Week 7

Question 1

Respiratory system basic function and process?

Answer 1

Maintain arterial blood-gas homeostasis

Steps:
Pulmonary ventilation
Alveolar gas exchange,
Gas transport, and
Systemic gas exchange.

Question 2

Structural and functional organisation of respiratory system?

Answer 2

Structural:
Upper (UR) and lower respiratory tracts (LR)

Functional:
Conducting (CZ) and respiratory zone (RZ)

Around 23 airway generations

Nose - UR and CZ start
Nasal Cavity
Pharynx
Larynx - UR ends
Trachea - LR starts
Bronchus
Bronchiole
Terminal bronchiole - CZ ends
Respiratory bronchiole - RZ starts
Alveolar duct
Alveoli - LR and RZ end

Question 3

Alveolar gas exchange?

Answer 3

Pulmonary/Alveolar gas exchange takes place across the pulmonary capillary

O2 and CO2 move between air and blood by simple diffusion from high to low partial pressure