Airflow Physio Quiz
The larynx is a short tube comprised of several cartilages connected by ..... and muscles. - It also contains the ..... that are needed for sound production.
ligaments - vocal folds (chords)
laminar flow equation:
Q = (change in P) / (R) Q = flow rate P = pressure gradient R = resistance
Which statement regarding the diaphragm is false?
Relaxation of the diaphragm causes the muscle to flatten.
The surface of the conchae are lined with ciliated respiratory epithelium, which secretes mucus and fluid. Which of the following is not a function of the conchae or respiratory epithelium?
The curved bone shape ensures airflow is smooth (or laminar) through the respiratory system.
How might the cilia and mucus secretions in the respiratory epithelium act as a barrier against infection?
They help to prevent infection by trapping microorganisms and dust.
Lower respiratory tract:
Trachea, bronchi, bronchioles, alveolar ducts, and alveoli
What is the function of the mucus in the trachea?
What is the function of the mucus in the trachea?
spirometry:
a measurement of breathing
when respiration is more vigorous or in lung diseases where breathing is harder, what muscles become active? these include ... and ... of the neck
accessory muscles of respiration - sternocleidomastoid and scalene muscles
Inspired air first makes contact with the curved shelves of bone in the nasal cavity, the conchae. The shape of these conchae create considerable turbulent airflow. What effect does this have on resistance to flow?
increases resistance
abdominal muscles relax during .... and contract during ....
inspiration; forced expiration
spirometer:
instrument used to measure breathing; record changes in lung volume directly
expiration involves what muscles?
internal intercostals and abdominals
characteristics of the respiratory zone:
low resistance, smaller diameter branches
flow has the SI units of ...
m^3/s
inspiratory reserve volume (IRV):
max volume above tidal volume that we can inspire into lungs (ab 3 L)
expiratory reserve volume (ERV):
max volume below tidal volume that we can expire (ab 1.5 L)
structures of the upper respiratory tract
nasal cavity, pharynx, larynx
Would turbulent flow require the same pressure as laminar flow to achieve the same flow rate?
no
can we ever completely empty our lungs?
no
resting state:
no air moving in or out; when pressure in lungs is equal to atmospheric pressure
conducting zone:
nose to terminal bronchioles - warms, humidifies, filters, and conducts air to the respiratory zone
Structures of the conducting zone
nose, pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, terminal bronchioles
alveolar ducts:
passageways that connect the resp. bronchioles to the alveoli
each half of the diaphragm is innervated by the ....
phrenic nerve
in lab we used a .... and this records changes in air pressure
pneumotachometer
flow along a tube is driven by a difference in ...
pressure
the rate of flow along a tube is proportional to the ...
pressure gradient
pressure during inspiration:
pressure of air in lungs decreases below atmospheric pressure to inhale air
pressure during expiration:
pressure of air in the lungs increases above atmospheric pressure to remove air from lungs
increased air density increases .... to airflow
resistance
the pharynx is a common pathway for the ... and .... tracts, allowing both ... and ... to pass
respiratory and digestive tracts; air and food
the most distal branches are referred to as ....
respiratory bronchioles
Structures of the respiratory zone
respiratory bronchioles, alveolar ducts, alveoli
respiratory zone:
respiratory bronchioles, alveolar ducts, and alveoli
tidal breathing:
restful/normal breathing - 10-12 respirations per minutes, in adults VT is ab 0.5 L
external intercostal muscle fibers: - contraction causes ... - these muscles are involve din quiet and ... inspiration - they are innervated by ...
run down and forward between the ribs - raises and rotates the ribs to increase volume of thoracic cavity - forced - intercostal nerves
internal intercostals: - contraction does what? which assists in ...
runs down and back - pulls ribs down and inward; forced expiration
the walls of the alveoli are very thin, consisting of a .... of cells
single layer
laminar flow:
streamlined flow, lower resistance (bronchi and down)
STPD:
temp: 273 Kelvin pressure: 760 mmHg
when volume of a gas is constant, pressure is directly proportional to .....
temperature
BTPS conditions
temperature: 37 C or 98.6 F pressure: 47 mmHg
the greater the difference in pressure =
the greater the rate of flow
The rate at which air flows (Q) depends on ....
the pressure gradient driving the flow and the resistance that the tube offers to the flow ΔP = pressure gradient Q = flow rate
alveoli:
thin walled elastic buds at the end of the resp. tree
water vapor pressure contributes to the total ...., reducing the amount available for other gases
total gas pressure
Is resistance higher when flow is laminar or turbulent?
turbulent
In the respiratory system, when resistance is higher (like it is in the upper respiratory tract), airflow is ...... When resistance is lower (like it is from the bronchi onwards), airflow becomes more .....
turbulent; laminar
inspiration produces an .... and expiration produces a .... on the graph
upward curve; downward curve
residual volume (RV):
volume of air remaining in lungs after full expiration (ab 1.2 L)
resp system acts to .... inspired air
warm, filter, and humidify
Turbulent flow:
"disorganized" flow, in which air moves in all directions and follows no particular pattern - higher resistance, higher pressure gradient - mixes air better with surroundings (upper respiratory)
the conducting zone is the anatomical ...
dead space
Inside the nasal cavity are curved shelves of bone called ...... - The surface of these conchae are lined with ......, which secretes mucus and fluid.
- conchae (or turbinates) - ciliated respiratory epithelium
bronchi have what characteristics:
- larger diameter - more cartilage - thicker layer of epithelium - less smooth muscle
The epiglottis is a flap of cartilage located at the entrance to the ...... - It acts as a switch between the larynx and esophagus. During breathing, it allows ....... During swallowing, it closes over the larynx so that ..... (located posterior to the larynx). Food or fluid that accidentally enters the larynx, will initiate the coughing reflex.
- larynx - air to travel through the larynx into the trachea; food enters the esophagus
bronchioles have what characteristics:
- less cartilage - smaller diameter - thinner epithelium - more smooth muscle
The pharynx contains three pairs of tonsils (........). - Swelling of the tonsils can interfere with breathing, swallowing, and can lead to ....
- mounds of lymphatic tissue involved in the immune response - recurrent ear and sinus infections
what is the order of structures that air passes through during inspiration? 8
- nose - pharynx - larynx - trachea - bronchi - bronchioles - alveolar ducts - alveoli
3 common conditions used to define temp, pressure, and water vapor content:
1. BTPS: body temperature and pressure, saturated 2. ATPS: ambient temperature and pressure, saturated 3. STPD: standard temperature and pressure, dry
there are ab .... alveoli
300-600 million
You collect an expired gas sample and find that the ambient temperature is 22°C (71.6°F), the volume of the gas is 5 L, and atmospheric pressure is 754 mmHg (ATPS conditions). What volume would that gas have occupied in the lungs under BTPS conditions? [Note: at 22°C (71.6°F), PH2O is 20 mmHg]. *** Remember the equation (P1 x V1)/T1 = (P2 x V2)/T2.
5.45 L
Boyle's Law
A principle that describes the relationship between the pressure and volume of a gas at constant temperature
Why is it more effective to breathe through the nose (compared to the mouth)?
Air is more turbulent when inspired through the nose which helps it get to the respiratory system quicker.
Which statement regarding bulk flow and diffusion is false?
Air moves by diffusion from the bronchi downwards.
Consider the modified pneumotachometer setup above. For airflow to be recorded, it must pass through the flow head of the pneumotachometer. What then, does the red signal represent?
Airflow during expiration only
Which statement regarding flow and resistance in the airways is false?
Airflow is more laminar in the nasal cavity than it is in the bronchioles.
mucociliary clearance:
Cilia beat constantly to push mucus upward towards the pharynx where it can be coughed up or swallowed
Which statement regarding the diaphragm is true?
Contraction of the diaphragm causes the muscle to flatten.
Which statement regarding the internal and external intercostal muscles is true?
Contraction of the internal intercostals pulls the ribs downward and inward.
Some people find it more difficult to breathe in a humid environment. Which of these statements might explain this?
High water vapor increases the density of the air.
in resp physiology, its common to use ... for the flow unit
L/min
Upper respiratory tract:
Nasal cavity, pharynx, and larynx
diffusion causes .... to move toward alveolar walls, and .... to move away from alveolar walls
O2; CO2
inspiratory capacity (IC):
all air breathed IN during maximal inspiration at the end of normal expiration (IRV + VT)
the trachea splits into 2 primary .... which enter each lung
bronchi
structures of the lower respiratory tract
bronchi, bronchioles, alveolar ducts, alveoli, trachea
what are the smallest airways of the resp. tract with diameter of 1mm or less?
bronchioles
air moves through the conducting zone by ...
bulk flow
in upper resp tract, bronchi, and much of the bronchioles, the epithelium is .... and contains goblet cells that secrete ...
ciliated; mucus
During inspiration, the diaphragm and external intercostal muscles ________, causing the thoracic cavity ________.
contract; to expand
what changes the volume of thoracic cavity and pressure within it?
contraction and relaxation of respiratory muscles
hotter the water vapor, the greater the ....
contribution to total pressure
How will the pressure change if the volume is increased?
decreases
What effect does breathing through the mouth have on resistance to flow?
decreases resistance
what is the primary muscle involved in breathing?
diaphragm
inspiration involves what muscles?
diaphragm and external intercostals
relaxation of the diaphragm causes it to become ... which decreases the volume of the thoracic cavity and raises pressure within it - this helps .... the lungs
dome-shaped - push air out of the lungs
inspiratory airflow occurs .... a pressure gradient and results from expansion of the lung volume through ..... activity
down; skeletal muscle activity
contraction of the diaphragm causes it to .... - this increases the volume of the ...., lowering the pressure within it and allowing the lungs to ...
flatten - thoracic cavity; fill with air
resistance is calculated form the pressure difference divided by ...
flow rate
pressure equation:
force/area
alveoli provide a large surface area for ...
gas exchange
spirogram:
graph of lung volume over time
the longer the tube, the ...
greater resistance to flow
characteristics of the conducting zone:
high resistance, larger diameter branches
When a gas in a tube is subjected to a pressure gradient (ΔP), it "flows" along the tube from an area of .... pressure to an area of .... pressure
high; low
compliance:
how much pressure is required to produce a certain change in volume C = change in V/ change in P
The trachea (.....) links the upper airways to the lungs. It runs down the neck and into the chest anterior to the esophagus. - the trachea consists of .... of cartilage connected by smooth muscle
windpipe - C-shaped rings of cartilage
