The Respiratory System

Question 1

What are the main functions of the respiratory system?

Answer 1

Supply the body with oxygen and to maintain the pH of body fluids

Question 2

How many lobes are there in the right lung?

Answer 2

3 lobes, superior, middle and inferior

Question 3

3- How many fissures are there in the right lung?

Answer 3

2 fissures, oblique and horizontal

Question 4

How many lobes are there in the left lung?

Answer 4

2 lobes, superior and inferior

Question 5

How many fissures in the left lung?

Answer 5

1 fissure, oblique

Question 6

What makes up the upper respiratory tract?

Answer 6

The nose, nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses, pharynx and larynx

Question 7

What makes up the lower respiratory tract?

Answer 7

The trachea, bronchi, bronchioles and the alveoli

Question 8

What is the function of the conducting zone in the respiratory system?

Answer 8

Filters, warms and moistens air. Transmits air to and from the lungs

Question 9

What is the function of the respiratory zone in the respiratory system?

Answer 9

Site of gas exchange

Question 10

What are the functions of the nasal cavity?

Answer 10

Warm, cleanse and humidifies inhaled air. Resonating cavity to modify the voice.

Question 11

Where is the pharynx located?

Answer 11

Extends from nose to the larynx in the upper respiratory tract

Question 12

How many pieces of cartilage make up the larynx?

Answer 12

9.

Question 13

What are the functions of the larynx?

Answer 13

To maintain an open airway and it has a switching mechanism to allow swallowing and coughing.

Question 14

What is the role of cilia in the respiratory system?

Answer 14

To move mucus down to the laryngopharynx

Question 15

Of bronchus and bronchioles, which lack cartilage and are microscopic?

Answer 15

Bronchioles

Question 16

What is the blood supply to and from the lungs like?

Answer 16

Pulmonary arteries carry deoxygenated blood to the lungs to be oxygenated. Pulmonary veins carry oxygenated blood towards the heart.

Question 17

What do the bronchial arteries do?

Answer 17

They supply lung tissue with blood but do not supply alveoli.

Question 18

What is pulmonary ventilation?

Answer 18

The exchange of air between the atmosphere and the lungs

Question 19

During quiet inspiration which muscles are used?

Answer 19

Diaphragm and external intercostals

Question 20

What kind of process is quiet expiration? What is this process based on?

Answer 20

It is a passive process based on the elasticity of the lungs

Question 21

Forced expiration uses which muscles?

Answer 21

Internal intercostals, oblique and rectus abdominis muscles (abdomen) and the quadratus lumborum

Question 22

Where are most accessory muscles of inspiration found?

Answer 22

Neck and shoulder

Question 23

How does movement of the chest wall help air enter and

Answer 23

leave the lungs?

Pressure differences between the atmosphere and the alveoli

Question 24

What is atmospheric pressure?

Answer 24

The pressure exerted by the air or gases surrounding the body.

Question 25

What does the intrapleural pressure do?

Answer 25

Prevents lungs from collapsing

Question 26

During inspiration, what happens to the intrapulmonary pressure? Why does this happen?

Answer 26

Intrapulmonary pressure decreases during inspiration because the rib cage rises do the volume of the thoracic cavity and intrapulmonary volume increases so there is less pressure. Air will therefore enter the lungs down the pressure gradient until the intrapulmonary pressure is equal to atmospheric pressure.

Question 27

During expiration, what happens to the intrapulmonary pressure? Why does this happen?

Answer 27

Intrapulmonary pressure increases during expiration as the rib cage falls to decrease the volume of the thoracic cavity and intrapulmonary volume decreases therefore the pressure increases to move air out of the lungs down the pressure gradient until the intrapulmonary pressure is zero.

Question 28

What is meant by pulmonary compliance?

Answer 28

The ease with which the lungs can be expanded, healthy lungs are stretchy and are highly compliant.

Question 29

What can reduce pulmonary compliance in the lungs?

Answer 29

Scar tissue in the lungs, blockage in small respiratory passages, alveoli collapse

Question 30

With conditions such as pneumonia what happens to pulmonary alveoli? What happens as a result of this?

Answer 30

Alveoli walls are thickened by edema and there is fluid and blood in alveoli therefore it is more difficult to expand the lungs during inspiration

Question 31

What happens to the alveoli in people with the condition emphysema?

Answer 31

The alveolar walls are destroyed and therefore the surface area for gaseous exchange is smaller. Reduces elasticity of the lungs and no recoil

Question 32

What are some of the contributing factors that cause emphysema?

Answer 32

Smoking, pollutants, industrial dust etc

Question 33

During inhalation, what happens to the resistance to air flow and why?

Answer 33

Resistance to airflow decreases because the bronchioles are widened

Question 34

During exhalation, what happens to the resistance to air flow and why?

Answer 34

Resistance to air flow increases as the diameter of the bronchioles decreases.

Question 35

What regulates the diameter of the airways?

Answer 35

Contraction and relaxation of smooth muscle in the airways

Question 36

98.5% of oxygen is transported in the blood bound to haemoglobin, how is the other 1.5% carried?

Answer 36

Dissolved in plasma

Question 37

Name the factors that can affect the affinity of haemoglobin for oxygen

Answer 37

CO2, temperature, pH, structure of haemoglobin

Question 38

How does adult haemoglobin differ to foetal haemoglobin in terms of affinity for oxygen?

Answer 38

Adult haemoglobin has a lower affinity for oxygen

Question 39

What is the main way that carbon dioxide is transported around the body?

Answer 39

As bicarbonate HCO3- in blood plasma

Question 40

What is the relationship between ventilation rate, depth and CO2? .

Answer 40

Ventilation rate and depth increases when CO2 increases