Respiratory System (Chapter 22) and Cardiac System (Chapters 16 & 18) Review Flashcards

A comprehensive set of practice flashcards covering upper/lower respiratory tract anatomy and function, lung physiology, cardiac anatomy, conduction, vessels, and common clinical terms.

What defines the upper respiratory tract according to the notes?

Structures outside of the chest from the nose down to the first half of the trachea.

List the upper respiratory structures in order from the nose to the trachea.

Nose (nares) → pharynx → larynx → trachea.

What is the function of the epiglottis?

To prevent aspiration by covering the opening to the trachea during swallowing.

How is the trachea structurally prevented from collapsing?

C-shaped cartilaginous rings keep the airway open.

Into which structures does the trachea branch?

Right and left bronchi (bronchus), which branch into bronchioles and then alveoli.

What are the key characteristics of bronchioles and alveoli?

Bronchioles have smooth muscle to regulate airflow; alveoli are single-layered and are the sites of gas exchange.

What is diffusion in the context of the alveoli?

Movement of gases from higher to lower concentration, enabling oxygen to move into blood and CO2 into the alveoli.

What are the two pleural membranes and their roles?

Parietal pleura lines the chest wall; visceral pleura lines the outside of the lung; intrapleural space between them contains lubricating fluid.

What is the intrapleural space and its function?

A small fluid-filled space that reduces friction and helps maintain lung expansion via negative pressure.

What is surfactant and what does it do?

A substance that decreases surface tension in the alveoli to keep them open and prevent collapse.

What two forces influence normal lung expansion, as described in the notes?

Elastic recoil (lung tendency to snap back) and surface tension within the alveoli (tends to collapse unless countered by surfactant).

Why is negative intrapleural pressure necessary?

It keeps the lungs expanded; loss leads to collapse (atelectasis).

What are the primary muscles involved in breathing?

The diaphragm and the intercostal muscles.

What part of the brain stimulates involuntary respiration?

The medulla oblongata (part of the brainstem).

Name the inner and middle layers of the heart discussed in Chapter 16.

Endocardium (inner) and Myocardium (muscular middle layer).

Why is the myocardium essential for the heart?

It is the pumping muscle of the heart and requires oxygen supplied by the coronary arteries.

What is the function of coronary arteries?

To supply oxygenated blood to the myocardium.

Why is the left ventricle thicker than the right ventricle?

Because it pumps to the systemic circulation and does more work.

What color-coding convention is recommended for blood oxygenation in notes?

Blue for deoxygenated blood and red for oxygenated blood.

What are the two circulations of the heart?

Pulmonary circulation (to the lungs) and systemic circulation (to the body).

What is the role of AV valves?

To prevent backflow between atria and ventricles during contraction.

What is the role of the semilunar valves?

To prevent backflow from the major arteries into the ventricles after contraction.

What does the 'lub-dub' sound indicate?

Closure of heart valves (lub = AV valves; dub = semilunar valves).

Define ischemia and infarction in cardiac tissue.

Ischemia is reversible diminished blood flow/oxygen deprivation; infarction is tissue death due to prolonged oxygen deprivation.

What is the order of the cardiac conduction system starting with the natural pacemaker?

SA node → AV node → bundle of His → Purkinje fibers.

What is the primary pacemaker of the heart?

SA node (sinoatrial node).

What is the normal resting heart rate range for an adult?

60 to 100 beats per minute.