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PA10315 > The respiratory system > Flashcards

The respiratory system Flashcards

1
Q

What is the upper repiratory tract important in?

A

Producing sound, humidifying and warming air, defence (mucus and cilia) and sensory functions.

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2
Q

What is the lower respiratory tract involved in?

A

Gas exchange, defence functions and metabolic functions.

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3
Q

What is the upper respiratory tract made up of?

A

The nasal cavity, pharynx and larynx.

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4
Q

What is the lower respiratory tract made up of?

A

The trachea, primary bronchi and lungs.

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5
Q

What is the larynx?

A

A cartilage structure that is used to generate different sounds and tones.

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6
Q

What is the pharynx?

A

It has respiratory and digestive functions - involved in swallowing but also allows the movement of air from the mouth and nose to the larynx.

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7
Q

What is the structure of the trachea?

A

It is made up of rings of cartilage interspersed with connective tissue and smooth muscle.

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8
Q

What is the parenchyma?

A

The functional unit of the lung where gas exchange takes place.

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9
Q

What is the conducting zone?

A

The tubes/airways outside of the lung (extrapulmonary)

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10
Q

What are the lung branches called?

A

Bronchioles. These are small bronchi.

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11
Q

What is the equation for airway resistance?

A

1/conduction.

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12
Q

What is airway resistance proportional to?

A

1/radius^4.

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13
Q

What are the largest contributors to the airway resistance?

A

The conducting zone bronchioles.

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14
Q

In what diseases is the airway resistance increased?

A

Asthma.

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15
Q

What happens in asthma?

A

There is narrowing of the airway that results in a thickened airway wall. There is also increased mucus, contributing to the narrowed airway.

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16
Q

What type of epithelium does the bronchi have?

A

Ciliated, goblet and glandular.

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17
Q

What type of epithelium do the bronchioles have?

A

Ciliated, non-ciliated, goblet and club cells.

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18
Q

What type of epithelium does the alveoli have?

A

Squamous and cuboidal.

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19
Q

What are club cells?

A

A different type of secretory cell.

20
Q

What are the airways made up of?

A

Goblet cells, a mucus blanket, basement membrane and cilia.

21
Q

What do sensory afferent nerves link?

A

They are from the airway epithelium and smooth muscles to the brain.

22
Q

What do autonomic fibres link?

A

The glandular epithelium and smooth muscle from the CNS.

23
Q

What autonomic fibres are involved in airway innervation?

A

Autonomic fibres to glandular epithelium and smooth muscle from the CNS. There are parasympathetic branches of the vagus nerve (excitatory and inhibitory) and there is very little sympathetic innervation.

24
Q

What are beta adrenoceptors on the airway smooth muscle stimulated by?

A

Circulating adrenaline.

25
Q

What is the respiratory unit made up of?

A

A network of airways and airsacs (500 million) to maximise the surface area.

26
Q

What is the surface area of the alveoli?

A

80 metre squared.

27
Q

What are the alveoli lined with?

A

Pneumocytes - type I is squamous and there is also a type II.

28
Q

What makes up the lung parenchyma?

A

The terminal bronchiole, respiratory bronchiole, alveolar duct and pulmonary arteriole and pulmonary vein.

29
Q

What characteristics does the type I alveolar epithelial cells have?

A

A very large surface area, cover 95% of the alveolus and 10% of all the cells. They are squamous and are involved in gas exchange.

30
Q

What are the characteristics of type II epithelial cells?

A

They are cuboidal, secrete surfactant and they are precursors for type I.

31
Q

What is surfactant made up of?

A

Lipid (90% - mostly phospholipid) and proteins such as SP-A, -B, -C and -D.

32
Q

What is the purpose of surfactant?

A

It reduces the surface tension to prevent alveolar collapse (atelectasis) and they provide an immunity function.

33
Q

What is Infant Respiratory Distress Syndrome?

A

A syndrome in which babies do not produce surfactant. They can be given it artificially in the form of Beractant or Pumactant.

34
Q

What is the difference between Beractant and Pumactant?

A

Beractant is from animals whereas Pumactant is synthetic and lipid only.

35
Q

When does the lung epithelium develop in pregnancy?

A

In the last trimester.

36
Q

How is maturation of the lung epithelium stimulated?

A

Corticosteroids.

37
Q

How is the fluid in babies lungs emptied at birth?

A

There is a surge in corticosteroids and catecholamines and an activation of absorptive channels such as epithelial sodium channels (ENaC). There is also pressure changes.

38
Q

What are the two blood supplies to the lungs?

A

The pulmonary circulation and bronchial circulation.

39
Q

What are the characteristics of the pulmonary circulation?

A

There is low oxygen but high flow and low pressure. Capillaries pass around the alveoli and the pulmonary vein returns oxygenated blood to the left side of the heart.

40
Q

What are the characteristics of bronchial circulation?

A

The blood is from the aorta (left ventricle) and is under high pressure. It supplies oxygen and nutrients to the conducting airways and is not involved in systemic respiration processes. It accounts for only 2% of the cardiac outflow.

41
Q

What is ventilation?

A

The movement of air from the environment into the lungs.

42
Q

How is breathing neuronally controlled?

A

Levels of oxygen in the blood is detected and in the brain. Signals can be sent back to override these signals consciously if you want to hold your breath.

43
Q

How does muscle innervation occur?

A

please look at this again

44
Q

What are the internal intercostal responsible for?

A

Forced exhalation.

45
Q

What are the external intercostal muscles involved in?

A

Forced and quiet inhalation.

PA10315 (47 decks)

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