Respiratory System Lecture - Chapter 18

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the anatomy, physiology, muscle mechanics, and gas transport mechanisms of the human respiratory system as described in the lecture notes.

Upper Respiratory Tract

The structures of the respiratory system located outside the thoracic cavity, specifically the nasal cavity, pharynx, and larynx.

Lower Respiratory Tract

The structures of the respiratory system located inside the thoracic cavity, including the trachea, bronchi, and lungs.

Nasopharynx

The part of the pharynx that provides openings for the eustachian tubes.

Larynx

A structure that contains the epiglottis, thyroid cartilage, and cricoid cartilage; it connects the pharynx to the trachea.

Carina

The point where the trachea bifurcates into the left and right primary bronchi and where microbes commonly congregate.

Right Bronchus

A part of the lower respiratory tract that is slightly wider and more vertical than its left counterpart, making it the most likely site for inhaled foreign objects to lodge.

Cilia

Millions of hair-like structures lining the mucosa that help move mucus toward the pharynx to purify the air.

Alveoli

The primary sites of gas exchange where $O_2$ and $CO_2$ diffusion occurs between the lungs and pulmonary capillaries.

Visceral Pleura

The specific serous membrane that covers the surface of the lungs.

Parietal Pleura

The serous membrane that lines the thoracic cavity.

Pleural Cavity

The potential space existing between the visceral and parietal pleura.

Diaphragm

The main muscle responsible for pulmonary ventilation which flattens and drops during contraction to enlarge the chest cavity.

Inspiratory Center

The primary respiratory center in the brain used for neural control of breathing.

Apneustic Center

The part of the neural control system that increases the length and depth of inspiration.

Pneumotaxic Center

The neural center responsible for preventing lung overinflation.

Expiratory Center

A neural center used primarily during forceful exhalations.

Atmospheric Pressure

The external force that drives respiration; air flows into the lungs when intrapulmonary pressure drops below this level.

Pulmonary Compliance

One of the factors affecting airflow, referring to the elasticity and ease with which the lungs can expand.

Tidal Volume

The volume of air moved during quiet breathing, standardly measured at $500\,ml$.

Vital Capacity

The maximum amount of air that can be expired after a maximum inspiration, which is approximately $4700\,ml$.

Total Lung Capacity

The maximum volume of air that the lungs can hold, totaling $6000\,ml$.

Ventilation-Perfusion Coupling

The ratio between the air flowing into an alveolus and the flow of blood through the surrounding capillaries; vessels constrict in poorly ventilated areas and dilate in well-ventilated areas.

Oxyhemoglobin

The primary form of oxygen transport in the blood, accounting for $98.5\%$ of oxygen circulation.

Bicarbonate Ions

The primary way in which carbon dioxide is transported through the blood, accounting for $70\%$ of total $CO_2$.