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Human Anatomy Semester 2 > The Respiratory System > Flashcards

The Respiratory System Flashcards

(52 cards)

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1
Q

Describe the structure of the nostrils and nasal passages

A

Vibrissae - Small hairs in the nares which filter particles

Septum - Partition which separates the 2 nasal passages

Conchae - Ridges of cartilage of the posterior wall of the nasal passages, warm air and increase SA of the cavity

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2
Q

How many sinuses are there in the nose, where are they located and what is their function?

A

4 Paranasal sinuses in the frontal, sphenoid and maxillary bone - Moisten and warm air and provide speech resonance

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3
Q

What are Choanae?

A

Pair of posteiror openings in the nasal cavity which allow for the passage of air into the nasopharynx

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4
Q

What is the function of the nasopharynx?

A

Acts as a conduit for air, closing during swallowing

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5
Q

What is the epiglottis?

A

Consists of elastic cartilage, forming a free flap to prevent food from entering airways

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6
Q

Describe the structure and function of the trachea

A

Consists of the mucosa, submucosa and adventitia

15-20x C-shaped rings of cartilage reinforce and protect the trachea.

Divides into 2 to form the bronchi

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7
Q

Describe the structure of the lungs

A

Divides into secondary/tertiary bronchi, bronchioles and terminal bronchioles, which terminate at the alveoli

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8
Q

Describe the structure and function of the bronchi

A

Supply air to the lungs - The right mainstem bronchus is shorter, wider and more vertical than the left

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9
Q

What are alveoli?

A

Air sacs where gas exchange takes place, found at the end of alveoli ducts

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10
Q

What is the function of the conducting zone?

A

Warms incoming air to body temperature to optimise enzyme reactions

Moistens air to 100% humidity to protect the alveoli

Filters out harmful particles or microorganisms that may be in the inhaled air.

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11
Q

True or false, does gas exchange occur in the conducting zone?

A

False, only serves the provide optimal conditions for gas exchange in the alveoli

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12
Q

What organs are found in the respiratory zone?

A

Respiratory bronchioles

Alveoli

Blood capillaries

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13
Q

Describe the structure of the respiratory zone

A

Epithelial lining changes to simple cuboidal cells without goblet cells

Tube walls become very thin - respiratory bronchioles

Cilia are still present to sweep away mucus

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14
Q

How many alveoli are in the lungs and how much surface area do they provide?

A

300 million, giving a surface area off 27 square meters

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15
Q

Describe the structure and function of the alveolar sacs

A

Epithelium (simple squamous)

Type II cells which produce an oily secretion called surfactant (lowers surface tension of alveolar fluid)

Macrophages to remove debris or microorganisms

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16
Q

Why is the surfactant found in alveolar sacs important?

A

Alveoli must be moist for gas exchange and this water creates a strong surface tension which could collapse the lungs.

Surfactant contains lipoproteins which reduce the surface tension from 20-30mmHg to 4mmHg

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17
Q

How is the respiratory system provided with blood?

A

The pulmonary artery supplies deoxygenated blood

Bronchial arteries from the thoracic aorta supply oxygenated blood to lung tissue

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18
Q

Describe the structure of the lungs

A

Cone-shaped structures in the right and left pleural cavities

Right lung contains 3 lobes, being shorter, broader and larger than the left lung

Left lung contains 2 lobes

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19
Q

What allows the lungs to expand with incoming air and recoil when expelling air?

A

Elastic connective tissues in the stroma of the lungs

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20
Q

Define the structure and function of the pleura and pleural cavities

A

Pleura - Double sided membrane enclosing the lung

Pleural cavity - Tiny area fluid-filled between double layers

Functions

Lubricates the pleural surfaces

Creates a bond between the layers, causing the lungs to move with the chest wall during breathing

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21
Q

Define pulmonary ventilation

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A

Production of differences in total pressure between interior (alveolar pressure) and exterior (atmospheric pressure) in the respiratory zone

22
Q

What is Boyle’s Law?

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A

At a constant temperature the pressure of a given quantity of gas is inversely proportional to its volume

23
Q

Describe the structure of the diaphragm

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A

Arises from the lateral and posterior walls of the body cavity, forming a large dome shaped muscle upon which the lungs rest

24
Q

How do muscles contract and relax during inspiration and expiration

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A

Inspiration - Contractions of the diaphragm and intercostal muscles contract increase thoracic volume (active)

Expiration - Muscles associated with inspiration relax with the elastic properties of the lungs allowing for a return to resting volume (Relatively passive)

25
What are the two types of pulmonary disorders?
Restrictive - Total volume of air the the lungs can hold is decreased (Scar tissue restricts expansion) Obstructive - Difficult to exhale all air out of lungs (asthma)
26
What is Forced expiratory volume in 1s (FEV1)
Volume exhaled in the first second after deep inspiration and forced expiration
27
What is forced vital capacity (FVC)
Total volume of air that the patient can forcibly exhale in one breath
28
How is the FEV1/FVC ratio used in diagnosis?
An obstructive spirometry pattern will see less than 80 percent of the predicted normal FEV1 and FVC will decrease but to a lower extent (longer time to reach the same vol as a normal patient) A restrictive spirometry pattern will have a lower volume, plateauing at around the same time as a normal patient (both FEV1 and FVC will be around 80% of the predicted values)
29
Describe the respiratory surface of the alveolus
Made up of alveoli and capillary walls, which share the same membrane allowing for a short diffusion path that is only 1 cell thick
30
What is external respiration
Exchange of oxyge and carbon dioxide between alveoli and pulmonary capillary blood
31
What is internal respiration
Exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the tissues of the body and the blood
32
What is partial pressure and how is it calculated?
The pressure that a given gas in a mixture contributes to the total pressure inside the container or in the atmostphere Partial pressure = % of particular gas x atmospheric pressure
33
What is the gradient bbetween alveoli and capillaries?
Alveolar PO2 = 100mmHg Blood PO2 = 40mmHg Driving external respiration across the alveolar membrane along the length of the pulmonary capillary until the partial pressure = 105mmHg
34
What is henry's law?
Equilibrium is determined by partial pressure of the gas and its solubility in liquid Solubilised gas = partial pressure of gas x solubility coefficient
35
How do solubility coefficients differ between oxygen and carbon dioxide?
O2 = 0.024 CO2 = 0.57 CO2 is 20x more soluble in water than O2
36
Describe the CO2 diffusion gradient
Even with a much smaller CO2 gradient, equivalent CO2 diffuses from the blood to the alveoli, causing a higher solubility of plasma CO2
37
What 4 factors affect gas diffusion across respiratory membranes?
The thickness of the membrane The diffusion coefficient The surface area The partial pressure difference of gases across the membrane (PO2 high in alveoli and PCO2 high in capillaries = net diffusion of O2 into blood and CO2 into alveoli)
38
How much new oxygen is needed in the bloodstream to support internal respiration?
250ml/min
39
Why is haemoglobin needed?
O2 is poorly soluble in blood with only 15ml/min of O2 reaching tissues when dissolved in blood
40
Describe erthrocytes
700x more numerous than white blood cells 7um wide, donut shaped with a central depression This size and shape maximises the surface area 1/3 of each erythrocyte's mass comes from haemoglobin
41
Describe haemoglobin
Binds oxygen in alveoli capillaries Each molecule contains 4 polypeptides (globins) which bind a heme molecule which subsequently binds an iron molecule allowing for loading of O2 Roughly 300 million Hb per erthrocyte
42
Describe oxygen association in haemoglobin
When O2 binds to haemoglobin, the 3 other binding sites' affinity for O2 increases, the reverse is true for unloading
43
Describe the right and left Bohr shift
Left shift (increased affinity): Decreased temp Decreased 2-3DPG Decreased [H+] Carbon monoxide formed Oxyhaemoglobin releases less O2 Right shift (increased affinity): Increased temp Increased 2-3 DPG Increased [H+] Oxyhaemoglobin releases more O2
44
What are the 3 forms that CO2 is carried in the blood?
1. Dissolved (7-10%_ 2. Attached to Hb (20-23%) 3. Converted to bicarbonate ions (only found in erthrocytes)(70%)
45
How is carbonic acid formed?
Reversibly formed when CO2 dissolves in the blood however this is a slow process so the enzyme carbonic anhydrase speeds up this reaction
46
How is bicarbonate transported in erythrocytes?
Carbonic acid is unstabble and readily dissociates into H+ and bicarbonate (HCO3-), providing buffering for the blood
47
What parts of the brain control respiration
The medulla oblongata and the pons (brain stem)
48
Describe the dorsal root group (DRG)
Mostly inspiratory movements. Normal breathing is generated by neurons stimulating both phrenic and intercostal nerves
49
Describe the pneumotaxic area
Promotes passive and active inhalation Inhibits inspiration and apneustic centre
50
Describe the apneustic area
Excites the medullary inspiratory centre, increasing the depth of inspiration and inhibits the expiratory centre
51
What part of the brain allows for voluntary control of breathing?
The cerebral cortex - allows the involuntary respiration to be overridden
52
What stimuli influence the respiratory centre control
Central chemoreceptors - detect a decrease in pH, increasing inspiration Peripheral chemoreceptors in carotid bodies - detect an increase pH or decrease in arterial pressure of oxygen Stretch receptors in the walls of bronchi and bronchioles - activated when lungs expand to their physical limit

Human Anatomy Semester 2 (3 decks)

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