Respiratory Anatomy and Physiology

Flashcards to review key concepts in respiratory anatomy and physiology.

Airway Resistance

The resistance to airflow within the respiratory tract, primarily influenced by the diameter of the airways.

Bronchial Tree

The branching system of bronchi and bronchioles that conducts air from the trachea to the alveoli.

Compliance

The ability of the lungs to stretch and expand; higher compliance indicates easier lung expansion.

Hysteresis

The phenomenon where the volume-pressure curve for inflating and deflating the lung differs, indicating the effect of surface tension.

Surfactant

A substance secreted by type II alveolar cells that reduces surface tension in the alveoli, preventing collapse.

Pulmonary Ventilation

The process of moving air in and out of the lungs, including inspiration and expiration.

Dalton’s Law of Partial Pressures

The total pressure exerted by a mixture of gases is equal to the sum of the partial pressures of each individual gas.

Henry’s Law

The amount of gas that will dissolve in a liquid is proportional to the partial pressure of that gas above the liquid.

Gas Exchange

The process by which oxygen is exchanged for carbon dioxide in the alveoli and tissues.

Myoglobin

A protein in muscle cells that binds oxygen more tightly than hemoglobin, facilitating oxygen storage and release.