respiratory system Flashcards
Nasal Cavity:
Hairs filter dust, pollen and other particles
Air is warmed and moistened
Pharynx:
Commonly known as the throat
Connects the nasal cavity to the larynx
Larynx
Commonly known as the voice box
Has rigid walls of cartilage
Connects the pharynx to the trachea
Trachea
Commonly known as the wind pipe
Is surrounded by rings of cartilage
Branches into the left and right bronchi
Epiglottis
Small flap of cartilage that allows food to pass into the stomach and not into the lungs
Lungs
The lungs are an organ that allow oxygen to be drawn
into the body
You have a left and right lung
Bronchi
Bronchi branch off from the trachea and carry air into the lungs. They branch off 25 times.
Bronchioles
Bronchioles are small airways that extend from the bronchi
they are about 1mm in diameter
They connect the bronchi to the alveoli
alveoli
Alveoli are a mass of tiny air sacs
There are about 300,000,000 alveoli in each lung
Gaseous exchange happens at the alveoli and capillaries
Diaphragm
Is a flat muscle that is located beneath the lungs
The muscle is involved in inspiration and expiration
Thoracic Cavity
This is the chamber in the chest that is protected by the ribs and sternum (thoracic wall)
Internal Intercostal Muscles
Muscles lie inside the ribcage
They draw the ribs downwards and inwards
External Intercostal Muscles
Muscles lie outside the rib cage
They draw the ribs upwards and outwards
Inspiration
. internal intercostals relax, external contract
. diaphragm contracts, flattens, and external intercostal muscles raise the ribs upwards and outwards
. increases volume of thoracic cavity= decreases pressure in lungs compared to outside= air forced into lungs
. when exercising: scalenes muscle, sternocleidomastoid muscle and pectoralis major/minor all contract to help expiration
Expiration
. external intercostals relax, internal contract
. diaphragm relaxes, raises up, and the internal muscles contacts they lower the ribs downwards and inward
. decreases volume of thoracic cavity= increased pressure in lungs to outside= air forced out
. exercise: abdominals and internal intercostals contract to help with expiration
gas exchange
O2 passed down respiratory system to alveoli. O2 diffuses out of alveolar epithelium into the dense capillary network surrounding it (blood- attaches to haemoglobin). It is now in bloodstream, so O2 can travel where needed in body.
at muscles, oxygen in capillaries exchanges with CO2, so myoglobin will pick it up and transfer to mitochondria.
At the same time, CO2 (deoxygenated blood) passes from capillary into alveolus, ready to be breathed out.
Inspiration= O2 breathed in, diffuses from alveoli to bloodstream
Expiration= CO2 from bloodstream (byproduct of respiration) diffuses into alveoli and breathed out
Has plentiful blood supply= more efficient exchange
Large SA for diffusion of gases = due to many alveoli/ capillaries and very small
Moist lining of alveoli = assists diffusion of O2 into blood as some blood dissolves here and so passes into plasma as a dissolved substance = efficient
Thin alveolar/capillary walls (1ct) = short diffusion pathway= efficient
simple diffusion across the respiratory membrane as blood entering the capillaries from the pulmonary arteries has a lower oxygen concentration and a higher carbon dioxide concentration than the air in the alveoli. So O2 diffuses from higher O2 conc in alveoli to low O2 conc in capillary, and CO2 diffuses from high CO2 conc in capillary to lower CO2 conc in alveoli.
Tidal Volume
Is the amount of air inspired or expired in a normal breath when the person is at rest
On average it is 0.5 litres
Vital Capacity
Is the volume of air that can be forced out the lungs after maximal inspiration
Vital capacity can be as much as 4.8 litres
Residual Volume
Is the amount of air left in the lungs even after forced breathing out
This volume of air cannot be breathed out
It prevents the lungs from collapsing
Average volume is 1.2 litres
Total Lung Capacity
Is the vital capacity + residual volume
Average volume is 6.0 litres
Pulmonary Ventilation
The process of moving air in and out of the lungs is called pulmonary ventilation
Minute Volume
The passing of air through the lungs in one minute is known as minute volume
Breathing and exercise
. exercise= more 02 needed for ATP= breathing rate needs to increase
. The medulla oblongata is responsible for involuntary functions such as breathing
Responses of the respiratory system to exercise: Increased Breathing Rate
. exercise= more O2 demand= CO2 levels increase= breathing rate increases
. more intense exercise = increased breathing rate
. stop exercise = breathing rate slows
. Prior to exercise = anticipatory rise in breathing rate