Anatomy + Physiology Flashcards
(293 cards)
What are the 5 key functional features of respiratory system?
- Extensive gas exchange surface area between air and circulating blood
- Moves air to and from exchange surfaces of lungs
- Protects respiratory surfaces from outside environment
- Produces sound
- Participates in olfactory sense
What are the 2 portions of the respiratory tract?
Carry air to and from exchange surfaces in lungs
Has both a…
- conducting portion (nasal cavity -> terminal bronchioles)
- respiratory portion (respiratory bronchioles + alveoli)
Describe the structure of lungs as a whole
Lungs are a network of branched passageways (branch 23 times)
- bronchioles have a irregular dichotomous pattern
- Each airway gives rise to 2 daughter airways
- alveoli surrounded by a dense network of capillaries
- alveoli appear as buds in bronchiole wall from branch 17
- from 20 onwards, whole airway is alveoli
What does the respiratory mucosa consist of, what’s its role?
It consists of an epithelial layer and an areolar layer
- lines conducting portion of respiratory system
- underlined by lamina propria
- in upper respiratory system there are mucous glands
- in conducting portion of lower respiratory system = smooth muscle that allows for dilation of terminal bronchioles
List all of the parts involved in the process of breathing?
- nasal cavity
- palates
- Pharynx
- glottis
- larynx
- trachea
- bronchi + bronchioles
- alveoli
Step 1 of respiratory pathway…
What occurs at the nasal cavity?
- Air enters through nostrils / external nares into nasal vestibule
- Nasal hairs in vestibule assist in 1st part of filtration system
- Air flows through 3 nasal meatuses which humidifies air + filters
Step 2 of respiratory pathway…
What are the 2 parts of palates + role?
Hard palate = forms floor of nasal cavity, separating nasal + oral cavities
Soft palate = extends posterior to hard palate, dividing superior nasopharynx from lower pharynx
Step 3 of respiratory pathway…
What is the pharynx, where is it located?
A chamber shared by digestive + respiratory systems
- extends from internal nares to entrances to larynx + oesophagus
3 divisions = nasopharynx, oropharynx, laryngopharynx
What surrounds the glottis?
The larynx - a cartilaginous structure
Step 4 of respiratory pathway…
What is the role of the glottis?
It’s where the voice box is found
- involved in sound production - formed via air passing through glottis
Step 5 of respiratory pathway…
Describe the trachea
It extends from bottom of larynx to part where it starts to branch off into lungs
- Tracheal cartilages give structure + support + flexibility
- Tracheal muscle allows contraction + pulling of C shaped cartilage at back of trachea to force expired air out
Step 6 of respiratory pathway…
Describe the parts of the bronchi + what’s significant about the 2 parts of bronchi?
Right and left primary bronchi - these are separated by an internal ridge (carina)
- right primary bronchus = larger in diameter + descends at a steeper angle
Each primary bronchus travels to a groove (Hilum) along medial surface of lung
Describe the bronchiole tree structure
Formed by primary bronchi + their branches
- primary bronchus branches to form secondary bronchi (lobar bronchi) in which 1 secondary bronchus goes to each lobe
- extrapulmonary + intrapulmonary bronchi = branching outside or inside lungs
Secondary bronchi branch to form tertiary (segmental) bronchi = each supplies air to a single bronchopulmonary segment
- 10 segments in right lung, 8/9 in left
What do the walls of bronchi contain?
- progressively less cartilage + more smooth muscle
- Increasing muscular effects on airway constriction + resistance
What do bronchioles not have and what are they dominated by?
Do not have cartilage
Dominated by smooth muscle
What is the role of the smooth muscle in bronchioles?
Autonomic control regulates smooth muscle, controlling the diameter of bronchioles, air flow and resistance on lungs
What are bronchodilation and bronchoconstriction?
Bronchodilation = widening of bronchiol airways, caused by sympathetic ANS activation
- reduces resistance
Bronchoconstriction = constriction of bronchi, caused by parasympathetic ANS activation
What are alveoli?
Air filled pockets in lungs
- all gas exchange occurs here
- thin membranes (short diffusion distance)
- Large surface area
What is external respiration - what processes does it include?
It includes all process involved in exchanging O2 + CO2 with the environment
- Pulmonary ventilation
- Gas diffusion
- Storage and transport of O2 + CO2
What is internal respiration also known as?
Cellular respiration
- involves the uptake of O2 and production of CO2 within individual cells
What is pulmonary ventilation?
The physical movement of air in and out of the respiratory tract
- provides alveoli ventilation = same as above just at alveoli
What is Boyles law?
It defines the relationship between gas pressure and volume
P = 1 / V
It is inversely related (as one increases, other decreases)
- e.g. as pressure decreases, volume increases etc
Relating to Boyle’s Law
In a contained gas…
External pressure forces molecules closer together
The movement of gas molecules exerts pressure on the container
Describe the compliance of the lungs
At rest, pressure of lungs = volume of lungs
- this is an indicator of expandability
Low compliance requires greater force, high compliance requires less force