GPT Resp Notes Flashcards
(28 cards)
What are the divisions of the respiratory system?
Conducting zone (nose to terminal bronchioles) and respiratory zone (respiratory bronchioles to alveoli)
What are the lobes of each lung?
Right: 3 (superior, middle, inferior); Left: 2 (superior, inferior)
What are the anatomical levels where airway cartilage disappears?
Cartilage ends at the bronchioles
What is the function of the nasal conchae?
Increase surface area for warming, humidifying, and filtering air
Name the pleural layers and what lies between them.
Visceral pleura (on lung), parietal pleura (on chest wall); pleural cavity (contains lubricating fluid)
What epithelium lines the trachea and bronchi?
Pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium with goblet cells
What epithelium lines bronchioles?
Simple ciliated columnar → cuboidal in terminal bronchioles
What epithelium lines alveoli?
Simple squamous epithelium (Type I pneumocytes)
What is the role of Type II pneumocytes?
Secrete surfactant and regenerate alveolar epithelium
What do alveolar macrophages do?
Phagocytose debris and pathogens in alveoli
What is the main muscle of inspiration?
Diaphragm
What muscles assist in forced expiration?
Internal intercostals, abdominal muscles
What happens to intrapleural pressure during inspiration?
It decreases (becomes more negative)
Define lung compliance.
The ease with which the lungs expand; ΔV/ΔP
What factors reduce lung compliance?
Fibrosis, pneumonia, pulmonary edema
What is tidal volume (TV)?
Air exchanged during normal breathing (~500 mL)
What is functional residual capacity (FRC)?
Volume in lungs after passive exhalation (ERV + RV)
What is total lung capacity (TLC)?
Maximum volume in lungs (VC + RV)
What is residual volume (RV)?
Air remaining after max exhalation (cannot be measured by spirometry)
What is vital capacity (VC)?
TV + IRV + ERV
What law governs gas diffusion across alveoli?
Fick’s Law
What is the normal alveolar ventilation-perfusion (V/Q) ratio?
~0.8
What causes a high V/Q ratio?
Decreased perfusion (e.g., pulmonary embolism)
What causes a low V/Q ratio?
Decreased ventilation (e.g., airway obstruction)
