Respiratory System

nasal cavity

passageway for air into and out of the body through external nares

pharynx

throat; muscular tube extending from the posterior nasal cavity to the esophagus

3 parts of the pharynx

nasopharynx, oropharynx, laryngopharynx

larynx

voice box; passageway for air moving from pharynx to trachea; contains vocal cords

bronchi

divisions of the trachea that lead to the right and left lungs

lungs

organ responsible for air exchange with the outside and gas exchange with the blood

bronchioles

smallest branches of the bronchi

alveoli

air sacs containing capillaries at the ends of bronchioles, site of gas exchange

external respiration

gas exchange between blood and body exterior, between pulmonary blood and alveoli

internal respiration

gas exchange between blood and cells inside the body at systematic capillaries

pulmonary ventilation

breathing; movement of air into and out of lungs so gases in alveoli are continuously refreshed

expiration

exhaling; passive movement of diaphragm upwards and intercostals downwards

inspiration

inhaling; active contraction of diaphragm downwards and intercostals upwards

paranasal sinuses

air filled spaces within the maxillae on either side of the nasal cavity that lighten the weight of the skull, produce mucus, and amplify speech

names of paranasal sinuses

frontal, ethmoidal, sphenoidal, maxillary

tonsils

clusters of lymphatic tissue that help protect the body from infection

epiglottis

a flap of elastic cartilage that covers the larynx while swallowing

glottis

lumen of larynx

thyroid cartilage

Adam's apple; hyaline cartilage

cricoid cartilage

hyaline cartilage that keeps the trachea open in spite of pressure changes

true vocal cords

vocal folds; vibrate to produce sound when air passes through

false vocal cords

no role in speech, protect true vocal cords

lung fissures

folds of the pleura that divide the lungs into lobes

lobes of the lungs

RUL, RML, RLL, LUL, LLL

step by step passage of air

external nares, nasal cavity, pharynx, larynx, trachea, primary bronchi, bronchioles, alveoli

parietal pleura

serous layer lining the thoracic cavity around the lungs

visceral pleura

serous layer lining the lungs

functions of the nasal cavity

warms, moistens, and filters air, resonating chamber for speech, olfactory reception

ciliated simple columnar

epithelial cells that line the upper respiratory tract

cilia

hairlike projections that sweep mucus from lower passages to the throat to be swallowed

danger of losing elasticity in alveoli

alveoli can no longer collapse, impossible to exhale

conducting zone

the pathway from the oral and nasal cavities to the terminal bronchioles

respiratory zone

the alveoli, where gas exchange occurs

hard palate

separates the oral cavity from the nasal cavity, roof of the mouth and floor of the nasal cavity

soft palate

muscular posterior, posterior portion of the palate

uvula

flap that blocks passage into the nasal cavity while swallowing

phrenic nerve

major nerve, stimulating the diaphragm

esophagus

food passageway posterior to the trachea

conchae

fleshy lobes in the nasal cavity which increase its surface area

surfactant

lipid based molecule secreted by simple cuboidal epithelium, reduces the surface tension of the alveolar fluid

tidal volume

amount of air inhaled and exhaled with each breath while resting

vital capacity

the maximum amount of air moved into and out of the lungs

residual volume

the amount of air still present in the lungs after maximum exhalation

functional residual capacity

the amount of air in the lungs at rest

inspiratory reserve volume

the extra amount of air someone can inspire beyond tidal volume

inspiratory capacity

IRV+ tidal volume

V/Q scan

ventilation quantification; shows air flow and blood flow through lungs

ventilation on a V/Q scan

shows where air flows in the lungs

perfusion on a V/Q scan

shows where blood flows in the lungs

hilus

entrance point to lungs where vessels, nerves, and bronchi enter

diaphragm

flat muscle underneath the lungs, contraction creates vacuum that pulls air into the lungs

pleuritis

viral or bacterial inflammation of the pleura

pleural effusion

fluid build up in pleural space between the layers of the serous pleura

pneumothorax

partial or complete lung collapse due to air filling into the space between chest cavity and lungs

pulmonary edema

fluid build up in the air sacs and alveoli

emphysema

alveoli burst and fuse into enlarged alveolar sacs, alveoli lose their elasticity

COPD

chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, a group of diseases that cause airflow blockage and breathing related problems

tracheotomy

incision into the trachea intended to restore airflow to the lungs when there is an airway obstruction