The Respiratory System Flashcards
Describe the position and structure of upper and lower respiratory tracts
Upper respiratory tract includes the nose, pharynx, and larynx.
The organs of the upper respiratory tract are located outside the chest cavity.
The lower respiratory tract consists of the trachea, bronchial tree, and lungs.
The organs of the lower respiratory tract are located inside the chest cavity.
Describe the process of normal respiration
Describe the gaseous exchange and discuss how gases are transported around the body
• air enters body through mouth or nose and quickly moves to pharynx then passes through larynx or voice box and enters trachea (strong tube that contains rings or cartilage that prevent it from collapsing
• within lungs, trachea branches into left and right bronchus. These divide into smaller and smaller bronchioles
• smallest bronchioles end in tiny air sacs called alveoli, they inflate when person inhales and deflate when person exhales
• during gas exchange, oxygen moves from lungs to bloodstream and at same time carbon dioxide passes from blood to lungs. This happens in lungs between the alveoli and the network of capillaries (tiny blood vessels) which are located in walls of alveoli.
• red blood cells travel through capillaries, walls of alveoli share membrane with capillaries (one cell thick to allow diffusion)
• this lets carbon dioxide diffuse, or move freely between respiratory system and bloodstream
• oxygen molecules attach to red blood cells which travel back to heart, same time carbon dioxide molecules in alveoli are blown out of body the next time a person exhales
• gas exchange allows body to replenish oxygen and eliminate carbon dioxide
• doing both is necessary for survival
Identify the following respiratory volumes and lung capacities: tidal volume, vital capacity, residual volume, Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR)
Describe what surfactant is and its role in the respiratory system
Explain how patients with respiratory conditions may present and appropriate nursing care
