Respiratory system Flashcards
(27 cards)
What is the role of the conducting zone, and what does it constitute of
Filtering and warming the air
Nose, pharynx, larynx, traches, bronchus
What is the respiration zone
Lungs, site of gas exchange
What is the structure and function of the nose
External = cartilage for structure ad support
Internal = lined with mucosal membrane
Filter air: mucus from goblet cells and cilia. Air warmed by capillaries
Detect olfactory stimuli: sensory neurons
Speech: nasal cavity and airflow
What is the function of the pharynx
Passageway for air and food
Resonating chamber for speech sounds
Tonsils involved in immune response
What is the function of the larynx
Responsible for speech control, houses the epiglottis. Epiglottis closes over traches when eating to allow passage of food down esophagus
Tidal volume
The volume of air that passes in and out of lungs during a normal breath
Inspiratory reserve volume
Extra volume of air that can be inspired beyond a normal inspiration
Inspiratory capacity
Amount of air that can be inspired after a normal quiet exhalation (TV+IRV)
Functional residual capacity
Air remaining in lungs after a normal passive exhalation
Expiratory reserve volume
The extra volume of air that can be expired with maximum effort beyond a normal expiration
Vital capacity
The max volume of air that can be moved in and out of the lungs
What controls respiration (2)
Cortical influences - voluntary control from the motor cortex
Chemoreceptors - monitor CO2, O2, PH in blood and cerebrospinal fluid. Send signals to respiratory centers in brain to adjust breathing to maintain homeostasis
How do cortical influences control respiration
Voluntary control from the motor cortex within the cerebral cortex. Can be overridden by involuntary stimulus e.g. chemoreceptor stimulus or hypothalamus stress response. This happens to facilitate the fight or flight response
How do chemoreceptors control respiration
Detect changes to chemical composition of blood. Most CO2 is converted to carbonic acid and bicarbonate = alkaline, so pH is used to detect CO2 levels. Central and peripheral chemoreceptors send signal to medulla. Medulla sends signal to respiratory muscles to alter breathing rate.
COPD symptoms
Shortness of breath
Persistent cough
Phlegm/sputum
Wheezing
What causes COPD
Inhalation of toxic matter damages lung tissue e.g. smoking. Damage causes inflammatory response which causes release of plasma and immune cells into bronchi
How do we measure COPD inflammation
FEV/FVC is less than <70% is indicative of COPD
What causes long expiration time COPD
Chemoreceptors inform to take next breath before lungs have recovered from previous breath. This causes hyperinflation of lungs during rest and exercise. Impedes respiratory and cardiac muscle functioning.
Hypoxia, inflammation, and loss of capillaries in emphysema causes remodelling. Pulmonary vascular remodelling can cause pulmonary hypertension.
What is emphysema
Structural change seen in COPD. Caused by smoking, pollutants, or inherited factors. Damage to alveoli. Blockage may develop leading to trapped air in lungs. Fewer functional alveoli = less oxygen in bloodstream.
What is COPD
An umbrella term for progressive lung diseases. Includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis
What is the pathology of COPD
Destruction of airway > emphysema
Obstruction of airway > immune response > remodelling, enlarged glandular tissue, inflammatory response
Construction vs obstruction COPD
Obstruction = narrowing and blockage of airways
Destruction = irreversible damage and loss of lung tissue - emphysema
How does the immune response maintain a sterile lung environment
Innate immune cells clear debris from lower respiratory tract to lymphatic system
Inhalation of toxic particles cleared by sputum and mucus membrane apparatus - cleared to lymphatics
Tight junctions between epithelial cells keep foreign materials on lung surface
How does the innate immune system increase plasma cells at site of damage
Exposure to toxic matter triggers an inflammatory response > chemokines and cytokines invade tissue > cytokines activate monocytes, basophils, t-lymphocytes > macrophages, NKC, dendritic cells, CD-4, CD-8, and B-cells infiltrate > dendritic cells activate adaptive immune response
