Respiratory Exam

Why do cells require oxygen?

To synthesize ATP

What waste product is produced when cells use oxygen?

Carbon dioxide

What is the main function of the respiratory system?

To provide cells with needed oxygen and remove carbon dioxide

What are the four processes that make up respiration?

Pulmonary ventilation, pulmonary gas exchange, gas transport in blood, and tissue gas exchange

What is pulmonary ventilation?

The movement of air into and out of the lungs

What are the two phases of pulmonary ventilation?

Inspiration and expiration

What happens during inspiration?

Oxygen-rich air moves into the lungs

What happens during expiration?

Carbon dioxide rich air moves out of the lungs

What is pulmonary gas exchange?

The movement of oxygen from the air to the blood and carbon dioxide from the blood to the air

What is gas transport?

The movement of gases through the blood

What is tissue gas exchange?

The exchange of gases between blood and body tissues

What happens during tissue gas exchange?

Oxygen is delivered to tissues and carbon dioxide is picked up by the blood

What are lungs composed of?

Elastic connective tissue and tiny air sacs called alveoli

What are alveoli?

Small air sacs where gas exchange takes place

How are lungs divided structurally?

Into lobes

How many lobes does the right lung have?

Three; upper, middle, lower

How many lobes does the left lung have?

Two: Upper, lower

What separates the lobes of the lungs?

Deep indentations called fissures

What does the horizontal fissure separate?

The right upper and right middle lobes

What does the right oblique fissure separate?

The right middle and right lower lobes

What does the left oblique fissure separate?

The left upper and left lower lobes

What is the cardiac notch?

A groove in the left upper lobe where the heart sits

What is the apex of the lung?

The top portion that sits above the clavicle

What is the base of the lung?

The bottom portion resting on the diaphragm

What muscle is responsible for ventilation and supports the lung base?

The diaphragm

What surrounds each lung?

serous membranes

What are the two layers of the pleura?

Parietal pleura and visceral pleura

What is the pleural cavity?

The space between the pleural membranes

What is found in the pleural cavity?

Pleural fluid

What is the function of pleural fluid?

Reduces friction and allows lungs to change shape during ventilation

How does air reach the alveoli?

Through passageways of the respiratory tract

What are the two regions of the respiratory system?

Upper respiratory tract and lower respiratory tract

What structures are in the upper respiratory tract?

Passages from the nasal cavity to the larynx

What structures in the lower respiratory tract?

Passages from the trachea to the alveoli

What are the two functional zones of the respiratory system?

Conducting zone and respiratory zone

What is the function of the conducting zone?

Carries air to structures where gas exchange occurs

Does gas exchange occur in the conducting zone?

No

What is the function of the respiratory zone?

Gas exchange

Where is the respiratory zone located?

In the lungs (alveoli)

Where does the conducting zone begin?

At the nasal cavity

What are the functions of the conducting zone?

Warms, filters, and humidifies incoming air

Through which structures does air first enter the respiratory system?

Through the nares/nostrils into the nasal cavity

What are three main functions of the nasal cavity?

Filters, warms, and humidifies inhaled air

After the nasal cavity, where does air travel?

The pharynx/throat

What are the three divisions of the pharynx?

Nasopharynx, oropharynx, and laryngopharynx

What is the function of the soft palate and uvula?

They move upward during swallowing to close off the nasopharynx

What can happen if the soft palate mechanism fails?

Food or liquid may enter the nasal cavity

Where is the nasopharynx located?

Posterior to the nasal cavity

Where is the oropharynx located?

Posterior to the oral cavity

What passes through the oropharynx?

Both food and air

Where is the laryngopharynx located?

Between the larynx and esophagus

What passes through the laryngopharynx?

Both food and air

Where does air go after the pharynx?

Into the larynx, or voice box

What structure prevents food from entering the larynx?

The epiglottis

What happens to the larynx during swallowing?

It moves upward and the epiglottis seals it off

What is the largest cartilage of the larynx?

The thyroid cartilage

What is another name for the thyroid cartilage?

Adam’s apple

What structure carries air from the larynx downward?

The trachea

What type of cartilage supports the trachea?

C shaped rings of hyaline cartilage

Where does the trachea split?

At the carina

What does the trachea divide into?

The right and left primary bronchi

What do primary bronchi branch into?

Secondary bronchi (one per lung lobe)

What comes after secondary bronchi?

Tertiary bronchi, then smaller branches

What are the smallest conducting airways called?

Bronchioles

What marks the end of the conducting zone?

Terminal bronchioles

What begins the respiratory zone?

Respiratory bronchioles

What structures are found at the ends of bronchioles?

Alveolar sacs

What are alveoli shaped like?

Grape like clusters

What surrounds alveoli?

Pulmonary capillaries

What supplies blood to the alveoli?

Pulmonary arteries

What drains blood from the alveoli?

Pulmonary veins

What is the respiratory membrane?

The site of gas exchange between air and blood

Why are alveoli ideal for gas exchange?

They have thin walls and a large surface area with rich blood supply

How is pulmonary ventilation defined?

The physical movement of air into and out of the lungs

What is pulmonary gas exchange and where does it occur?

Diffusion of gases across the respiratory membrane between alveoli and pulmonary capillaries

Define gas transport in the blood stream

Movement of oxygen and carbon dioxide through the blood

What is tissue gas exchange?

Diffusion of gases between systemic capillaries and body tissues

How does airflow direction relate to pressure differences?

Air moves from areas of higher pressure to lower pressure

State Boyle’s law

Pressure and volume are inversely proportional

What happens to pressure when lung volume increases?

Pressure decreases

What happens to pressure when the lung volume deceases?

Pressure increases

Why does increasing lung volume allow air to enter the lungs?

Because intrapulmonary pressure drops below atmospheric pressure, causing air to flow in

Which muscles are primarily responsible for inspiration?

The diaphragm and external intercostal muscles

What role does the diaphragm play during inspiration?

It contracts and flattens, increasing thoracic cavity volume

Which accessory muscles assist during forced inspiration?

Sternocleidomastoid, pectoralis major and minor, serratus anterior, and scalene muscles.

Name at least three accessory inspiratory muscles

Sternocleidomastoid, Serratus anterior, and scalene muscles.

Is expiration usually active or passive? Why?

Passive, because it relies on elastic recoil of the lungs

What happens to intrapulmonary pressure during inspiration?

It decreases below atmospheric pressure

What happens when intrapulmonary pressure is lower than atmospheric pressure?

Air flows into the lungs

What happens to the intrapulmonary pressure during expiration?

It increases above atmospheric pressure

When does air leave the lungs in terms of pressure differences?

When intrapulmonary pressure is higher than atmospheric pressure

How do thoracic cavity dimensions change during inspiration?

They increase in height and diameter

What changes occur in lung volume during inspiration?

Lung volume increases

What changes occur in lung volume during expiration?

Lung volume deceases

How does elastic recoil contribute to expiration?

It returns the lungs to their original size, pushing air out

What are pulmonary volumes?

The amounts of air exchanged during breathing

What instrument is used to measure lung volumes?

A spirometer

Define tidal volume

The amount of air inhaled or exhaled during normal breathing

What is the normal tidal volume in a healthy adult?

About 500 mL

Define expiratory reserve volume

The amount of air that can be forcibly exhaled after a normal exhalation