Respiratory tract

Question 1

List the structures of the respiratory system

Answer 1

Nasal cavity, nostrils, mouth, pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchus, lungs, bronchioles, alveoli, intercostal muscles, diaphragm

Question 2

Explain how oxygen is transported around the body

Answer 2

Haemoglobin concentration largely determines the
oxygen-carrying capacity of blood (>98% of oxygen transported)

Question 3

Identify the features on a dynamic lung function test

Answer 3

Maximal inhalation, then exhale for approximately six seconds, followed by a final inhalation: produces a flow volume loop, and spirometer trace graph

Question 4

Explain how clinical respiratory conditions effect a lung function trace

Answer 4

complete*

Question 5

Explain how the respiratory system interacts with other body systems to enable ‘normal’ bodily function

Answer 5

Chemoreceptors and baroreceptors relay information to the medulla oblongata, activating the respiratory muscles

Question 6

Stretching out the lungs would be comparable to what size?

Answer 6

Half a tennis court

Question 7

What are the two types of ventilation?

Answer 7

Internal (inspiration) and external (expiration)

Question 8

Respiration (breathing)

Answer 8

Delivery of oxygen to and removal of carbon dioxide from the tissue

Question 9

External respiration

Answer 9

Ventilation and exchange of
gases in the lungs

Question 10

Internal respiration

Answer 10

Exchange of gases at the tissue
level (between blood and tissues)

Question 11

Why does the partial pressure of oxygen decrease before entering the alveoli?

Answer 11

It becomes humidified

Question 12

Describe the effects of inspiration and expiration on the intercostal muscles and diaphragm

Answer 12

Inspiration: The diaphragm flattens, and the external intercostals bring the ribs up and out
Expiration: The diaphragm domes and internal intercostals contract to increase pressure

Question 13

Which respiratory muscles support ventilation during exercise?

Answer 13

Sternocleidomastoid, pectoralis minor, external intercostals contract, diaphragm contracts, and flattens (chest elevation) - high to low pressure

Question 14

Which respiratory muscles support inspiration during exercise?

Answer 14

Internal intercostals contract, diaphragm relaxes, and domes, abdominal muscles contract, thoracic cavity volume decreases, so pressure increases

Question 14

Describe features of a spirometer trace graph

Answer 14

IRV, TV, ERV, RV, VC, TLC

Question 15

What shape are RBCs and why?

Answer 15

Concave in nature, easier for haemoglobin to bind

Question 16

How does the structure of capillaries support gaseous exchange?

Answer 16

One cell thick, shorter diffusion pathway allowing for faster movement of gases

Question 17

At sea level, what is the standardised partial pressure of air above us?

Answer 17

760 mm mercury, 160 is oxygen

Question 18

What are the effects of altitude on partial pressure and oxygen volume

Answer 18

There is not less oxygen, but a lower partial pressure

Question 19

Exercise creates favourable conditions of oxygen dissociation, why is this?

Answer 19

Increased acidity and temperature of a muscle allows
more oxygen to be unloaded there

Question 20

Explain how carbon dioxide is transported around the body

Answer 20

Dissolved in blood plasma (7% to 10%)

As bicarbonate ions resulting from the dissociation of carbonic acid (60% to 70%)

Bound to haemoglobin
(carbaminohaemoglobin) (20% to 33%)

Question 21

Describe the oxygen dissociation curve

Answer 21

At rest, oxygen saturation is nearly 100%, and dissociation is around 75%. As the partial pressure decreases, the curve becomes steeper, allowing more oxygen to dissociate to the tissues.

Shifts to the right during exercise