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1808 - Human Anatomy and Physiology > The Respiratory System > Flashcards

The Respiratory System Flashcards

1
Q

The respiratory system consists of the head, neck, trunk and lungs. What are the 4 primary functions of these passageways?

A
  1. Movement of air - air is transported from the external environment to air sacs
  2. Gas exchange (O2 and CO2) - this occurs between the alveoli and the capillaries of the pulmonary circuit
  3. Detection of odours - olfactory receptors located in the nasal cavity detect odours in air as it passes by them
  4. Production of sound - vocal cords, located in the respiratory system produce sound when air moves across them
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2
Q

What are the 2 main structures of the respiratory system? And what do they consist of?

A
  1. Upper respiratory tract: nose, nasal cavity and pharynx
  2. Lower respiratory tract: larynx, trachea, bronchi, bronchiole, alveolar ducts and alveoli
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3
Q

What are the 4 steps in the Respiration Process?

A
  1. Pulmonary Ventilation (breathing): movement of air in and out of lungs
  2. External Respiration (alveolar gas exchange): gas exchange between lungs and blood
  3. Gas Transport: movement of gas through the circulatory system
  4. Internal Respiration (systemic gas exchange): gas exchange between systemic blood vessels and cells
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3
Q

What are the 5 functions of the nasal cavity?

A
  1. Warms air due to rich blood supply close to surface
  2. Mucus moistens air & traps inhaled dust
  3. Cilia move mucus towards pharynx (clearance)
  4. Vibrissae (nose hairs) help filter air
  5. Sense of smell - olfactory region
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4
Q

What are the Paranasal Sinuses? And what do they do?

A

The hollow sections within the skull bones that open up into the nasal cavity via ducts
Trap particles, and are swept up by cilia into nasal cavity then pharynx

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5
Q

What does the pharynx do?

A

Serves as passageway for food and air, acts as resonating chambre for speech production and provides protection

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6
Q

What are the 3 primary functions of the larynx?

A
  1. Allow air into airway
  2. Allow drink into airway
  3. Produces sound
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7
Q

What are the 4 cartilaginous components of the larynx?

A
  1. Thyroid cartilage (Adam’s apple)
  2. Epiglottis: bends to cover entry into larynx so food/drink do not enter it
  3. Cricoid cartilage
  4. Arytenoid, cuneiform and corniculate
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8
Q

What are the 4 sections of the bronchial tree in order from largest to smallest?

A
  1. Main bronchi
  2. Lobar bronchi
  3. Segmental bronchi
  4. Smaller bronchi
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9
Q

How do the right and left lung differ from each other? And why do they differ?

A
  1. Right lung is longer and wider
  2. Right lung is divided by two fissures (or grooves) into three lobes, whereas the left lung is divided by only one fissure into two lobes
    Left lung’s relative position to the heart
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10
Q

The pleura is a serous epithelial membrane surrounding the lungs. It contains 2 layers. What are they called?

A
  1. Visceral Pleura: covers the lungs
  2. Parietal Pleura: lines the ribcage and covers upper surface of diaphragm
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11
Q

Explain the Respiratory Zone.

A

This is where gas exchange occurs. Begins with the respiratory bronchioles, which divide into alveolar ducts that are surrounded by alveolar sacs. The individual alveoli are surrounded by elastic fibres (to assist with expiration) and an extensive capillary bed to facilitate gas exchange.

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12
Q

The alveoli are bubble-like air sacs composed of simple squamous epithelium where gas exchange take place. What are the 3 main cell types?

A
  1. Alveolar Epithelial Cells: squamous cells that line alveoli
  2. Surfactant Secreting Cells: secrete alveolar fluid containing surfactant that assists with lung expansion
  3. Alveolar Marcophages: remove inhaled particles & other debris

Note: any type of macrophages act as the “cleaner” cell!

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13
Q

What are the 3 gas laws?

A
  1. Boyle’s Law
  2. Dalton’s Law
  3. Henry’s Law
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14
Q

Explain Dalton’s Law.

A

Pressure of a gas is defined as the force exerted by the gas on a surface
Gives an indication of the concentration or amount of gas

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15
Q

Explain Henry’s Law.

A

The movement of gasses between a gas (air) and a liquid (blood)
The exchange between the two states (gas and liquid) is determined by the partial pressure of the gas and its solubility coefficient in the liquid.

16
Q

Explain Boyle’s Law.

A

The process of pulmonary ventilation or breathing is governed by changes in volume and pressure of the pleural cavity and lungs
An inverse relationship between the volume and pressure of an enclosed space
A constant temperature a decrease in the volume results in an increase in the pressure and vice versa

17
Q

What are the 2 phases of Pulmonary Ventilation (breathing)?

A
  1. Inspiration (inhalation)
  2. Expiration (exhalation)
18
Q

What are the 4 steps of Inspiration?

A
  1. Diaphragm contracts and flattens; the external intercostals pull the rib cage up and out.
  2. The volume of the thoracic cavity expands, expanding the volume of the lungs.
  3. The increase in volume causes the intrapulmonary pressure to decrease.
  4. Air rushes into the lungs from high pressure to low pressure.
19
Q

What are the 4 steps of Expiration?

A
  1. The diaphragm relaxes; the external intercostals relax allowing the rib cage to move down and in.
  2. The volume of the thoracic cavity and lungs decreases.
  3. The decrease in volume causes the intrapulmonary pressure to increase.
  4. Air rushes out of the lungs from high pressure to low pressure.
20
Q

What are the 2 portions of the Respiratory Centre?

A
  1. Medullary Respiratory Centre Group: located within the medulla oblongata
  2. Pontine Respiratory Centre: located within the pons
21
Q

Control of breathing is another example of a homeostatic mechanism. Explain the negative feedback process.

A
  1. Increase in arterial PCO2 or decreasing PO2 leads to stimulation of chemoreceptors.
  2. Impulses (afferent pathway) travel into respiratory centre (control centre)
  3. Respiratory centre stimulates muscles of respiration (effectors) to contract more frequently & forcefully
  4. Increases pulmonary ventilation and gas exchange between alveolar air and blood
  5. PCO2 decreases and PO2 increases
    This, for example, occurs during physical activity when muscle tissue consumes oxygen and generates more carbon dioxide
22
Q

Explain Spirometry.

A

Volume of air that moves into and out of the lungs can be measured using a specialized instrument called a spirometer
Allows for diagnosis of respiratory impairment and assessment of treatment effectiveness over time

23
Q

What are the 4 main Respiratory Volumes measured in Spirometry? And what do they represent?

A
  1. Tidal Volume (TV): amount of air inhaled or exhaled during quiet breath
  2. Inspiratory Reserve Volume (IRV): amount of air inhaled during forced inspiration
  3. Expiratory Reserve Volume (ERV): amount of air exhaled during forced expiration
  4. Residual Volume (RV): amount of air left in lungs after forced expiration
24
Q

What are the 4 Respiratory Capacities? And what do they represent?

A
  1. Inspiratory Capacity: total ability to inspire
  2. Functional Residual Capacity: amount of air normally left in lungs
  3. Vital Capacity: measure of the amount of air the lungs are capable of holding
  4. Total Lung Capacity: total amount of air that can be in lungs
25
Q

A Vitalograph is a kind of respiratory assessment which provides an indication of force and speed of expiration. What are the 2 measurements and 1 calculation found during this assessment? And what do they represent?

A
  1. FVC (Forced Vital Capacity): total volume of air forcibly expelled from lungs following forced inspiration
  2. FEV1 (Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 sec): volume of air expelled from lungs in first second of FVC
  3. FEV1% = FEV1/FVC: volume of air expelled from lungs in first second as a % of the FVC
26
Q

Explain the differences between Restrictive and Obstructive Respiration. And provide examples.

A

Restrictive: smaller lung capacity, lower reserve volume, lower compliance, higher recoil
E.g. Pulmonary Fibrosis, Obesity, Scoliosis
Obstructive: greater lung capacity, higher reserve volume, higher compliance, lower recoil
E.g. COPD, Asthma, Cystic Fibrosis

27
Q

What is the physiological process of maintaining Alveolar Gas Exchange called?

A

Ventilation-Perfusion Coupling

28
Q

Explain Ventilation-Perfusion Coupling.

A

Ventilation of the alveoli is altered through contraction and relaxation of smooth muscles within the airway, resulting in bronchoconstriction and bronchodilation.
Perfusion is altered through vasoconstriction and vasodilation of the pulmonary arterioles.
Increased in pCO2 causes bronchioles to dilate, to help release the excess carbon dioxide, while a decrease in pCO2 causes the opposite effect.
Increased pO2 and constrict in response to decreased pO2, as there is less oxygen available to be “picked up”.

29
Q

Gas exchange are influenced by 2 main chemical principles. What are they?

A
  1. Each gas moves independently down its own Partial Pressure Gradient
  2. The movement of gas from air to liquid is influenced by its solubility, or ability to dissolve in liquid

Note: go more into depth about gas exchange AND gas transport!

1808 - Human Anatomy and Physiology (3 decks)

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