unit 7 - respiratory system

Question 1

primary functions of the respiratory system

Answer 1

1. exchange gases
2. produce vocal sounds
3. sense of smell
4. regulate blood PH

Question 2

Breathing/ventilation

Answer 2

involves inhalation and exhalation

Question 3

inpiration/inhalation

Answer 3

moves air from the external environment to the lungs inside the body

Question 4

expiration/exhalation

Answer 4

moves air from the lungs back to the external environment

Question 5

2 types of respiration

Answer 5

1. external respiration - involves the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the air and the cells of the lungs
2. internal respiration - involves the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the blood and tissue fluids

Question 6

The upper respiratory track

Answer 6

Nasal Passage - warm moistens and clean incoming air
Paranasal sinuses - spaces between the bones
Pharynx - space not a structure, behind the oral cavity (back of the throat)
Larynx - houses vocal folds
Glottis - the part of the larynx consisting of the vocal chords and the opening between them
Epiglottis - closes during swallowing to prevent food from going down the airway
Trachea - windpipe, flexible cylinder with cartilage to hold it up and keep it open

Question 7

what is cilia’s role

Answer 7

protect and filter out dust and other particles

Question 8

The lower respiratory track

Answer 8

Bronchi - are two tubes that branch off from the trachea and carry the air to the left and right lungs
Bronchioles - smaller branches off the bronchi that become progressively smaller until they reach alveoli
Alveoli - are the sites of gas exchange

Question 9

5 important things about alveoli and its function

Answer 9

1. large surface area
2. very thin
3. moist lining
4. good supply of blood
5. good ventilation

Question 10

pleural membranes

Answer 10

Thin membranes surrounding the outer surface of the lungs. They are filled with fluid to reduce friction between the lungs and the chest cavity during inhalation.

Question 11

Two muscles that control the air pressure within the lungs

Answer 11

Diaphragm - a large sheet of muscle that separates the organs of the thoracic cavity(upper) and the abdominal cavity(lower)

• when the muscle contracts it flattens decreasing air pressure inside the chest cavity drawing air inside the lungs
• when it is relaxed it is dome-shaped

Intercostal muscles - found between the ribs
- as they contract the ribs are pulled upward and outward, increasing the chest volume

Question 12

a difference between the atmospheres and the chest cavity’s __ ________ determines the movement of gases into and out of the lungs

Answer 12

air pressure

Question 13

gases move from ___ concentration to ___ concentration

Answer 13

high to low

Question 14

mechanics summary for inhalation (4 steps)

Answer 14

1. a message is sent to the brain to inhale
2. the intercostal muscles contract and the rib cage is lifted up and out
3. at the same time, the diaphragm contracts (pulls downward)
4. air moves in and the lungs expand

Question 15

mechanics summary for exhalation

Answer 15

1. a message sent from the brain to exhale
2. the intercostal muscles relax, the ribcage returns to its normal position
3. at the same time, the diaphragm moves upward (back to dome shape)
4. air moves out and the lungs contract

Question 16

what is pneumothorax

Answer 16

a collapsed lung (a hole in the plural cavity can cause the lung to collapse or deflate)

Question 17

Respiratory volumes - tidal volume

Answer 17

volume of air being inhaled and exhaled during normal breathing

Question 18

Respiratory volumes - inspiratory reserve

Answer 18

max amount of air that is inhaled above tidal volume

Question 19

Respiratory volumes - expiratory reserve

Answer 19

amount of air that can be exhaled after normal exhalation

Question 20

Respiratory volumes - residual volume

Answer 20

volume of air that always stays in the lungs

Question 21

Respiratory volumes - vital capacity

Answer 21

total volume of air that the lungs can inhale and exhale

Question 22

how do ventilators work?

Answer 22

• uses negative pressure similar to your lungs to assist your breathing

Question 23

what is an ECMO

Answer 23

• a life support machine, people who use is have life threatening diseases
• instead of giving oxygen to the lungs the oxygen goes straight into their blood stream

Question 24

breathing movements are controlled by

Answer 24

info about the O2 and CO2 is directed by the chemoreceptors which send a message to the the medulla oblongata in the brain

Question 25

what happens when oxygen levels are low

Answer 25

• oxygen chemoreceptors called the carotid and aortic bodies detect when levels are low
• send a message to the brain
• this increases breathing movements

Question 26

what happens when carbon dioxide levels increase

Answer 26

• chemoreceptors sense the increase
• message is sent to the brain
• increases breathing movements, therefore increasing the amount of CO2 being exhaled

Question 27

what is a hematocrit

Answer 27

a simple red blood test done to measure the # of RBC in the blood

Question 28

oxygen transport

Answer 28

• O2 in the alveoli diffuses into the fluid around the cells surrounding the capillary bed
• O2 then diffuses through the capillary walls and into the blood plasma and oxygen binds on the hemoglobin

Question 29

carbon dioxide transport

Answer 29

23% is carried on hemoglobin
7% is carried in plasma
70% enters the RBC’s combining with water to create carbonic acid

Question 30

blood buffering

Answer 30

in order for blood PH to stay at 7.4, carbonic acid goes through many series of chemical reactions before the CO2 is released from the lungs

Question 31

hypoxia

Answer 31

a disease where there is a lack of oxygen in the body’s tissue
- can lead to cell death