The Respiratory System Flashcards
1
Q
The respiratory system is divided into the upper and lower levels. What structures are included in the UPPER portion?
A
The nose and pharynx
2
Q
The respiratory system is divided into the upper and lower levels. What structures are included in the LOWER portion?
A
The larynx, trachea, bronchi, and the lungs
3
Q
Name the two zones of the respiratory system AND their structures and functions.
A
- The Conducting Zone: only involved in conduction. It warms, filters, and moistens incoming air. Structures include the nose, pharynx, larynx, bronchi, bronchioles, and terminal bronchioles.
- The Respiratory Zone: involves gas exchange. Structures include the alveolar ducts, alveolar sacs, alveoli, and respiratory bronchioles
4
Q
Which zone of the respiratory system is where gas exchange occurs?
A
The respiratory system!
5
Q
Where is the conchae located at?
A
In the nose
6
Q
What is the function of the conchae in the nose?
A
To increase surface area and create turbulence to fling out inflated particles and make them stick to the mucus membrane
7
Q
What are the three anatomical regions of the PHARYNX?
A
- Nasopharynx
- Oropharynx
- Laryngopharynx
8
Q
Which anatomical region(s) of the pharynx plays a role in digestion?
A
Oropharynx and laryngopharynx
9
Q
Why do we need to deliver oxygen (O2) to the lungs?
A
It’s important for cellular respiration: to make more ATP to support tissues during increased tissue activity.
10
Q
Carbon Dioxide (CO2) removal is important because
A
It prevents acidification: generates H+ when in solution
11
Q
Where are the vocal cords located in? What is the opening between the cords called, and what is it’s function?
A
The larynx, and the opening is the glottis where it prevents food and water from entering the trachea.
12
Q
What type of cartilage(s) does the larynx contain?
A
Thyroid cartilage (hyaline) that is hard and rigid for protection.
Epiglottic cartilage (elastic) that is bendy and flexible to prevent food and drink fluids from moving into the lungs.
13
Q
16-20 incomplete____provide structure to the trachea, they are connected at the tips by the______
A
tracheal rings, trachealis muscle
14
Q
An accidentally inhaled object would be more likely to get lodged in which primary bronchus?
A
The right primary bronchus
15
Q
The trachea divides into:
A
Right and Left primary bronchus
16
Q
Which bronchus is shorter and wider, and has 3 lobes?
A
The right bronchus
17
Q
Which bronchus has 2 lobes
A
The left bronchus
18
Q
Tertiary bronchi branch further into smaller and smaller bronchioles which are called_____and forms a______
A
terminal bronchioles, bronchial tree
19
Q
What is the last structure of the conducting zone?
A
The terminal bronchioles
20
Q
What are the FIRST structures of the respiratory zone and that can perform gas exchange?
A
The respiratory bronchioles
21
Q
What is the main site of gas exchange occurrence?
A
The ALVEOLI!!!!
22
Q
As one moves down the airways, the epithelial cells become taller or flatter?
A
flatter
23
Q
The amount of cartilage increases or decreases?
A
decreases
24
Q
The size of the airway becomes larger or smaller?
A
smaller
25
The total surface area of the airways increases of decreases?
increases
26
The serous membranes enclosing each lung are collectively called the
Pleural membrane or Pleura
27
The superficial layer attached to the thoracic wall is called the
Parietal pleura
28
The deep layer attached to the lung is called the
Visceral pleura
29
The small space between the parietal and visceral pleura is called the____and contains the _____
Parietal cavity, pleural fluid
30
What is the function of the pericardial sac/fluid?
It prevents friction as the lung inflates and deflates
31
The cells lining the alveoli include____which are the main sites of gas exchange. In addition_____cells are found here, involved in secretion of____ which reduces surface tension of the lung for easy inhalation.
Type 1 alveolar cells, Type 2 alveolar cells, surfactant.
32
What are the three steps of gas exchange?
Pulmonary ventilation (breathing), External (pulmonary) respiration, and internal (tissue) respiration
33
Define pulmonary ventilation
The exchange of air between the atmosphere and the lungs
34
Define external respiration
The exchange of gases between the alveoli of the lung and the pulmonary capillaries
35
Define internal respiration
The exchange of gases between the systemic capillaries and tissue cells
36
What is the end goal of gas exchange?
O2 delivery to the cells for aerobic metabolism, the most efficient way of ATP production, and elimination of CO2 produced during metabolism
37
What are the two phases of pulmonary ventilation? Define them.
Inspiration (inhalation)- the movement of air from the atmosphere to the lungs
Expiration (exhalation)- the movement of air from the lungs to the atmosphere
38
What does Boyle's Law state?
The pressure exerted by a gas in a sealed container is created by the collisions of gas molecules with each other and with the sides of the container.
39
Describe the process of inhalation using Boyle's Law
During inhalation, the pressure in the lung drops must be lower than in the atmosphere, resulting in the air moving into the lungs
40
Describe the process of exhalation using Boyle's Law
During exhalation, the pressure in the lungs must be higher than the pressure in the atmosphere, resulting in the air moving out of the lungs.
41
What are the three important pressures to consider in pulmonary ventilation? Describe these pressures.
Atmospheric pressure-which does not change unless the person changes altitude
Intra-alveolar pressure- which changes as lung volume changes
Intrapleural pressure- which normally is subatmospheric
42
Air always moves from areas of _____ air pressure to areas of____air pressure
higher, lower
43
The volume of the lung increasing leads to____pressure
lower
44
The volume of the lung decreases, leading to____pressure
higher
45
The volume of the lung increases when the volume of the thoracic cavity____. This happens when the diaphragm and external intercostals____.These two muscles are known as the major_____
Increases, contract, inspiratory
46
The process of inspiration is referred to as(n)____process because it involves______
active, active contraction of the inspiratory muscles
47
The process of expiration is referred to as(n)___process because it involves______
passive, passive recoil of the elastic lungs, no muscle contraction needed.
48
Sequence of events of inspiration:
_____of the inspiratory muscles causes a(n)____in the size of the thoracic cavity, causing a(n)_____in the size or volume of the lungs, leading to a(n)_____in pressure within the lung. This change in pressure causes air to move from_____to_____.
Contraction, increase, increase, decrease, the atmosphere, the lungs
49
Sequence of events of expiration during quite breathing
_____of the inspiratory muscles causes a(n)_____in the size of the thoracic cavity, causing a(n)_____ in the size or volume of the lungs (elastic recoil), leading to a(n)_____in intrapulmonary or intra-alveolar pressure. This change in pressure causes air to move from____to_____.
relaxation, decrease, decrease, increase
50
During forced breathing or during exercise the expiratory muscles (the_____ and_____) become activated to cause a further_____in lung volume and push more air out.
abdominals and internal intercostals, decrease
51
Immediately prior to inspiration, the Patm =____mmHg and the Palv =_____mmHg. During inspiration, the Patm =_______mmHg and the Palv =______mmHg
760, 760, 760, 758
52
As gases flow down pressure gradients, eventually the pressures equilibrate. What happens to airflow?
Airflow stops when there is no more pressure gradient
53
During expiration, the Patm =_____mmHg and the Palv =_____mmHg
760, 762
54
As gases flow down partial pressure gradients, eventually the pressures equilibrate. What happens to airflow?
Airflow stops when pressures equilibrate
55
What are the factors that affect pulmonary ventilation?
Airway resistance, lung elastance and compliance
56
Explain what airway resistance is
It depends on pressure differences and the resistance the air encounters. It can be adjusted by the neurons of the divisions of the autonomic nervous system, which is the sympathetic and parasympathetic.
57
Bronchodilation (relaxation of smooth muscle cells in the walls of bronchioles) or an increase in the radius of the airways, is be mediated by the_____division of the autonomic nervous system and will therefore increase airflow and decrease resistance
sympathetic
58
Bronchoconstriction (contraction of smooth muscle cells in the walls of bronchioles) or an increase in the radius of the airways, is be mediated by the_____division of the autonomic nervous system and will therefore decrease airflow and increase resistance
parasympathetic
59
Explain what lung elastance and compliance is
Elastance: the ability of the lung to elastically recoil during expiration
Compliance: the ability of the lung to stretch during inspiration
60
The steepness of the ____gradient between the atmosphere drives pulmonary ventilation.
pressure
61
A decrease in elastance will greatly affect_____
expiration
62
______(resulting form a thin layer of fluid lining the alveoli) can lower lung compliance
Surface tension
63
____is a detergent-like mixture released from____ alveolar cells
Surfactant, type 2
64
Surfactant can_____surface tension and therefore_____lung compliance
decrease, increase
65
A more compliant lung inflates_____easily
More
66
The respiratory control center (consisting of several clusters of neurons) is located in the brain, specifically the_____ and the____
medulla oblongata, pons
67
The RCC is where signals arise that eventually lead to the contraction of_____ muscles, like the diaphragm and external intercostals
inspiratory
68
Contraction of these muscles will expand the chest cage and ____lung volume. This, in turn, will ____the pressure in the lung to initiate______
increase, decrease, inspiration
69
Factors that can change the regular breathing pattern set by the RCC include input from the_____, which allows us to voluntarily change our breathing and chemical stimuli (CO2, O2, H+), which mediate their effects via____-receptors
cerebral cortex, chemo-receptors
70
Central chemoreceptors are located in the_____of the brain and constantly sample the____fluid. They closely monitor changes in blood____levels.
medulla, cerebrospinal, CO2
71
Peripheral chemoreceptors are located in the ____arch and ____arteries and monitor____,____, and _____ levels in the blood.
aortic, carotid, H+, CO2, O2
72
______is much more closely regulated than O2
CO2
73
Whenever CO2 levels in the body increase, ventilation is immediately____to eliminate the extra CO2 and prevent acidification
increased
74
____law states that each gas in a mixture of gases exerts its own pressure
Dalton's
75
The pressure of a specific gas in a mixture is called its______pressure
partial
76
To calculate the partial pressure of a gas, one would multiply the _____of the gas mixture by the ____of the mixture
percentage, total pressure
77
Gases always move from areas of______to_____partial pressure
higher, lower
78
_____law states that the quantity of a gas that will dissolve in a liquid is proportional to the partial pressure gradient and the______for the gas
Henry's, solubility
79
O2 is much____soluble than CO2 (it's transfer becomes problematic in conditions like edema)
less
80
Indicate the atmospheric PO2 and PCO2 at sea level
PO2=160, PCO2=0.3
81
Indicate the alveolus PO2 and PCO2 at sea level
PO2=100, PCO2=40
82
Indicate the arterial blood PO2 and PCO2 at sea level
PO2=100, PCO2=40
83
Indicate the venous blood PO2 and PCO2 at sea level
PO2=40, PCO2= 45
84
The exchange of gases between the alveoli and pulmonary capillaries is referred to as ______.
External respiration
85
In external respiration, O2 moves from_____to______and CO2 moves from_____to the_____ down their partial pressure gradients. The result of this is the conversion of ______blood into_____blood
alveoli to pulmonary capillaries, pulmonary capillaries to the alveoli, deoxygenated into oxygenated
86
The blood entering the pulmonary capillaries has a ____O2 (PO2 =____mmHg) and a ____CO2 (PCO2=____mmHg) content.
low: PO2=40mmHg, high: PCO2=45 mmHg
87
Because the PO2 in the alveolus is ____than the POS in the pulmonary capillaries, O2 will move from_____ to ______. At the same time, CO2 will move from_____to____ because the partial pressure of CO2 is_____in the______than the alveolus
higher, alveoli to pulmonary capillaries, pulmonary capillaries to the alveoli, higher, pulmonary capillaries
88
Blood leaving the pulmonary capillaries therefore has a ____O2 content and ____CO2 content. This blood is heading to the systemic capillaries via the____side of the heart
high, low, left
89
The blood entering the systemic capillaries has a_____PO2 and a_____PCO2.
high, low
90
At the arteriolar end of the systemic capillary the PO2=____mmHg and the PCO2 is____mmHg. O2 then moves from____to the_____down its partial pressure gradient. At the same time, CO2 moves from____to_____ down its partial pressure gradient.
PO2=100, PCO2=40 mmHg, systemic capillaries to the tissues, the tissues to the systemic capillaries
91
The blood leaving the systemic capillaries has PO2 of_____mmHg and a PCO2 of _____mmHg. This blood is headed to the pulmonary capillaries via the___side of the heart
PO2=40mmHg, PCO2=45mmHg, right
92
The respiratory membrane refers to the layers separating the_____of the lung from the____capillaries
alveoli, pulmonary
93
What are the layers of the respiratory membrane?
Type 1 alveolar cell, alveolar basement membrane, capillary basement membrane, endothelial cell of the pulmonary capillary
94
Factors affecting the rate of external respiration include:
partial pressure differences of gases, solubility of a gas, surface area available for gas exchange, and diffusion distance
95
Altitude would ______the partial pressure gradient for O2
decrease
96
The higher the solubility of a gas, the _____the rate of external respiration
greater
97
Which is more soluble? O2 or CO2?
CO2
98
In which clinical condition is the transfer of O2 inhibited due to its low solubility? Explain why.
In pulmonary edema, O2 diffusion is very limited because it has low solubility, and CO2 will be able to diffuse very quickly
99
An increase in diffusion distance will____the rate of external respiration
decrease
100
In the condition of fibrotic lung disease, the diffusion distance is______and gas is_____
increased, impaired
101
