Respiratory System

Briefly discuss vital capacity.

Vital capacity is the total amount of air that can be exchanged. TV + IRV + ERV. It is about 4800 mL in young, healthy males. Respiratory capacities are measured with a spirometer.

Describe external respiration.

External respiration is pulmonary gas exchange. During external respiration, deoxygenated blood from the heart enters the lungs, carbon dioxide (CO2) diffuses out of the blood and into alveoli to be exhaled, and oxygen diffuses into the blood.

Briefly discuss the events that occur during inspiration.

Inspiration muscles contract the diaphragm and external intercostals. During inspiration, the size of the thoracic cavity increases, intrapulmonary pressure is reduced, and air flows into the lungs from the area of higher pressure outside the body.

Briefly describe these reserve volumes.

Inspiratory Reserve Volume - the amount of air that can be inhaled forcibly after a normal inhaling. It averages between 2100 and 3200 mL. Expiratory reserve volume is the amount of air that can be forcibly exhaled after a normal exhalation. It is approximately 1200mL. Expiratory Reserve Volume - the amount of air that can be forcibly exhaled after a normal exhalation. It is approximately 1200mL

Briefly discuss acute bronchitis.

Acute bronchitis is the inflammation of the bronchial tubes usually caused by a virus. Symptoms include and nagging cough and chest congestion. Acute bronchitis usually goes away in a few weeks.

List 3 characteristics of air that is exiting the trachea

Air exiting the trachea and entering the bronchi has been warmed, cleansed, and humidified.

Briefly discuss alveoli

Alveoli are thin-walled air sacs that make the bulk of lung tissue. Gas exchange occurs by simple diffusion through the respiratory membrane.

What are the causes and symptoms of pneumonia?

Pneumonia is a lung function caused by bacteria, virus, or fungus. Pneumonia causes alveoli to fill with fluid or pus, making it difficult to breathe.

What is residual volume?

Residual volume is the amount of air that remains in the lungs even after a forceful exhalation. It keeps alveoli inflated and is about 1200mL.

How is respiration controlled?

Respiration is controlled by control centers in the medulla and pons which determine the rate and depth of respiration. Stretch receptors in the bronchioles and alveoli also send messages to the medulla.

How are respiratory capacities measured?

Respiratory capacities are measured with a spirometer.

Define respiratory capacity and list some factors that affect it.

Respiratory capacity is how much air moves into and out of the lungs under different conditions. Respiratory capacity is affected by size, age, gender, and physical condition.

What are terminal bronchioles?

Terminal bronchioles are less than 0.5mm in diameter. They lead into respiratory bronchioles that end in clusters of air sacs. An individual air sac is an alveolus.

List the 4 respiratory volumes that are included in total lung capacity.

The 4 respiratory volumes that are included in total lung capacity are tidal volume (TV), inspiratory reserve volume (IRV), expiratory reserve volume (ERV), and residual volume (RV).

What kind of cells are found in the lining of the trachea

The cells found in the lining of the trachea are called ciliated epithelial cells. Air exiting the trachea and entering the bronchi has been warmed, cleansed, and humidified.

Discuss the structure and function of the epiglottis.

The epiglottis is a flexible flap of cartilage at the superior end of the larynx. During swallowing, the epiglottis bends downward to cover the opening of the airway, allowing food and liquids to enter the esophagus.

List the organs of the respiratory system.

The organs of the respiratory system are the nasal cavity, pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi and bronchioles, and lungs.

Briefly discuss the pharynx.

The pharynx is also called the throat. It consists of 3 sections: nasopharynx, oropharynx, and laryngopharynx. Air is diverted away from the esophagus by the epiglottis.

Describe the pleural membranes.

The pleural membranes cover the surface of each lung. The parietal pleura lines the thoracic cavity.

Define asthma and list the symptoms of asthma.

Asthma is a chronic lung disease that causes inflammation and constriction of the airways. Symptoms include wheezing, coughing, tightness of the chest, and shortness of breath.

Briefly discuss infant respiratory distress syndrome.

Infant respiratory distress syndrome develops due to a lack of surfactant. Surfactant is a substance produced in the lungs that prevents alveoli from collapsing. Babies born before 37 weeks commonly develop this syndrome.

Describe internal respiration.

During internal respiration, exchange of gases between blood and cells occur at the capillary beds in body tissues. Oxygen diffuses out of the blood and carbon dioxide diffuses into the blood.

Describe the 4 events in respiration.

(1) pulmonary ventilation: air moving into and out of the lungs; breathing. (2) external respiration: exchanging gases between alveoli and blood (3) respiratory gas transport: O2 and CO2 are transported by the bloodstream (4)internal respiration: exchanging gases between blood and tissue cells

Briefly discuss the events that occur during expiration.

Expiration is mostly a passive process. During expiration, inspiratory muscles relax, the size of the thoracic cavity decreases, intrapulmonary pressure is increased, and air flows out of the lungs from the trachea inside the body.

What is COPD?

COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) is a group of diseases that restrict airflow and make breathing difficult. Two most common diseases are: Chronic bronchitis - a long-term and recurring form of bronchitis lasting more than 3 months. Main cause is cigarette smoking Emphysema - a lung condition characterized by loss of elasticity in alveoli. Symptoms are shortness of breath. Most often caused by smok

What changes occur before the movement of gases that happens during breathing?

Changes that occur before the movement of gases are volume changes and pressure changes.

Describe cystic fibrosis.

Cystic fibrosis is a progressive, inherited disease that causes malfunction in cells that produce mucus and certain other body fluids. Symptoms include persistent lung infections as well as other problems throughout the body.

Briefly discuss how respiratory gases are transported.

During gas transport, most oxygen (O2) is attached to the hemoglobin in RBC's (red blood cells); but some is dissolved in plasma. Most carbon dioxide (CO2) is carried in plasma as bicarbonate (HCO3); but some is attached to hemoglobin in RBC's.

What is meant by "gas exchange"?

Gas exchange is when the cells of the human body require a constant supply of oxygen (O). Carbon dioxide (CO2) waste must also be removed.

List some facts about infant lungs.

Infant lungs are filled with fluid. Lungs are not fully inflated until about 2 weeks after birth. The average respiration rate is 40-80 per minute.

List some facts about lung cancer.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death. Lung cancer is the second most common cancer in the US. Smoking cigarettes is the number cause. To identify lung cancer, a tumor develops.

List some changes that occur to the respiratory system as we age.

Some changes that occur in the respiratory system as we age are: Chest wall becoming more rigid Lungs lose elasticity By age 70, vital capacity decreases by about one-third

List some examples of nonrespiratory air movements that are either voluntary or associated with a reflex.

Some examples of nonrespiratory air movements that are either voluntary or associated with a reflex are sneezes, coughs, crying, laughing, hiccuping, and yawning.

List some factors that influence respiration.

Some factors that influence respiration are: physical - talking, exercising; conscious - holding breath; singing, emotion - fear, laughter; chemical - carbon dioxide in blood.

What is the function of ciliated mucosa?

The function of ciliated mucosa is to trap dust, most, and other contaminants. Movement of the cilia pushes foreign particles to the pharynx where they can be swallowed.

List some facts about the larynx

The larynx is also called the voice box. It is just inferior to the pharynx. It is composed of 8 rigid pieces of cartilage and houses the vocal cords.

List some facts about the anatomy of the lungs.

The lungs are large, soft and spongy. These paired organs fill the thoracic cavity except for the mediastinum, which contains the heart.

Briefly discuss the nasal cavity.

The nasal cavity is divided into two cavities by the nasal septum. The nasal cavity is lined with ciliated mucosa. A network of thin-walled veins lies just under the surface and warms passing air.

What is the primary function of the respiratory system?

The primary function of the respiratory system is to exchange gases between the blood and external environment. The respiratory system works with the cardiovascular system.

Briefly discuss the structures of the lower respiratory tract.

The structures of the lower respiratory tract include the trachea, primary bronchi, and lungs. Air travels through the trachea or windpipe, the trachea divides into primary bronchi that enter each lung, and the lungs are filled with air sacs that exchange gases with the environment.

List and briefly describe the structures of the upper respiratory tract.

The structures of the upper respiratory tract include the nasal cavity, pharynx, and larynx. Air enters through the nasal cavity, passes through the pharynx or throat, then through the larynx or voice box.

List the three major parts of the respiratory system.

The three major parts of the respiratory system are the airway, lungs, and muscles of the respiratory system.

Describe bronchi.

The trachea divides into the right and left primary bronchi. Each bronchus divides into smaller and smaller branches that carry air throughout the lungs.

Describe the structure of the trachea or windpipe.

The trachea, also called the windpipe, lies anterior to the esophagus. The trachea is 10-12 cm long and is supported by C-shaped rings of cartilage.

Name the two phases of breathing.

The two phases of breathing are inspiration or inhaling and expiration of exhaling.

List and briefly describe the two respiratory sounds that can be heard with a stethoscope.

The two respiratory sounds that can be heard with a stethoscope are bronchial sounds and vesicular breathing. Bronchial sounds are the rushing air sound in the trachea and bronchi. Vesicular breathing sounds are soft, muffled sounds in the thorax.

What are the vocal cords and how do they produce sounds?

The vocal cords are the mucous membrane of the larynx that forms a pair of folds. Vocal cords produce sound by vibrating expelled air.

What is tidal volume?

Tidal volume is the amount of air that moves into and out of the lungs during normal quiet breathing. Tidal volume is approximately 500mL.

Briefly discuss tuberculosis.

Tuberculosis is a contagious infection of the lungs caused by bacteria. Symptoms include a severe, long-lasting cough, chest pain, and coughing up blood and mucus. Most cases are effectively treated with antibiotics.