Oxygenation pt 1 Flashcards
(42 cards)
Two major functions of the respiratory system
1 - supply the body with oxygen 2 - dispose of carbon dioxide
The four processes of ventilation
1 - Pulmonary ventilation - the movement of air into and out of the lungs 2 - External respiration - O2 / CO2 exchange between the lungs and the blood 3 - Transport of respiratory gases - between the lungs and body tissues 4 - Internal respiration - O2 / CO2 exchange between the blood and tissue cells
Gross structures of the respiratory system
- nostrils - nasal cavity - nasal sinuses - oral cavity - pharynx - larynx - trachea - bronchi - lungs
Accessory structures
- soft palate - hard palate - glottis - epiglottis - diaphragm - intercostal muscles - plurae
Functions of the nose
(only externally visible part of the respiratory system) - an airway for respiration - moistens and warms the air. Many capillaries line the nose. Their proximity is what warms the air. They also make nosebleeds common and profuse. - filters and cleans inspired air (hair and mucus trap substances) - resonating chamber for speech - houses olfactory receptors
Gross structures of the nasal cavity
- olfactory nerves - conchae (protrusions. superior, middle and inferior) - meatus (dips. superior, middle and inferior) - hard palate - soft palate - uvula - tubal tonsil - nostrils - vibrissae - nasopharynx
Functions of nasal cavity mucosa
- olfactory mucosa -contains smell receptors - Respiratory mucosa - contains sensory nasal glands which: -secrete mucus - secrete a watery fluid with antibacterial enzymes lysozyme and defensins - humidifies air - trigger the sneeze reflex to expel dust, pollen, etc.
Structures of respiratory epithelium and their functions
- Cilia - hair-like projections that encourage mucus towards the pharynx to be swallowed - Goblet cells - produce mucus
Functions of paranasal sinuses
- lighten the skull - may also aid in warming and moistening incoming air - if they get blocked, you can get severe headaches
Name the specific paranasal sinuses
- Frontal sinuses (behind the eyes) - Ethmoid sinuses (between the eyes) - Sphenoid sinuses (between the eyes, below the ethmoid sinuses) - Maxillary sinuses (on either side of the nose)
Areas of the pharynx
- nasopharynx - oropharynx - laryngopharynx
Structure of the right lung and bronchus compared to the left
- The right lung has 3 lobes - The left only has 2. The left lung is slightly smaller than the right to make room for the heart, which is left-pointing. - The right bronchus is slightly wider and more vertical than the left. Any objects that enter the respiratory tract are more likely to become lodged in the right bronchus because of this.
Describe the process and purpose of the Heimlich manoeuvre
- Used for when people are choking because of an obstructed trachea. - Press firmly in and up against their diaphragm, to force the air up and out of their lungs to ‘pop’ the obstruction out. - Not recommended by St Johns because of the risk of broken ribs.
Describe ventilation-perfusion matching
ventilation = the amount of gas reaching the alveoli perfusion = the blood flow in the pulmonary capillaries. If there is greater ventilation than perfusion, the pulmonary arterioles dilate to increase blood flow to match. If there is greater perfusion, the pulmonary arterioles constrict to decrease blood flow to match. This creates the optimum gas exchange
How does PCO2 in the blood encourage respiration?
- Carbon dioxide provides the most powerful stimulus to breathe - The regulation of breathing is a negative feedback mechanism - The body detects an increase in PCO2 in two ways: 1 - Central chemoreceptors in the medulla respond to H+ in CSF, which occurs from increased PCO2 in CSF. This accounts for 70% of the PCO2 response. 2 - Peripheral chemoreceptors in the carotid and aortic bodies detect increased levels of PCO2 in the blood. This accounts for 30% of the PCO2 response. - From there, afferent impulses travel to the medullary respiratory centres. - This sends efferent impulses to the respiratory muscles. - The respiratory muscles increase ventilation, leading to more CO2 exhaled. - This results in arterial PCO2 and pH to return to normal.
What is surfactant, and what is its role in the alveoli?
Surfactant is a substance secreted by Alveolar Type II cells. It has a hydrophilic head and forked hydrophobic tail. It separates H2O molecules in the alveoli and prevents water surface tension, which would cause alveoli to collapse.
What is lung compliance? What is it determined by and what diminishes it?
Lung compliance is the ease with which the lungs can be expanded. Determined by: - distensibility of the lung tissue and surrounding thoracic cage - surface tension of the alveoli Diminished by: - fibrosis (scar tissue) - blockage of respiratory passages with fluid or mucus - Reduced production of surfactant - Decreased flexibility of the thoracic cage or decreased ability of the thoracic cage to expand.
What is dead space?
- air in the body that isn’t being used for gas exchange - anatomical dead space is the volume of air in the conducting passageways. This is ~150mls in a healthy adult. - alveolar dead space is air in the alveoli that cease to act in gas exchange due to damage or obstruction - total dead space is anatomical + alveolar dead space
What are the three most common pulmonary function tests?
- Total ventilation - the total amount of gas in/out in a minute - forced vital capacity (VFC) - gas forcibly expelled after a deep breath - Forced expiratory volume (FEV) - amount expelled during specific time intervals of the FVC
What are the conducting and respiratory zones?
Conducting zone - passages from the nose to the respiratory bronchioles. Cleans humidifies and warms inspired air. Respiratory zone - the site of gas exchange - bronchioles, alveolar ducts and alveoli.
Functions of the larynx
- provides a patent (open) airway - acts as a switching passageway for food and air into proper channels. - voice production
Function and structure of the epiglottis
- made of elastic cartilage - when tilted up, the larynx is open to the trachea for incoming/outgoing air. - when swallowing, the epiglottis tilts down, closing the larynx and preventing food/fluids from entering the trachea
What are the two types of circulation in the lungs?
Pulmonary circulation - deoxygenated blood from the heart into the lungs. Oxygenated blood from the lungs to the heart. Bronchial circulation - provides oxygenated blood to the lung tissue via the bronchial arteries. Most blood from the bronchial circulation returns to the heart via the pulmonary veins.
How are lungs innervated?
- parasympathetic motor fibres- cause air tubes to constrict - sympathetic motor fibres- causes air tubes to dilate - visceral sensory fibres - responsible for the cough reflex, etc