Respiratory System Study Guide
Compare: Both are caused by air pollution and smoking; both cause obstruction of air, dyspnea & eventually respiratory failure Contrast: bronchitis: increase in mucous & inflammation of bronchi emphysema: breakdown of connective tissue & air is trapped in lungs which makes expiration difficult
Compare and contrast chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
conducting zone- serves as passage way for air to & from lungs (mouth, nose, pharynx, larynx, trachea & bronchi) respiratory zone- where gas exchange occurs (alveoli & respiratory bronchioles)
Compare and contrast the conducting and respiratory zones.
Bronchospasms, inflammation causes edema in the bronchi and bronchioles which closes off the airways and then excess mucous production closes off the airways even more.
Describe what happens in the respiratory system during an asthma attack.
a. cough: cause-a need to clear dust or other debris from the lower respiratory tract result-a deep breath closes the epiglottis, and then a forceful exhalation is performed b. sneeze: cause- a need to clear the upper respiratory passageways of dust or other debris result-the uvula closes off the oral cavity and routes air through the nose c. hiccup: cause-an irritation of the phrenic nerves that causes the diaphragm muscle to spasm result- sudden inspirations against the vocal cords of a closed glottis cause the hiccuping sound d. yawn: cause-thought to be caused by a need for increased oxygen in the lungs result-prolonged, deep inspirations (taken with the jaws widely open) saturate the alveoli with the air
Discuss the cause and result of the following non-respiratory air maneuvers: cough, sneeze, hiccup, yawn
The volume of a gas is inversely proportional to its pressure; Boyle's law affects breathing because of differences between atmospheric (outside) air pressure and intrapulmonary (lung) air pressure. For the lungs to be able to take in air, the intrapulmonary pressure must lower than the atmospheric pressure. Likewise, for air to be expelled from the lungs, the intrapulmonary pressure must be higher than the atmospheric pressure.
Explain Boyle's law and how it relates to breathing.
The respiratory system oxygenates the blood and removes carbon dioxide and the cardiovascular system delivers the oxygenated blood to the tissues and cells.
Explain how the respiratory and cardiovascular systems work together to conduct gas exchange.
Functional residual capacity: the amount of air that remains in the lungs after a normal expiration; ERV+RV Inspiratory reserve volume: the amount of air that can be inhaled immediately after a normal inspiration Expiratory reserve volume: the amount of air that can be exhaled, or forced from the lungs, immediately after a normal expiration Total lung capacity: a combination of the vital capacity plus the residual volume; IRV+TV+ERV=RV (which usually measures about 6L of air)
Explain the difference in functional residual capacity (FRC), inspiratory reserve volume (IRV), expiratory reserve volume (ERV) and total lung capacity (TLC).
1. Gas exchange occurs in the alveoli. The surface area of the lungs is immense; millions of alveolar sacs provide a nearly unlimited number of sites for gas exchange between the blood and these sacs. 2. Also, oxygen and carbon dioxide molecules have a short distance to travel (from the red blood cell, through the capillary wall and its membrane, and through the alveolar and its membrane.) 3. Finally, gases always diffuse (spread) from area of high concentration to areas of low concentration. Because carbon dioxide has a high concentration in the capillary blood, it diffuses concentration of carbon dioxide is low.
Explain the three reason that the process of gas exchange occurs so rapidly.
Our sense of smell and taste are closely related; accumulation of mucus on your olfactory receptors causes your dulled sense of smell.
Explain why a person's sense of taste is diminished when he or she has a stuffy nose.
lower
For inspiration to occur, must the intrapulmopnary pressure be higher of lower than atmospheric pressure?
decrease vital capacity, decrease elasticity, blood oxygen levels decrease, stimulating effects of CO2 decrease, increase risk of respiratory infection
How does aging affect the respiratory system?
When you move from a recliner position to a standing position, your breathing rate nearly doubles
How does posture affect your breathing?
right lobe has 3 and left lobe has 2
How many lobes does each lung have?
warm, filtered & humidified
How might you describe the air that reaches the lower respiratory tract as a result of the work done by the upper respiratory tract?
The term "pink puffer" is associated with emphysema because the exertion of breathing causes patients with this disease to develop a pink appearance. By contrast, the term "blue bloaters" is associated with chronic bronchitis because the lips and face of patients with this form of COPD often turn blue because of hypoxemia, and they develop a bloated appearance due to increased residual volume.
Identify the respiratory diseases associated with terms "pink puffers" and "blue bloaters"? Why are these terms appropriate for each disease?
Infants take more breaths each minute than older children and adults because their lung capacity is very small; 40-60 breathes per minutes
Imagine that you are a pediatrician. A frantic mother visits you in your office with her newborn son. The mother expresses concern that her baby's breathing rate is too high. She tells you that the baby takes many more breaths each minute than his older brother. After testing the baby's respiratory rate, you discover that it falls in the normal range for newborns. How do you explain this to the mother? How many breaths per minute does an infant take?
nose, phaynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, bronchioles, alveoli & lungs
List the structures that make up the respiratory system.
Tuberculosis
Montee has not been feeling well for a few weeks. He has been coughing frequently. His cough regularly produces mucus, but sometimes it also contains blood. Montee has been very tired and feverish, often working in the middle of the night because he is warm and sweating profusely. After considering his symptoms, what disease do you think Montee has?
bronchitis, pneumonia, COPD & tuberculosis
Name three lower respiratory tract illnesses.
medulla oblongata and pons
The rate and depth of breathing are controlled by inspiratory and expiratory breathing centers in the brain. Where are these centers located in the brain?
1. Pulmonary ventilation: air is continuously moved into and out of the lungs 2. External respiration: fresh oxygen from outside (external to) the body fills the lungs and alveoli, allowing gas exchange between the alveoli and pulmonary blood 3. Respiratory gas transport: the oxygen and carbon dioxide gases in the blood are transported between the lungs and different body tissues 4. Internal respiration: gas exchange occurs inside the body between the tissues and capillaries
What are the four main processes involved in respiration and describe what occurs in each process.
newborns 40-80 infants 30 children 25 adults 12-20
What are the normal respiratory rates for newborns, infants, children and adults?
Routes food and air to the proper passageways and houses the structures that produce speech
What are two major functions of the larynx?
Tidal volume: the amount of air inhaled during a normal breath Vital capacity: total amount of air that can be forcibly expired after a maximal inspiration Residual volume: the volume of air that never leaves the lungs, even after the most forceful expiration
What do tidal volume (TV), vital capacity (VC), and residual volume (RV) measure?
frontal bone, ethmoid bone, sphenoid bone, maxillary bone
What four bones surround the nasal cavity?
Warm & moistens inspired air, and amplifies or strengthens the tone of the voice Because the sinuses become swollen and filled with fluid and germs, this prevents the voice from projecting in its normal tone.
What function do the sinuses serve in the respiratory system? Have you ever noticed how "nasal" a person's voice becomes during a sinus infection? Explain why this happens.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease; smoking; Purse-lipped breathing- inhale through their nose and then slowly release the air through pursed, or puckered lips. This is recommended for people with COPD because it helps maximize breathing and ease shortness of breath.
What is COPD and what is the primary cause of COPD? What is "purse-lipped breathing" and why is this encouraged in a patient with COPD?
Trap and prevent particles form entering the nose.
What is the job of the cilia in the nasal cavity?
gas exchange
What is the main purpose of the respiratory system?
Surfactant; reduces the surface tension of the alveoli and prevents them from collapsing
What is the name of the phospholipid that coats the interior walls of the alveoli? What is its function?
12-20
What is the normal breathing rate for adults?
nose
What is the only external part of the respiratory system?
air, food & drink
What normally passes through the pharynx?
The medulla oblongata and pons work as a team to make breathing smooth, rhythmic process. The medulla is like a quarterback of the team, setting the normal breathing pace. By contrast, the pons is more of a utility player, fine-tuning respiratory rate and depth while also coordinating the transition between inspiration and expiration. The medulla and pons work together to create a normal, rhythmic breathing pattern. The medullary inspiratory center stimulates the diaphragm and the intercostal muscles. The pons works to achieve smooth transitions between inspiration and expiration.
What processes do the inspiratory and expiratory center control?
Group A streptococcus
Which bacterium can cause both pharyngitis and tonsillitis?
inspiration
Which process, inspiration or expiration, normally requires muscle contractions?
bronchi, bronchioles, alveoli & lungs
Which structures make up the lower respiratory tract?
C-shaped rings
Which structures provide rigid support for the trachea and prevent it from collapsing?
Women have a smaller lung capacity than men
Why do women take more frequent breaths than men?
Because it controls the destination of ingested food and liquid and inspired air; it opens and allows air into the trachea, but closes the trachea off when food or liquid are swallowed to allow passage into the esophagus
Why is the epiglottis referred to as a "gatekeeper"?
