Theme 1: The Respiratory System Flashcards
What is the respiratory system?
- allows air to pass to gain oxygen
- allows us to breath out co2
- all body systems requires o2 to produce energy (atp) as well as getting rid of metabolic waste
- is linked to the cardiovascular system
What is the concentration of o2 in the air?
21%
What are the key structures of the respiratory system?
The tracheobronchial tree.
The diaphragm.
The alveoli
The larynx
The pharynx
The epiglottis
Our respiratory defence mechanisms
What are the 2 different parts of the respiratory system?
Upper respiratory tract - nasal cavity, oral cavity, larynx, pharynx, epiglottis and upper trachea
Lower respiratory tract - lungs, lower trachobronchial tree and the diaphragm
Label this
A - upper respiratory tact
B - nasal cavity
C - pharynx
D - Larynx
E - lower respiratory tract
F - Trachea
G - primary bronchi
H - Lungs
What are paranasal sinuses
They are hollow spaces in the bones around the nose, there are 4 different sinuses
- The frontal
- Maxillary
- Ethmoid
- Sphenoid sinuses
What is the role of the paranasal sinuses
To provide hollow spaces which lighten the head
Humidify and warm the air to stop airways drying out
Increasing resonance of voice
What is the pharynx? What are the three sections?
Muscular structure that connects the mounts to aid digestion and respiration
the throat
3 sections
1. Nasopharynx - responsible for moving particles trapped in mucus + helps with mucus removal + connected to Eustachian tubes and keeps the pressure equal + connected to tonsils
- Oropharynx - faces the oral cavity + has lingual tonsils
- Laryngopharynx - lies adjacent to the hyoid bone, which opens to the oesophagus and larynx.
What is the larynx?
The primary function of the larynx is to protect the trachea and lungs from inhalation of food and drink when swallowing.
Other functions also include our vocal ability, as well as helping us with airway clearance through coughing and sneezing.
Made up from two parts -> the epiglottis and the thyroid and cricoid cartilage
What is the epiglottis?
Is a cartilage flap that is find that is found behind the tongue
It’s primary function is to protect the trachea from inhaling food and drink
This causes the epiglottis to move down and shut over the larynx. When we have finished swallowing, the epiglottis reopens when the larynx moves back down and the pharynx retains it’s shape.
What is the glottis?
The glottis sits underneath the epiglottis and is made of a pair of mucus membranes called vocal folds.
- detects foreign particles and triggers a cough to prevent them entering trachea
What is the cartilage of the larynx?
Covered in cartilage called hyaline cartilage
- thyroid cartilage is the large structure which covers the front of the larynx (is to protect the vocal cords)
- cricoid cartilage is ring of hyaline canticle that is attached to trachea at the inferior end (to support vocal stability and support epiglottis)
Label this image of the lungs
A - superior lobe
B - middle lobe
C - inferior lobe
D - trachea
E - superior lobe
F - main (primary) bronchus
G - lobar (secondary) bronchus
H - segmental (tertiary) bronchus
I - Cardiac notch
J - inferior lobe
What are lungs?
Major organ in respiratory system
Is responsible for ensuring gaseous exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide
Lungs are split into lobes, which contain alveoli which have a unique blood network (separated by pulmonary fissures)
Lobe are important as if one collapses due to infection ie that it would still have lobes.
- left lung has 2 lobes
- right lung has 3 lobes (due to left having heart there)
Lungs are coated with costal surface which are rounded to compensate for the structure of the rib.
The hilum of the lungs is where the bronchus, pulmonary vessels, nerves and lymphatic vessels enter each lung. As mentioned before, the hilum sits in the the superior mediastinum.
What is the tracheobronchial tree consist of?
Trachea, bronchus and bronchioles
What is the trachea? What is the bronchioles? What are the bronchus?
Trachea > Joins the larynx to the bronchus of the lungs
Bronchus > joins the trachea to the bronchioles
Bronchioles > that split from bronchus that have its own network of avioli
What is the epithelia layer of the trachea made of?
Ciliated columnar epithelial cells.> move mucus out of airways
Goblet cells. > produce mucus
What trigger to increase the diameter of the airways?
The trachea and bronchus contain receptors = beta 2 adrenergic receptors that trigger the sympathetic nervous pathway to increase the diameter of the airways
What is the tracheobronical tree important to have knowledge of?
If an infection is in different parts of the tree it will alter the management of the chest infection and determine treatment decisions.
Label this diagram of the tracheobronchial tree
A - branches of the superior lobar bronchus
B - branches of the middle lobar bronchus
C - branches of the inferior lobar bronchus
What is the alveoli?
Is a cluster of hollow, air filled sacs that play the most key role is gaseous exchange.
- lined with simple squamous epithelium + lined with a supportive elastic membrane.
What are the two types of cells in alveoli?
Type 1 alveolar cells - most abundant, where gaseous exchange occurs
Type 2 alveolar cells - specialist cells that secrete aveolar fluid, to reduce surface tension to prevent alveoli from collapsing
What needs to change to inspire and expire?
Changes that influence thoracic pressure that differ to atmospheric pressure
The structures that do this is lungs, the diaphragm, rib cage and intercostal muscles
Lung volume also has to change
