U12 Assessment - Respiratory System Flashcards
Functions
- exchange gases (oxygen and CO2)
- produce vocal sounds
- sense of smell
- regulate blood pH
Respiration
process of gas exchange
External Respiration
air enters the lungs, gas is exchanged with blood cells (air –> blood)
Internal Respiration
blood travels to body parts and exchanges gas with those tissues (blood –> tissues)
Oxygen’s Significance
cellular respiration = cells use oxygen and sugars to create energy in the form of ATP (ATP powers cellular processes)
Upper Respiratory Tract
nose, nasal cavity, sinuses, pharynx
Lower Respiratory Tract
larynx, trachea, bronchial tubes, lungs
Nasal Cavity
hollow space behind the nose
Nasal Septum
divides the nose (bone)
Deviated Septum
when the septum bends to one side, results in the nose being crooked (repaired by breaking and resetting the bone)
Nasal Concha
bones that divide the nasal cavity, support the mucus membrane and increase surface area (superior, middle, inferior)
Mucus Membrane
warms and moistens air, traps particles (particles go to stomach)
Paranasal Sinuses
spaces within the bones; named after the bones: maxillary, frontal, ethmoid, sphenoid; reduces the weight of the skull and are resonant chambers for voice
Pharynx
behind the oral cavity, between the nasal cavity and the larynx (space, not a structure); nasopharynx, oropharynx, laryngopharynx
Larynx
enlargement at the top of the trachea, houses vocal cords (composed of muscles and cartilage)
Glottis
part of the larynx consisting of the vocal cords (false vocal cords/vestibular folds = closes airway during swallowing VS. true vocal cords = produces sound)
Epiglottis
closes during swallowing to prevent food from entering the airway
Laryngitis
inflammation of the larynx that makes the voice hoarse; caused by illness, allergies, smoking, and some medications (need to see otolaryngologist)
Trachea
“windpipe”; flexible cylinder with cartilage to give it stiffness and keep it from collapsing; leads to the bronchial tree
Order from Trachea to Bronchial Tree
trachea –> primary bronchi –> secondary bronchi –> tertiary bronchi –> bronchioles
Bronchioles contain…
air sacs called alveoli which are connected to the circulatory system via capillaries
Lungs
spongy tissue that sit within the pleural cavity; right lung has 3 lobes, left lung has 2 lobes
Cardiac Notch
space for heart on the left superior lobe of lung
Serous Fluid
fluid that lubricates the lungs during breathing & b/tw the parietal and visceral pleura
Parietal Pleura
connective tissue touching the walls of the thoracic cavity
Visceral Pleura
connective tissue touching the lungs directly
Inhalation/Exhalation + Diaphragm
- during inhalation: diaphragm contracts and moves downwards/increases the space in your chest cavity into which the lungs expand/the intercostal muscles between the ribs also help in enlarging the chest cavity
- during exhalation: diaphragm relaxes and moves upwards into the chest cavity
What keeps alveoli from collapsing?
surface tension and surfactant
Pneumothorax
collapsed lung; a hole in the pleural cavity can cause this
Spirometry
measures the amount (volume) of air moving in and out of the lungs
Respiratory Cycle
1 inspiration and 1 expiration
Resting Tidal Volume
amount of air that enters the lungs during one cycle (e.g. normal breath)
Vital Capacity
the amount of air that can be forced in or out by taking a deep breath
Breathing is… / Muscles are…
breathing is involuntary; muscles are under voluntary control
Respiratory Center
groups of neurons in the brain that control inspiration and expiration (medulla and pons)
Medulla Rhythmicity Area
2 groups of neurons that extend the length of the medulla and are in charge of breathing
Dorsal Respiratory Group
basic rhythm of breathing
Ventral Respiratory Group
forceful breathing
Pneumotaxic Area
located in the pons and inhibits respiration
Factors that Impact Breathing
- Rise in CO2
- Low blood oxygen content
- Emotional upset, fear, and pain
Hyperventilation
increased breathing, lower CO2 concentration
Respiratory Membrane
gas exchange occurs across a layer of simple squamous cells – oxygen diffuses into the bloodstream
Hypoxia
disease where there is a lack in overall oxygen content within the body’s tissues and vital organs
Asphyxia
deficient supply of oxygen that arises from being unable to breathe normal (e.g. choking)
Dypsnea
shallow breathing, feeling like you cannot breath
Hypernea
breathing deeply, usually after exercise
Apnea
breathing that stops
Cystic Fibrosis
mucus clogs the lungs, making it difficult to breathe and causing infections
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
inflammation and excess mucus in the bronchia and alveoli
Bronchitis
inflammation of the main air passages to the lungs
Sleep Apnea
pause or slowing of breathing during sleep
Pulmonary Embolism
blood clot that moves to the lungs
Lung Cancer
abnormal cells grow out of control in the lungs
Asthma
inflammation of the bronchial tubes with increased production of sticky secretions (bronchodilators open airways/inhaler)
Whooping Cough (Pertussis)
serious coughing and gasping for breath
