Unit 6: Respiratory System Flashcards
Define respiration
Gas exchange in the body
Define external respiration
Exchange of gasses between air and the blood in lungs
Define internal respiration
Exchange of gasses between blood and body tissues
Define cellular respiration
Chemical reaction inside a cell’s mitochondria which converts food into ATP
Define pulmonary ventilation
Inhaling and exhaling
What are the 3 parts of the upper respiratory tract? What is another name for this?
Nasal cavity to Pharynx to Larynx
AKA Conducting division
What are 3 parts of lower respiratory tract? What is another name for this?
Trachea, bronchi, alveoli
AKA Respiratory division
Where does external respiration take place?
Lungs
Where does internal respiration take place?
Everywhere except the lungs
What are the functions of the nose?
Warms, moistens, and filters air
Detects odors
Is a resonating chamber to amplify your voice
Define nasal conchae
Bony protrusions on the sides of the nose that are lined with mucous membranes which increase surface area for contact with air
Define meatuses
Narrow canals under each concha that increases turbulence of air in the nose for greater contact with membranes
Define olfactory mucosa
Mucous membrane on roof of nose with olfactory receptors
Define respiratory mucosa
Mucous membranes lining rest of the nose which provide defense, also warms and humidifies air
How does the respiratory mucosa provide defense for the immune system
Goblet cells produce mucus which traps particles and is pushed to pharynx to swallow
Lysozyme enzyme destroys bacteria
Large blood supply with many WBCs
Define nasopharynx and how does it conduct air
Air inhaled through nose is turned 90 degrees down to pharynx which traps particles in mucosa
Define oropharynx
Portion of pharynx behind oral cavity
Define laryngopharynx
Portion of pharynx which is for both digestion and air passage
The larynx is also known as the
Voice box
Define epiglottis
Flap that protects the glottic and instead directs food to the esophagus
Define glottis
Opening of the larynx
Define vocal chords
Flaps which vibrate to create sound which are controlled by intrinsic muscles
Define trachea
16-20 C-shaped cartilaginous rings with an opening that faces the esophagus
Define trachealis muscle
Muscle which spans over the gap of the “C” that adjusts airflow by expanding or contracting
Define mucociliary escalator
The larynx and trachea are lined with mucous and cilia which trap pathogens and send them back UP to the pharynx where it can be swallowed and digested
Define bronchioles
Small tubes at the end of tertiary bronchi
Where are alveoli located
At the end of bronchioles attached to alveoli ducts and then sacs
What are the 3 types of alveoli cells?
Type 1 squamous alveolar cells
Type 2 great alveolar cells
Alveolar macrophages
Describe the function of Type 1 squamous alveolar cells
Form respiration membrane primarily for gas exchange
Describe the function of Type 2 great alveolar cells
Secrete surfactant which decreases the surface tension of water in the lungs so that alveoli do not collapse
What is the pleural cavity
Space around the lungs between the visceral and parietal pleura
What is the pleural cavity filled with and why?
Pleural fluid
Reduces friction so lungs can inflate
Compartmentalize so infection doesn’t spread easily
Define pressure gradients in respiration
The difference between atmospheric and intrapulmonary pressures which is created by volume change of the chest (expand or contract to create/decrease space)
Air flows from high pressure to low
Define intrapulmonary pressure
Pressure that is inversely proportionate to volume
(Boyle’s law)
Low volume (small space) = High pressure and vice versa
What is Boyle’s Law
Pressure is inversely proportionate to volume
What are the main inspiratory muscles?
Diaphragm
Scalenes
External intercostals
Pectoralis minor, sternocleidomastoid, and erector spinae
Describe the diaphragm and its role in inspiration
Umbrella shaped muscle under the lungs which shifts down when contracted to create more space in the chest cavity
What are scalene muscles for
In the neck, help with deep inhales
Describe external intercostals and their role in inspiration
Muscles between ribs which elevate the ribs when contracted to create more space in chest cavity
The pectoralis major, sternocleidomastoid, and erector spinae muscles are used for _______
deep/ forced inspiration
During inspiration, __________ and _______ pressure drops
Intrapleural and intrapulmonary
Increased volume of thorax = ______ pressure
lower
Lungs expand and the air moves into the lungs due to
Concentration gradient and Charles law (hot air expands)
During passive expiration, what occurs? Why?
Intrapulmonary volume decreases which increases pressure, forcing air out of the lungs
Thorax volume decreases as diaphragm and external intercostals relax and alveoli spring back to OG shape
What happens during a forced expiration?
Internal intercostals depress the ribs and abdominal muscles contract to push diaphragm up which decreases volume of thorax
What are some non-respiratory air movements in the body
Cough (clear low tract)
Sneeze (clear upper tract)
Laugh/Cry
Hiccups
Yawn
Air is a mix of what?
Nitrogen
Oxygen
some CO2
other gasses
Each gas in the air contributes to what?
Partial pressures added up to overall pressure
Define partial pressure
Concentration of gas in air
The partial pressure determines what
Rate of diffusion of gases from the alveolar air to the blood
Describe alveolar air
Different from normal air because it is warmed, humidified, mixed with residual air and gases have exchanged
What factors affect gas exchange?
Henry’s Law
Concentration gradients of gases
Gas solubility
Membrane thickness
Membrane surface area
Ventilation-Perfusion coupling
Define Henry’s Law
The amount of gas that dissolves in water depends on both the solubility of the gas in water and its partial pressure in air
Describe ventilation-perfusion coupling
For good ventilation, you need good perfusion of blood
In arterial blood, _____% is bound to hemoglobin and _____% is dissolved in the plasma
98.5%
1.5%
A hemoglobin can carry ____ O2
4
Define oxyhemoglobin
Hemoglobin with all 4 O2 attached
Define deoxyhemoglobin
Hemoglobin without any O2 attached
After hemoglobin binds with 1 O2, it has a _________ effect. Explain this
Positive feedback
Obtaining the 1 O2 makes the hemoglobin change shape so it obtains the next 3 O2 faster
In the alveoli, all hemoglobin are _____
fully loaded
In tissues, ______% of O2 dissociates from Hb
25%
When tissue is active, what decreases? What does this cause Hb to do?
Decreased O2 so Hb releases more O2 (“Unloads”)
What happens when temperature increases in tissue?
Hb releases more O2 (“unloads”)
Describe the Bohr effect
Active tissue has more CO2, so it attracts more H+ which lowers the pH, causing Hb to release O2 (“unloads”)
Describe the Haldane effect
If hemoglobins are not fully loaded, can carry CO2 but
deoxyhemoglobins (fully empty) binds to CO2 and H+ and creates bicarbonate (HCO3) to easily transport CO2 in body
What controls unconscious breathing
Medulla oblongata and pons
When do inspiratory neurons fire?
During inspiration
When do expiratory neurons fire?
During forced expiration
What controls voluntary breathing
Motor cortex
Is the CO2 levels in blood are too high, it causes
automatic respiration
What monitors blood pH, CO2, and O2 levels in the blood
Brain and artery chemoreceptors
How does the limbic system and hypothalamus affect respiration
pain and emotion affect respiration
How does the airway and lungs respond to irritants in the air?
Coughing
Chemoreceptors MOSTLY monitor
blood pH in relation to CO2 concentration
Define Asthma
Symptoms?
Risk group?
Chronic condition from inflamed bronchi which is worsened by allergens
Can lead to asthma attack
Wheezing, tight chest, shortness of breath, and coughing
Usually diagnoses in childhood, especially in people with allergies and family history
Define COPD
Cause?
Symptoms?
Risk group?
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
2 illnesses often:
Emphysema (loss of alveoli) and chronic Bronchitis (inflamed bronchi tubes)
Caused by long term exposure to smoking, dust, or chemicals
Wheezing, tight chest, shortness of breath, and coughing
80-90% are long term smokers, others are workers exposed to dust and chemicals
Define Tuberculosis
Cause?
Symptoms?
Risk group?
Lung disease caused by Mycobacterium Tuberculosis bacteria, which spreads in air
Long lasting cough which sometimes includes blood, fatigue, fever, and loss of appetite
Anyone can get it but more so immunocompromised people, infants, elderly, and when traveling to other countries
