Respiratory System Exam Study Guide

lung cancer

What type of cancer do most people in the US die from?

the common cold

what is nasopharyngitis also known as?

an accumulation of carbon dioxide in the lungs

what causes emphysema?

a virus, bacterium, fungus, parasite (rare case)

what causes pneumonia?

tuberculosis

what does TB stand for?

mycobacterium tuberculosis

what causes tuberculosis (TB)?

boyle’s law

as the volume of a gas increases, the pressure of the gas decreases (inversely proportionate)

from a region of high concentration to a region of low concentration

which way along a concentration gradient does gas diffuse?

3

how many lobes does the right lung have?

2

how many lobes does the left lung have?

superior lobe, middle lobe, inferior lobe

what are the lobes of the right lung? (from top to bottom?

superior lobe, inferior lobe

what are the lobes of the left lung?

frontal sinus

ethmoid sinus

maxillary sinus

sphenoid sinus

medulla oblongata sets breathing pace, pons coordinates transition between inspiration/expiration, stretch receptors send impulses via the vagus nerve to alert medulla to stop inspiration and begin exhalation

how is respiration controlled?

central chemoreceptors

monitor changes in cerebrospinal fluid pH; sensitive to carbon dioxide.

peripheral chemoreceptors

located in aorta and carotid arteries; are sensitive to changes in blood oxygen levels

peripheral chemoreceptors

stimulate respiration by sending sensory info via vagus and glossopharyngeal nerves to the brain.

mechanoreceptors

located in muscles and joints; detect muscle contraction and force generation during exercise

mechanoreceptors

stimulate quick increase in ventilation upon starting exercise

allergens or irritants

what causes airways to constrict during an asthma attack?

internal respiration

gas exchange occurs inside the body between the tissues and capillaries

external respiration

fresh oxygen from outside fills lungs and alveoli, allowing gas exchange between the alveoli and pulmonary blood.

through capillaries lining alveolar walls

where does oxygen diffuse into the blood?

the need to clear dust or other debris from the lower respiratory tract

what causes coughing?

a deep breath closing the epiglottis, then a forceful exhalation

what is the result of coughing?

a need to clear the upper respiratory passageways of dust or other debris

what causes sneezing?

the uvula closes off the oral cavity and routes air through the nose

what is the result of sneezing?

an irritation of the phrenic nerves that causes the diaphragm muscle to spasm

what causes hiccups?

sudden inspirations against the vocal cords of a closed glottis

what is the result of hiccups?

a need for increased oxygen in the lungs

what is the cause of yawning?

deep inspirations saturate the alveoli with fresh air

what is the result of yawning?

nares

2 openings in nose which air enters

olfactory receptors

sensory cells that provide the sense of smell

conchae

3 uneven, scroll-like nasal bones extending down from the nasal cavity

palate

structure made of hard and soft components separating the oral and nasal cavities

sinuses

air-filled cavities surrounding the nose

pharynx (throat)

muscular passageways extending from the nasal cavity to the mouth and connects the esophagus

tonsils

clusters of lymphatic tissue in the pharynx that protect against infection

larynx (voicebox)

triangle-shaped space inferior to the pharynx; responsible for voice production

epiglottis

flap of cartilaginous tissue covering the opening to the trachea; diverts food and liquids to the esophagus during swallowing

thyroid cartilage

the largest cartilaginous plate in the larynx; also known as the adam’s apple

trachea (windpipe)

air tube extending from the larynx into the thorax, where it splits into left and right bronchi

cartilaginous rings (c-rings)

what is the trachea supported by?

primary bronchi

2 passageways branching off of the trachea and lead to left and right lungs

bronchioles

thin-walled branches and the smallest air-conducting passageways of the bronchi

alveoli

air sacs in the lungs from which gas is exchanged with the capillaries

surfactant

a phospholipid that reduces the surface tension in the alveoli and prevents them from collapsing

pores of kohn

small openings in the alveolar walls that allow gasses and macrophages to travel between the alveoli

alveolar capillary membrane

gas exchange structure that contains the alveoli and the capillaries surrounding them

mediastinum

area of the thoracic cavity between the lungs; houses the heart, great blood vessels, trachea, esophagus, thoracic duct, thymus gland, and other structures

pleural sac

thin, doubled-walled serous membrane surrounding the lungs

parietal pleura

outer lining of the pleural sac

visceral pleura

inner lining of the pleural sac

pulmonary ventilation

air continuously moving in and out of the lungs

respiratory gas transport

when oxygen and carbon dioxide gasses in the blood are transported between the lungs and different body tissues

static

air volume in lungs

dynamic

air volume in lungs **based on time**

tidal volume

amount of air inhale in a single breath

vital capacity

amount of air that can be expired after maximal inspiration

forced vital capacity

amount of air that can be **forcibly** expired after maximal inspiration

residual volume

volume of air that never leaves the lungs

functional residual capacity

amount of air that remains in lungs after normal expiration

inspiratory reserve volume

amount of air inhaled immediately after normal inspiration

expiratory reserve volume

amount of air exhaled or forced from lungs immediately after normal expiration

total lung capacity

combination of vital capacity and residual volume

forced expiratory volume in one second

max amount of air a person can expire in on second

forced expiratory volume in one second/forced vital capacity

measures overall expiratory power of the lungs

pharyngitis

inflammation of the phraynx

sinusitis

inflammation of the sinuses

laryngitis

inflammation of the larynx

tonsillitis

inflammation of the tonsils

nasopharyngitis

inflammation of nasal passages and pharynx

influenza

a viral infection that affects the respiratory system

acute bronchitis

temporary inflammation of mucous membranes that line the trachea and bronchial passageways, causes a cough that may produce mucous

pneumonia

infection of the lungs that causes inflammation; caused by virus, bacterium, fungus, or in rare cases, a parasite

tuberculosis

highly contagious bacterial infection caused by mycobacterium tuberculosis

chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

any lung disorder characterized by a long-term airway obstruction, making it difficult to breathe

emphysema

chronic inflammation of the lungs characterized by an abnormal increase in the air spaces near the bronchioles; causes an accumulation of carbon dioxide in the lungs

chronic bronchitis

long-lasting respiratory condition in which the airways of the lungs become obstructed due to inflammation of the bronchi and excessive mucous production

hyperventilation

excessive ventilation that leads to abnormal expulsion of carbon dioxide

bronchospasms

spasmodic contractions of the bronchial muscles that constrict airways in the lungs