The Respiratory System Flashcards
What are the main functions of the respiratory system?
Supply the body with oxygen and to maintain the pH of body fluids
How many lobes are there in the right lung?
3 lobes, superior, middle and inferior
3- How many fissures are there in the right lung?
2 fissures, oblique and horizontal
How many lobes are there in the left lung?
2 lobes, superior and inferior
How many fissures in the left lung?
1 fissure, oblique
What makes up the upper respiratory tract?
The nose, nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses, pharynx and larynx
What makes up the lower respiratory tract?
The trachea, bronchi, bronchioles and the alveoli
What is the function of the conducting zone in the respiratory system?
Filters, warms and moistens air. Transmits air to and from the lungs
What is the function of the respiratory zone in the respiratory system?
Site of gas exchange
What are the functions of the nasal cavity?
Warm, cleanse and humidifies inhaled air. Resonating cavity to modify the voice.
Where is the pharynx located?
Extends from nose to the larynx in the upper respiratory tract
How many pieces of cartilage make up the larynx?
9.
What are the functions of the larynx?
To maintain an open airway and it has a switching mechanism to allow swallowing and coughing.
What is the role of cilia in the respiratory system?
To move mucus down to the laryngopharynx
Of bronchus and bronchioles, which lack cartilage and are microscopic?
Bronchioles
What is the blood supply to and from the lungs like?
Pulmonary arteries carry deoxygenated blood to the lungs to be oxygenated. Pulmonary veins carry oxygenated blood towards the heart.
What do the bronchial arteries do?
They supply lung tissue with blood but do not supply alveoli.
What is pulmonary ventilation?
The exchange of air between the atmosphere and the lungs
During quiet inspiration which muscles are used?
Diaphragm and external intercostals
What kind of process is quiet expiration? What is this process based on?
It is a passive process based on the elasticity of the lungs
Forced expiration uses which muscles?
Internal intercostals, oblique and rectus abdominis muscles (abdomen) and the quadratus lumborum
Where are most accessory muscles of inspiration found?
Neck and shoulder
How does movement of the chest wall help air enter and
leave the lungs?
Pressure differences between the atmosphere and the alveoli
What is atmospheric pressure?
The pressure exerted by the air or gases surrounding the body.
What does the intrapleural pressure do?
Prevents lungs from collapsing
During inspiration, what happens to the intrapulmonary pressure? Why does this happen?
Intrapulmonary pressure decreases during inspiration because the rib cage rises do the volume of the thoracic cavity and intrapulmonary volume increases so there is less pressure. Air will therefore enter the lungs down the pressure gradient until the intrapulmonary pressure is equal to atmospheric pressure.
During expiration, what happens to the intrapulmonary pressure? Why does this happen?
Intrapulmonary pressure increases during expiration as the rib cage falls to decrease the volume of the thoracic cavity and intrapulmonary volume decreases therefore the pressure increases to move air out of the lungs down the pressure gradient until the intrapulmonary pressure is zero.
What is meant by pulmonary compliance?
The ease with which the lungs can be expanded, healthy lungs are stretchy and are highly compliant.
What can reduce pulmonary compliance in the lungs?
Scar tissue in the lungs, blockage in small respiratory passages, alveoli collapse
With conditions such as pneumonia what happens to pulmonary alveoli? What happens as a result of this?
Alveoli walls are thickened by edema and there is fluid and blood in alveoli therefore it is more difficult to expand the lungs during inspiration
What happens to the alveoli in people with the condition emphysema?
The alveolar walls are destroyed and therefore the surface area for gaseous exchange is smaller. Reduces elasticity of the lungs and no recoil
What are some of the contributing factors that cause emphysema?
Smoking, pollutants, industrial dust etc
During inhalation, what happens to the resistance to air flow and why?
Resistance to airflow decreases because the bronchioles are widened
During exhalation, what happens to the resistance to air flow and why?
Resistance to air flow increases as the diameter of the bronchioles decreases.
What regulates the diameter of the airways?
Contraction and relaxation of smooth muscle in the airways
98.5% of oxygen is transported in the blood bound to haemoglobin, how is the other 1.5% carried?
Dissolved in plasma
Name the factors that can affect the affinity of haemoglobin for oxygen
CO2, temperature, pH, structure of haemoglobin
How does adult haemoglobin differ to foetal haemoglobin in terms of affinity for oxygen?
Adult haemoglobin has a lower affinity for oxygen
What is the main way that carbon dioxide is transported around the body?
As bicarbonate HCO3- in blood plasma
What is the relationship between ventilation rate, depth and CO2?
.
Ventilation rate and depth increases when CO2 increases
