral infection, inflammation
What is consolidation
“Gunk” in the airways and
alveoli.
Why can you hear a patient speak more clearly while auscultating when they have consolidation?
Fluid in the airspaces transmits sound better than air
pathological fluid in large airways =
Coarse crackles
pathological fluid in small airways =
Fine crackles
When a small airway is narrowed or constricted you will hear a ______
wheeze
When a large airway is narrowed or constricted
stridor
a stridor sound is
louder, harsher sound on inspiration, sometimes on expiration
