AP2 > Respiratory System > Flashcards

Respiratory System Flashcards

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1
Q

What organs make up the respiratory system?

A

Nose & nasal cavity, Pharynx, Larynx, Trachea, Bronchi, Bronchioles, Lungs, Alveoli

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2
Q

What are the main functions of the respiratory system?

A

Gas exchange (O₂ in, CO₂ out)
Olfaction and speech

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3
Q

What causes gas exchange in respiration?

A

Partial pressure gradients of O₂ and CO₂.

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4
Q

What are the functions of nasal passages?

A

Filter particles, Warm air, Humidify air, Olfaction, Resonance for speech

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5
Q

What is the epiglottis and its function?

A

Flap that closes over the larynx during swallowing, preventing food from entering the airway.

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6
Q

What are vocal cords made of?

A

Elastic ligaments covered with mucous membrane located in the larynx.

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7
Q

How is voice generated?

A

Air from lungs vibrates vocal cords, producing sound waves.

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8
Q

How is voice pitch controlled?

A

By tension and length of vocal cords.

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9
Q

How is voice volume controlled?

A

By force of airflow through the vocal cords.

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10
Q

What is the structure of the trachea?

A

Flexible and mobile
3 layers:
Mucosa - goblet cells and ciliated epithelium
Submucosa - connective tissue in mucosa
Adventitia - outermost layer. C-shape ring of hyaline cartilage

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11
Q

What is the bronchial tree?

A

Branching airway system: Trachea → primary bronchi → secondary bronchi → tertiary bronchi → bronchioles

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12
Q

What are alveoli?

A

Tiny air sacs in lungs where gas exchange occurs.

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13
Q

What are Type I alveolar cells?

A

Thin squamous cells responsible for gas exchange.

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14
Q

What are Type II alveolar cells?

A

Cells that secrete pulmonary surfactant.

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15
Q

Why are alveoli small and numerous?

A

To maximize surface area, increasing diffusion efficiency.

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16
Q

What muscles are involved in ventilation?

A

Diaphragm, External intercostals, Accessory muscles (scalenes, sternocleidomastoid)

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17
Q

What happens during inspiration?

A

Diaphragm contracts, Thoracic cavity expands, Lung pressure falls, Air flows in

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18
Q

What happens during expiration?

A

Diaphragm relaxes, Thoracic cavity shrinks, Lung pressure rises, gas flows out

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19
Q

What causes airflow during breathing?

A

Differences between atmospheric pressure and alveolar (intrapulmonary) pressure

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20
Q

How are pressure gradients generated?

A

By changes in thoracic cavity volume during breathing.

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21
Q

What is residual volume?

A

Air remaining in lungs after maximal exhalation (1200ml)

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22
Q

Why is residual volume important?

A

Prevents alveolar collapse and allows continuous gas exchange.

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23
Q

What structures are in the conducting zone?

A
  • Nose
  • sinuses
  • pharynx
  • larynx
  • trachea
  • bronchi
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24
Q

What structures are in the respiratory zone?

A
  • bronchioles
  • Alveolar ducts
  • Alveoli
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25
Trace the path of an oxygen molecule to the blood.
Nose → nasal cavity → pharynx → larynx → trachea → bronchi → bronchioles → alveoli → respiratory membrane → pulmonary capillary.
26
What bones contain paranasal sinuses?
* Frontal * Maxillary * Ethmoid * Sphenoid
27
What are sinus functions?
* Lighten skull * Warm/humidify air * Voice resonance
28
Which brain regions control breathing?
Medulla oblongata, Pons
29
What is epistaxis?
Nosebleed.
30
What is epiglottitis?
Inflammation of the epiglottis that can block airflow.
31
What are nonrespiratory functions of the respiratory system?
* Voice production * Olfaction * Blood filtration * Acid-base balance
32
What does Boyle’s Law state?
Pressure is inversely proportional to volume.
33
What is intrapleural pressure?
Pressure in the pleural cavity, normally negative, helping keep lungs expanded.
34
What is transplumonary pressure?
Difference between alveolar pressure and intrapleural pressure that keeps lungs open.
35
What does the medulla oblongata control?
Basic respiratory rhythm Main signal sender to the body
36
What does the pons do in breathing?
Fine-tunes breathing rhythm Oversees the Medulla
37
What is pneumothorax?
Air enters the pleural cavity, causing lung collapse.
38
How does airway resistance affect airflow?
Higher resistance reduces airflow rate.
39
What is lung compliance?
The ease with which lungs expand.
40
What reduces compliance?
Water surface tension, Reduced surfactant, Fibrosis
41
What increases compliance?
Pulmonary surfactant from Type II cells.
42
What are the four types of hypoxia?
* Hypoxic * Anemic * Ischemic (circulatory) * Histotoxic
43
What is tidal volume?
Air inhaled/exhaled during normal breathing (500ml)
44
What is inspiratory reserve volume?
Forcibly air inhaled after the tidal volume (2100-3200ml)
45
What is expiratory reserve volume?
Extra air exhaled after normal expiration (1000-1200ml)
46
What is vital capacity?
Total amount of exchangeable air (TV + IRV + ERV) (4500ml)
47
What is total lung capacity?
Total air lungs can hold (5700ml)
48
What is partial pressure?
Pressure that a single gas in a mixture would exert if it occupied the entire space by itself at the same temperature ## Footnote Dalton's Law
49
What factors affect gas diffusion?
Diffusion constant (D), Surface area (A), Pressure gradient (ΔP), Membrane thickness (L)
50
How is oxygen transported in blood?
98% bound to hemoglobin, 2% dissolved in plasma
51
What does the oxygen saturation curve show?
Relationship between pO₂ and hemoglobin saturation.
52
What shifts the curve to the right (releases O₂)?
↑ CO₂, ↓ pH, ↑ temperature, Exercise (low O2)
53
How is CO₂ transported in blood?
70% bicarbonate (HCO₃⁻) in plasma, 20% carbaminohemoglobin, 10% dissolved in plasma Co2 + H20 = H2CO3 (carbon ion) breaks into H+ + HCO3- (bicarbonate)
54
What is the role of carbonic anhydrase?
Catalyzes conversion of CO₂ + H₂O → carbonic acid → bicarbonate
55
What do central chemoreceptors detect?
Changes in CO₂ and pH in CSF.
56
What do peripheral chemoreceptors detect?
Changes in O₂, CO₂, and blood pH.
57
What is apnea?
Temporary cessation (stopping) of breathing. May occur until pCO2 levels rise Example: Sleep apnea
58
What is the most tested respiratory concept chain:
1. Ventilation (gas into/out lungs)→ 2. External Respiration (alveoli and pulmonary capillaries) → 3. Gas Transport → 4. Internal Respiration (systemic capillaries and body tissues) → Cellular Respiration
59
What is ventilation?
Amount of gas reaching the alveoli, with intrapleural (keeps wall of lungs attached to cavity) and intrapulmonary pressures.
60
What is carbonic anhydrase?
Enzyme that converts carbon dioxide and water into carbonic acid
61
What is the Respiratory zone?
Site of gas exchange Consists of bronchioles, alveolar ducts, and alveoli
62
What is the Conducting zone?
Conduits for air to reach gas exchange sites Includes all respiratory structures not in the respiratory zone (nose, nasal cavity, pharynx, trachea)
63
What is Pulmonary ventilation
Movement of air in and out of lungs
64
What is External Respiration
Exchange of O2 and CO2 between lungs and blood
65
What is Internal Respiration
Exchange of O2 and CO2 between systemic blood vessels and tissues
66
What are the 3 layers of the Trachea
Mucosa - goblet cells and ciliated epithelium Submucosa - connective tissue deep in the mucosa Adventitia - outermost layer, C-shaped rings of hyaline cartilage
67
What is Inspiration and Expiration?
Inspire - air into lungs Expire - gas exits lungs
68
What is Atmospheric pressure
Pressure exerted by the air surrounding the body 760mmHg = pO2 + pCO2 + pN2 + pH2O
69
What is Intrapulmonary and Intrapleural pressures?
Pressures within the alveoli (pulmonary) and pleural cavities (responsible for adhering walls together)
70
What is Residual volume?
Air left in lungs after a strenuous expiration (1200ml)
71
What is Inspiratory capacity?
Total amount of air that can be inspired after a tidal expire (IRV + TV) (3500ml)
72
What is Functional Residual Capacity?
Air remaining in the lungs after a tidal expire (RV + ERV) (2200ml)
73
What is the composition of air?
Air = 21% O2, 79% N2, 0.4% CO2 Alveolar = 14% O2, 79% N2, 5.2% CO2 Expired = 16% O2, 79% N2, 4.5% CO2
74
What is Perfusion?
Blood flow reaching the alveoli
75
What is the Haldane effect?
The lower the partial pressure of O2, the more CO2 can be carried in the blood
76
What are the 4 process of Respiration?
Ventilation (air in and out of lungs) External respiration (gas exchange between lungs and blood) Transport (O2 and CO2 in blood) Internal respiration (gas exchange between blood vessels and tissues)
77
What contracts and rises the rib cage?
Diaphragm and External Intercostal Muscles
78
What tool is used to evaluate respiratory function?
Spirometer
79
What is the equation for converting CO2 into HCO3-?
CO2 (carbon dioxide) + H20 (water) = H2CO3 (carbonic acid) -> H+ (hydrogen ion) + HCO3- (Bicarbonate ion) Carbon dioxide diffuses in RBCs and combines with water to form carbonic acid Then dissociates into hydrogen ions and bicarbonate ions Main enzyme is CARBONIC ANHYDRASE, which catalyzes the conversion of carbon dioxide and water to carbonic acid
80
What 3 pressures are involved in breathing?
Atmospheric - pressure surrounding the body (760mmHg) Intrapulmonary - pressure within alveoli (inside lungs) Intrapleural - pressure within pleural cavity (space between lungs and pleural cavity)
81
What is pneumothorax?
Collapse lung Loss of suction in pleural cavity
82
What is Total Pressure?
Sum of all partial pressures
83
What indicates hemoglobin when to unload or reload?
pO2, temp, blood pH, and pCO2
84
What is hyperventilation?
Increased depth and rate of breathing Occurs in response to hypercapnia (too much carbon dioxide)
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