Week 4: Mechanisms of Ventilation

Question 1

What two different things does respiration involve?

Answer 1

Ventilation + Gas Exchange (diffusion)

Question 2

Is ventilation a chemical or mechanical process?

Answer 2

mechanical

Question 3

How is ventilation controlled?

Answer 3

Via nerves

Question 4

What nerves control ventilation?

Answer 4

Sensors and processors in blood vessels, lung and brainstem
efferent phrenic nerves
intercostal nerves

Question 5

What arrangement of structures are necessary for ventilation?

Answer 5

• Muscles (diaphragm, intercostal muscles)
• Bones & joints (ribs, sternum, vertebral column)
• Membranes (pleura - parietal & visceral)
• Extracellular structures (elastic fibres)

Question 6

In what direction is an efferent pathway

Answer 6

away from the CNS

Question 7

In what direction is an afferent pathway

Answer 7

towards the CNS

Question 8

what is another name for the diaphragm

Answer 8

phrenic

Question 9

The upper airways include?

Answer 9

The larynx and above

Question 10

The lower airways include?

Answer 10

larynx to respiratory bronchiole

Question 11

What is the benefit of gas exchange in the lungs?

Answer 11

• humidification of air
• warming
• cleaning

Question 12

what is anatomical dead space?

Answer 12

where no gas exchange occurs

Question 13

What is physiological dead space?

Answer 13

anatomical dead space + alveolar dead space (all alveoli that isn’t perfused with blood)