The Respiratory System Flashcards
How is oxygen obtained in the body?
- is obtained from the air by diffusion across delicate exchange surfaces of lungs
- is carried to cells by the cardiovascular system which also returns carbon dioxide to the lungs
What the primary functions of the respiratory system?
- provides extensive gas exchange surface area between air and circulating blood
- moves air to and from exchange surfaces of lungs
What are the secondary functions of the respiratory systems?
- protects respiratory surfaces from outside environment
- produces sounds
- participates in olfactory sense
- acid-base balance
- body temperature regulation
What does the upper respiratory tract consist of?
upper respiratory tract (above the larynx): filter, warm and humidify incoming air
- nostrils
- nasal passages (nasal cavity)
- paranasal sinuses
- pharynx (throat)
- larynx (voice box)
What does the lower respiratory tract consist of?
from the larynx down:
- trachea (windpipe)
- bronchi
- bronchioles
- alveolar ducts
- alveoli (respiratory portion)
What does the respiratory tract consist of?
a conducting portion: from nasal cavity to terminal bronchioles
a respiratory portion: the respiratory bronchioles and alveoli
What is the respiratory mucosa?
lines conduction portion of respiratory system
is a mucous membrane, consists of:
- an epithelial layer: changes in structure along the respiratory tract from an pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium to a simple squamous epithelium
- an areolar layer
What is included in the respiratory defense system?
goblet cells and mucous glands:
- produce mucus that bathes exposed surfaces
cilia:
- sweep debris trapped in mucus toward the pharynx
filtration in nasal cavity:
- hairs removes large particles
alveolar macrophages:
- engulf small particles that reach lungs
Describe the nasal cavity:
air flow from vestibule to internal nares:
- through superior, middle and inferior meatuses
- produce air turbulence: warm and humidify incoming air and trap particles
mucous secretions from paranasal sinus and tears:
- clean and moisten the nasal cavity
superior portion of nasal cavity is the olfactory region:
- provides sense of smell
Describe the pharynx:
a chamber shared by the digestive and respiratory systems
extends from the internal nares to entrances to the larynx and esophagus
What are the divisions of the pharynx?
nasopharynx
- superior part
oropharynx
- middle portion; continuous with oral cavity
laryngopharynx
- inferior portion
- extends from hyoid bone to entrance to larynx and esophagus
Describe the larynx:
inhaled air leaves the pharynx and enters the larynx through the glottis
larynx:
- a cartilaginous structure that surrounds the glottis
-composed of three large cartilages (including epiglottis) and three smaller pairs of cartilage
epiglottis:
- during swallowing: the larynx is elevated and the epiglottis folds back over the glottis
- prevents entry of food and liquids into respiratory tract
Describe the glottis:
two pairs of folds span the glottis:
- the inelastic vestibular folds
- the more delicate vocal folds
air passing through the glottis vibrates the vocal folds, producing sound
Describe the trachea:
extends from the larynx to the primary bronchi
contains C-shaped tracheal cartilages:
- stiffen the tracheal walls and protect the airway
the posterior tracheal wall can distort to permit large masses of food to pass through the esophagus
Describe the primary bronchi:
trachea divides into left and right primary bronchi, which enters the lung
bronchial tree:
- is formed by the primary bronchi and their branches
as bronchi branch, the amount of cartilage in their walls decreases and the amount of smooth muscle increases
Describe the lung:
two functions:
- air distribution
- gas exchange
cone-shaped:
- hilus: where pulmonary nerves, blood vessels, and lymphatics enter lung
- the base: inferior positions of each lung rests on superior surface of diaphragm
- the apex: the tip
- the convex lateral surface
Describe the lobes of the lungs:
lungs have lobes separated by deep fissures
the left lung (two lobes):
- superior (cranial)
- inferior (caudal)
the right lung (three lobes):
- superior (cranial)
- middle
- inferior (caudal)
the lungs of a horse have no lobes
Describe the bronchial tree:
a primary bronchus branches to form a secondary bronchi (lobar bronchi)
- 1 secondary bronchus goes to each lobe
secondary bronchi branch to form tertiary bronchi (segmental bronchi)
- each segmental bronchus supplies air to a single bronchopulmonary segment
- 8-10 segments each lung in humans
each tertiary bronchus branches into 4th, 5th, and 6th order segmental bronchi and eventually multiple bronchioles
Describe the bronchioles:
bronchioles ultimately branch into terminal bronchioles
- each terminal bronchiole delivers air to a single pulmonary lobule
bronchiole structure
- have no cartilage
- are dominated by smooth muscle
autonomic control regulates smooth muscle
- controls diameter of bronchioles
- controls airflow and resistance in lungs
What is the relevance of asthma?
bronchial tree is overly sensitive to certain irritants –> bronchoconstriction
Describe the pulmonary lobules:
are the smallest compartments of the lung
each lobule receives an arteriole and a venule
within the lobule:
- each terminal bronchiole branches to form several respiratory bronchioles
respiratory bronchioles are connected to alveoli along alveolar ducts
What are the alveolus?
are air-filled pockets within the lungs
where all gas exchange takes place
a capillary network surrounds each alveolus
is surrounded by elastic fibers
alveolar epithelium:
- consists of simple squamous epithelium
- contains septal cells that produce surfactant
- patrolled by alveolar macrophages
Describe the respiratory membrane:
the thin membrane of alveoli where gas exchange takes place
3 parts of the respiratory membrane:
1. squamous epithelial lining of alveolus
2. endothelial cells lining an adjacent capillary
3. fused basal laminae between alveolar and endothelial cells
gas diffusion across respiratory membrane is very rapid
- because distance is small
- gasses (O2 and CO2) are lipid soluble
Describe the blood supply to the lungs
- by the pulmonary circuit
- the pulmonary arteries enter the lungs at the hilus and branch with the bronchi
- each lobule receives an arteriole and a venule
- a network of capillaries surrounds each alveolus
- the oxygenated blood from the alveolar capillaries passes through the pulmonary venules and then enters the pulmonary veins, which deliver it to the left atrium