Respiratory System Flashcards
In living, healthy people, what are lungs normally like?
Light, Soft, Spongy
What are the two lungs seperated by?
Mediastinum
What does the mediastinum contain
Heart, Great Vessels and Trachea
What is the anatomical location of the lungs?
The lungs are located within the thorax and extend from their apex, just above the 1st rib superiorly, level with T1, TI to the diaphram inferiorly, level with T12 at their most inferior point in the posterious thorax on inspiraton
How does the lung attatch to the heart and trachea?
By the roots of the lung
What is the root of the lung formed by?
Bronchus, Nerves, Lymphatic Vessels, Pulmonary Vessels
Where do the roots of the lung enter and emerge?
At its hilum
What is the fissure on the left lung and where is it found?
Oblique Fissure, between the left upper lobe and left lower lobe
What are the two fissures on the right lung and where are they found?
Horizontal Fissure - between the right upper lobe and right middle lobe
Oblique Fissure - between the right middle lobe and right lower lobe
Where does the visceral pleura reflect to become to parietal pleura?
At the hilium
What is shape of the right lung in comparison to the left lung?
Larger, heavier, shorter, wider
Why is the right lung shorter and wider than the left?
Because the right dome of the diamphram is higher
What does the margin of the left lung contain
A deep cardiac notch
What does the cardiac notch indent?
The anteroinferior aspect of the superior lobe of left lung
What are the three surfaces of the lung?
Costal, Diaphragmatic, Mediastinal
What are the three borders of the lung?
Anterior, inferior, prosterior
What is each lung enclosed by?
A serous pleural sac, consisting of two membranes - the plurae
Describe the visceral pleura
Covers the lungs and is adherent to all its surfaces, including the horizontal and oblique fissures - it cannot be seperated from the lung
Describe the parietal pleura
Lines the pulmonary cavities, it is adherant to the thoracic wall, the mediastinum and diaphram
What are the two pleurae?
Continuous
What can the parietal pleurae further be broken down in to?
Costal pluera, mediastinal pleura, diaphragmatic pleura, cervival pleura
Describe the costal pleura
Covers the interal surfaces of the thoracic wall
Describe the mediastinal pleura
Covers the lateral aspects of the mediastinum
Describe the diaphragmatic pleura
Covers the superior aspect of the diaphram on each side of the mediastinum
Describe the cervical pleura
Extends through the superior throacic aperture forming domed pleura over the apex of the lung
What is the pleural cavity?
The potential space between the layers of pleura
What is it filled with?
Serous pleural fluid
What does the serous pleural fluid do?
Lubricates the pleural surfaces - allows the layers of the pleura to slode smoothly over each other during respiration
Provides surface tension - keeps the surface of the lung in contact with the thoracic wall
What does the upper respiratory system consist of?
Nose (nasal cavity), larynx (voice box, pharynx (throat) to top of trachea
What does the upper respiratory system do?
Conditions inspired air
What happens to inspired air before it reaches the lungs?
Warmed to body temperature, himidified, filtered of particulates (>10micrometres)
What does the lower respiratory system consist of?
Trachea, Bronchi, Bronchioles, Alveoli
What is the lower respiratory system concerned with?
Gas exchange and further trapping and removal of particulates
What is the rythym of breathing controlled by?
The respiratory centres
Where are the respiratory centres found?
The brainstem in the medulla oblongata
What neurons are active during inspiration?
Inspiratory Neurons
What neurons are active during expiration?
Expiratory Neurons
How can breathing rythym be modified?
Afferent information from chemoreceptors in brain and receptors in the lung
What happens is you sever the brainstem below the pons but above the medulla?
Irregular breathing
What happens when you sever the spinal cord?
Cessation of breathing
What muscles are involved in breathing?
Skeletal Muscles
What is the diaphram?
A thin, muscuotendinous, dome shaped sheet of muscle that seperates the thorax from the abdomen