The Respiratory System Flashcards
What is respiration?
Process of carrying oxygen to body cells and carrying carbon dioxide in the opposite direction
What is the larynx?
Our voice box, which contains our vocal chords
How is respiration involved with body temperature regulation?
- Inhaled air is warmed to prevent hypothermia
- Panting increases evaporation of fluids to cool circulating bloods
How is respiration involved in acid/base regulation?
Resp. System influences the rate of CO2 in the body depending on rate of breathing, the more co2, the lower the blood pH. The normal pH of blood is 7.4 (7.35-7.45)
What does the upper resp tract consist of?
nostrils, nasal passages, pharynx, larynx, trachea
Where does the nasal passage lie? What is the midline of the nostrils called?
Between the nares and and the pharynx. The midline of the nares is called the nasal septum
What’s the turbinates?
Divide nasal passage into 3. Ventral nasal meatus, middle nasal meatus and dorsal nasal meatus.
What is the nasal passages lined with? What’s it’s function?
Lined with pseudostratified columnar epithelium, blood vessels, cilia and mucus. The function of the n.p is to condition inhaled air (warming, humidifying, filtering)
What cartilage is the larynx made out of?
epiglottis, arytenoid cartilage, thyroid cartilage, cricoid cartilage. These are supported by the hyoid bone.
What’s the function of the epiglottis?
Covers the larynx during open for swallowing
Which cartilage is the vocal chords attached to?
The arytenoid cartilage, the muscle attached to the to cartilage adjusts the tension in chords
List some functions of the larynx
voice production, prevents inhalation of foreign matter, control of airflow to/from lungs
What is the trachea?
short, wide tube of fibrous tissue and smooth muscle held by cartilage rings
What’s the function of the cartilage rings along the trachea?
Prevents collapse during inhalation, also has cilia and mucous lining.
What is the lower resp. tract made up of?
bronchi, bronchioles, alveolar ducts, alveoli
What controls the diameter of the bronchioles?
The autonomic nervous system controls the diameter by adjusting muscle fibres in their walls..bronchodilation/bronchoconstriction
What are alveoli?
tiny, thin walled sacs surrounded by capillaries. External respiration takes place in alveoli
Where do the lungs lie?
On the caudal surface of the diaphragm. The area between the lungs is called the mediastinum
How many lobes are in each lung across species? Which species is an exception?
3 in the left, 4 in the right with the horse as an exception
Explain the pulmonary circulation
Deoxygenated blood enter the lungs from the right ventricle through the pulmonary artery, the vessels follow the bronchiole tree and subdivide, co2 and o2 are exchanged in the capillary network of alveoli
What does the mediastinum contain? what is it?
It’s the area of the thorax between the lungs, it contains the heart, trachea, oesophagus, blood vessels, nerves and lymphatic structures
What’s the diaphragm?
A thin sheet of skeletal muscle, dome shaped in relaxed state and moves upwards, flattens and moves downwards when muscle contracts
What is inspiration/inhalation?
Process of drawing air into the lungs, results from enlargement of the volume of the thorax
What is expiration/exhalation?
Process of pushing air out of the lungs, size of thorax decreased and lungs are compressed
What level of co2/o2 is in inhaled air vs blood entering capillary
Inhaled air: high o2, low co2
Blood entering capillary: high co2, low o2
What happens in alveolar gas exchange?
High level of o2 in air diffuses into blood where o2 is lower, high level of co2 diffuses into air where level is lower.
What levels are in exhaled air?
High co2, lower o2
Which part of the brain controls breathing?
The medulla oblongata which controls involuntary actions
