respiratory system Flashcards
(24 cards)
Ventilation
Breathing (moving air in or out of lungs)
Respiration involves the following processes
- Ventilation
- Exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the air in the lungs and the blood
- Transport of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood
- Exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between blood and the tissues
Why is respiration necessary?
Because all living cells of the body require oxygen and produce carbon dioxide. The respiratory system assists in gas exchange and performs other functions as well
Functions of respiratory system
Gas exchange Regulation of blood pH Voice production Olfaction Innate immunity
Gas exchange
The respiratory system allows oxygen from the air to enter the blood and carbon dioxide to leave the blood and enter the air. Gasses are carried by the cardiovascular system
Regulation of blood pH
Respiratory system alters blood pH by changing blood carbon dioxide levels
Voice production
Air movement past the vocal chords makes sound and speech possible
Olfaction
When airborne molecules are drawn into the nasal cavity
Innate immunity
By preventing microorganisms from entering body and removing them from respiratory surfaces
Respiratory system consists of
Two parts, upper respiratory tract and lower respiratory tract
Upper respiratory tract
Nose, pharnyx
Lower respiratory tract
Larynx (voice box), trachea, bronchi, lungs
What is spirometry
Measure the volume of air going in and out
Tidal volume
Volume of air going in and out
Vital capacity
Maximum amount of air that you can exhale
What factors can affect tidal volume and vital capacity?
Size of lungs, health, fitness level, age, gender
Where does CO2 in the blood come from?
Cellular respiration
How is carbonic acid in the blood formed
Co2 + H2O creates H2CO3
As CO2 levels increase….
Blood pH goes down
What two physical principles govern the flow of air into and out of the lungs?
Volume of lungs - expanding and contracting
Pressure of lungs
Inspiration
Inhalation, movement of air into the lungs
Diaphragm contracts
Expiration
Exhalation, movement of air out of lungs
Diaphragm relaxed
Respiratory membrane
Mainly formed by the walls of the alveoli
Very thin in order for function, which is to facilitate the diffusion of gases
How do air and blood exchange gasses
Oxygen diffuses across the respiratory membrane and binds with hemoglobin, which is then carried in the blood
Carbon dioxide diffuses from cells. As it enters the blood, it dissolves in the plasma
Inhaled oxygen is able to diffuse into the capillaries from the alveoli, while carbon dioxide from the blood diffuses in the opposite direction into the alveoli. The waste carbon dioxide can then be exhaled out of the body.
