Respiratory System - Segment 1 Flashcards
What are the major organs of the respiratory system?
- Nasal cavity
- Pharynx(throat)
- Larynx(voice box) Glottis & Epiglottis
- Trachea
- Lungs
- Bronchi
- Bronchioles
- Alveoli
What is the function of the nasal cavity?
To warm and moisten air and trap particles and dust.
What is the role of the pharynx?
Muscular structure that helps move food and water into the digestive system.
What is the function of the larynx?
Serves as the voice box and contains vocal cords, glottis, and epiglottis.
How many lobes does each lung contain?
Right lung has 3 lobes, left lung has 2 lobes.
What is the trachea’s structure and function?
A rigid, cartilage-ringed tube that carries air from the larynx to the lungs.
What is the function of bronchi?
Branches from the trachea that lead into the lungs and subdivide into smaller tubes.
What are bronchioles?
Small airways with smooth muscle that end in alveoli.
What is the purpose of alveoli?
Allow gas exchange to occur and are covered by capillaries to pick up O2 and release CO2.
What is total lung capacity?
Maximum lung capacity, approximately 6L in adult males.
What is tidal volume?
Amount of air moved into and out of the lungs during respiration, approximately 500-800cc in adults.
What is dead space volume in the lungs?
Of the 500cc tidal volume, about 150cc remains as dead space.
What are the functions of the respiratory system?
- Delivers warm, cleaned, humidified air to alveoli
- Provides a large area for gas exchange
- Moves air to and from gas exchange surfaces
- Protects respiratory surfaces
- Produces sound
- Provides olfactory sensations
What controls respiration involuntarily?
The respiratory center in the brain stem, including the medulla oblongata and pons.
What happens during inhalation?
Contraction of the diaphragm increases thoracic cavity size, decreasing pressure and allowing air to rush in.
What is the process of exhalation?
The diaphragm rises and lung tissue contracts, increasing pressure and pushing air out.
What is positive pressure ventilation (PPV)?
A ventilation method where air is pushed into the lungs, increasing thoracic cavity pressure.
What is the oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve?
A graph showing how oxygen binds to hemoglobin and its release based on different conditions.
What does a ‘right shift’ in the oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve indicate?
Oxygen dissociates readily from hemoglobin, typically in acidic, warm conditions.
What is hypoxemia?
Deficient oxygenation of the blood.
What are chemoreceptors?
Sense organs that respond to chemical stimuli, monitoring levels of O2 and CO2.
What is the hypoxic drive myth regarding O2 administration in COPD patients?
That O2 administration will shut down the hypoxic drive to breathe.
What is a common physiological change in aging related to the respiratory system?
Reduced cough and gag reflex, decreased lung elasticity, and increased likelihood of respiratory failure.
What is atelectasis?
The collapse of alveoli in the lung due to blockage of air passages or shallow breathing.
