A&P 22: The Respiratory System Flashcards
Respiratory System
system that supplies the body with oxygen and disposes of carbon dioxide
Respiration
pulmonary ventilation, external respiration, transport of respiratory gases, and internal respiration are collectively known as this function
Pulmonary ventilation
breathing; air moving in and out of the lungs (during inspiration and expiration) so the gases there are continuously changed and refreshed
External respiration
oxygen diffuses from the lungs to the blood, and carbon dioxide diffuses from the blood to the lungs
Transport of respiratory gases
oxygen is transported from the lungs to the tissue cells of the body, and carbon dioxide is transported from the tissue cells to the lungs; the cardiovascular system accomplishes this transport using blood as the transporting fluid
Internal respiration
oxygen diffuses from blood to tissue cells, and carbon dioxide diffuses from tissue cells to blood
Respiratory zone
actual site of gas exchange; composed of the respiratory bronchioles, alveolar ducts, and alveoli, all microscopic structures
Conducting zone
includes all other respiratory passageways, which provide fairly rigid conduits for air to reach the gas exchange sites
Nostrils (nares)
external openings of the nose
Nasal cavity
internal cavity lying in and posterior to the external nose
Nasal septum
the nasal cavity is divided by this midline, formed anteriorly by the septal cartilage and posteriorly by the vomer bone and perpendicular plate of the ethmoid bone
Posterior nasal apertures
the nasal cavity is continuous posteriorly with the nasal portion of the pharynx through these “funnels” called choanae
Hard palate
where the palate is supported by the palatine bones and processes of the maxillary bones
Soft palate
the unsupported posterior portion is this muscular palate
Nasal vestibule
part of the nasal cavity just superior to the nostrils; lined with skin containing sebaceous and sweat glands and numerous hair follicles
Vibrissae
nose hairs; filter coarse particles from inspired air
Olfactory mucosa
small patch of this lines the slitlike superior region of the nasal cavity and contains smell receptors in its olfactory epithelium
Olfactory epithelium
where smell receptors are contained
Respiratory mucosa
lines most of the nasal cavity; pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium, containing scattered goblet cells, that rests on a lamina propia richly supplied with seromucous nasal glands
Paranasal sinuses
the nasal cavity is surrounded by a ring of these chambers; located in the frontal, sphenoid, ethmoid, and maxillary bones
Sinusitis
inflamed sinuses
Pharynx
funnel-shaped organ that connects the nasal cavity and the mouth superiorly to the larynx and esophagus inferiorly
Nasopharynx
posterior to the nasal cavity, inferior to the sphenoid bone, superior to the level of the soft palate; part of the pharynx serving only as an air passageway
Pharyngeal tonsil
AKA adenoids; traps and destroys pathogens entering the nasopharynx in air