Unit 8 Respiratory System

What are the primary functions of the Respiratory System?

1. Gas exchange

2. pH regulation

3. Protection against airborne pathogens

4. Vocalization

5. Olfaction

What is ventilation?

The mechanical process of air moving in and out of the atmosphere to your lungs

What is respiration?

Exchange of O2 and CO2 in the blood stream

What are the two kinds of respiration?

External and Internal Respiration

What is External Respiration?

Absorption of O2 into the body and removal of CO2

What is Internal Respiration?

Utilization of O2 and production of CO2 in the cells

What are the two regions of the Respiratory system?

The Upper and Lower Respiratory Tracts

What structures are in the Upper Respiratory Tract?

1. Mouth

2. Nose

3. Nasal Cavity

4. Pharynx

5. Larynx

What structures are in the Lower Respiratory Tract?

1. Trachea

2. 2 Primary Bronchioles

3. Bronchial Branches

4. Both Lungs

What is the order of which air passes to reach the Alveoli?

1. Nose/Mouth

2. Pharynx

3. Larynx

4. Trachea

5. Primary Bronchi

6. Bronchioles

7. Respiratory Bronchioles

8. Alveoli

What are the three ways the airways condition the air?

1. Warm air

2. Add water vapor

3. Filter

What is the significance of warming the air in the airways?

Helps maintain core body temperature

What is the significance of adding water vapor in the airways?

Helps prevent the epithelium from drying out

What is the significance of filtering in the airways?

Too keep foreign material out of the Lungs

Where does air filtration take place?

Trachea and Bronchi

Explain how cilia and mucus help in filtration

Cilia trap particles, mucus moves over the cilia to trap particles. Where then the mucus gets either spit out or swallowed and destroyed.

Define the Mucociliary Escalator

A system of mucus and cilia that move debris and pathogens out and away from the Respiratory Tract

What is Phlegm?

Thickened mucus

What is Expectorate?

The act of spitting out mucus or phlegm

What are Type 1 Alveolar Cells?

Thinner cells that allow gas exchange

What percentage of Type 1 Alveolar cells make up the total?

95%

What are Type 2 Alveolar Cells?

Thicker cells responsible for storage and secretion of pulmonary surfactant

How many Lobes does the Right Lung have and name them

Has 3 Lobes

1. Superior

2. Middle

3. Inferior

How many Lobes does the Left Lung have and name them

Has 2 Lobes

1. Superior

2. Inferior

What is Visceral Pleura?

The membrane that lines the surface of the Lungs

What is Parietal Pleura?

The membrane that lines the chest cavity

What is the fluid that sits between both Pleural linings?

Parietal Fluid

What is Intrapleural Pressure?

Pressure within the pleural cavity

What is the normal Intrapleural Pressure?

-3mmHg

What is the function of having a negative Intrapleural Pressure?

Helps keep the Lungs adhered to the chest wall, preventing collapse

During inspiration does the alveolar pressure increase or decrease?

decreases

During expiration does the alveolar pressure increase or decrease?

increases

What are the 3 principles of Flow of Air?

1. Air flows from higher pressure to low pressure

2. Muscular pumps create pressure gradients

3. Resistance to air flow is caused by diameter of tubes

Define Boyle’s Law

As volume of gas increase, gas pressure decrease and vice versa

Define Dalton’s Law

Total pressure of a mixture of gases is the sum of the pressures of the individual gases.

What is Partial Pressure?

Pressure exerted by any one gas in a mixture of gases

What are the two types of Inspiration?

1. Principal

2. Accessory

What are the muscles associated with principal breathing?

1. Diaphragm

2. External Intercostals

What are the muscles associated with Accessory breathing?

1. SCM

2. Scalenes

3. Pectoralis Minor

What are the two types of Expiration?

1. Quiet Breathing

2. Active Expiration

What are the structures associated with Quiet Breathing?

1. Passive Lung recoil

2. Rib Cage

3. Diaphragm

What are the muscles associated with Active Expiration?

1. Internal Intercostals

2. Abdominals

What is the difference between Lung Compliance and Lung Elastance?

Compliance: Ability for the lung to stretch

Elastance: Ability of the lung to return to it’s original shape

What is Tidal Volume?

The amount of air that is inspired or expired with each NORMAL breath

Why is total pulmonary ventilation greater than alveolar ventilation?

Dead space

What is Dead Space?

Ventilated air that does not participate in gas exchange

What is the amount for Total Pulmonary Ventilation?

6 L/min

What is the amount for Total Alveolar Ventilation?

4.2 L/min

What is the amount for Maximum Voluntary Ventilation?

125-170 L/min

What is the normal Respiration Rate?

12-20 breaths/min

Define Hypernea

increased respiratory rate in response to increased metabolism

Define Eupnea

Normal quiet breathing

Define Hyperventilation

increased respiratory rate without an increase in metabolism

Define Hypoventilation

Decreased alveolar ventilation

Define Tachypnea

Rapid breathing, increased respiratory rate with decreased depth

Define Dyspnea

Difficulty breathing

Define Apnea

Cessation of breathing

Define Orthopnea

sensation of breathlessness in a recumbent position

What position would relieve a patient who suffers from Orthopnea?

Sitting or standing

Define Obstructive Sleep Apnea

A blockage of the Upper Airway due to a soft tissue structure such as the Tongue, Soft Palate or Uvula

What is Inspiratory Reserve Volume?

The extra amount of air that can be inspired above the normal tidal volume

What is the equation for Inspiratory Capacity?

Tidal Volume + IRV

What is Expiratory Reserve Volume

The extra amount of air that can be expired at the end of normal tidal expiration

What is Vital Capacity?

The total volume of air that can be exhaled after maximum inspiration

What is Residual Volume?

Volume of air remaining in he Lungs after the most forceful expiration

What is Functional Residual Capacity?

Amount of air remaining in the Lungs after normal expiration

Define what FEV1

Forced expiratory volume in the 1st second

Define Forced Vital Capacity (FVC)

Total volume of air that can be exhaled during max forced expiration

What is the FEV1/FVC ratio?

the percent of the FVC expired in one second

What is a Pulse Oximeter?

A device that measures the saturation of oxygen carried in red blood cells

Define what Hypoxic Hypoxia is

When tissues do not receive enough oxygen because there isn’t enough oxygen being transferred from the Lungs into the arterial blood

Define what Anemic Hypoxia is

Decreased total amount of oxygen bound to hemoglobin

Define what Ischmeic Hypoxia is

Reduced blood flow

Define what Histotoxic Hypoxia is

Cells failing to utilize oxygen due to them being poisoned

Define what Hypercapnia is

An excess amount of carbon dioxide

What is the relationship between Diffusion and surface area?

Diffusion is proportional to surface area

What are the problems that can cause Hypoxia?

1. Low oxygen inspired

2. Hypoventilation

3. Decreased Lung compliance

4. Increased airway resistance

5. CNS depression

What are some factors that affect the Oxygen Dissociation Curve?

1. Lower pH

2. Increased Temp

3. Increase CO2

4. Increased 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate

What structure(s) control Voluntary Respiration?

Cerebral Cortex

What structure(s) control Automatic Respiration?

1. Medulla

2. Pons

What receptors help with monitoring overinflation of the Lungs?

Stretch Receptors

Where are Stretch Receptors found?

found in the walls of lungs and airways

How do Stretch Receptors help against overinflation?

Send inhibitory signals to the medulla

What is the other name of the reflex that help terminate inspiration?

Hering-Breuer Reflex

What receptors monitor what is being inhaled such as: smoke, dust or chemcials/

Irritant Receptors

When an Irritant Receptor is stimulated what is the reflex response?

1. coughing

2. sneezing

People are able to voluntarily control their breathing; however, when CO2 levels become to high, what part of the brain overrides voluntary control?

Brainstem