respiratory chapter 4

Medulla oblongata

The part of the brainstem responsible for controlling involuntary functions like breathing and heart rate.

Sensory nerve

A nerve that carries sensory information from the body to the brain.

Glossopharyngeal nerve

A cranial nerve responsible for taste and other sensory information in the throat.

Carotid bodies

Receptors located in the carotid arteries that detect changes in oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in the blood.

Aorta

The main artery of the body that carries oxygenated blood from the heart to the rest of the body.

Aortic bodies

Receptors located in the aorta that detect changes in oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in the blood.

Partial pressure

The pressure exerted by a single gas in a mixture of gases.

Hyperventilation

Breathing rapidly and deeply, leading to a decrease in carbon dioxide levels in the blood.

Alveoli

Microscopic air sacs in the lungs where gas exchange between air and blood takes place.

Respiratory membrane

The thin barrier in the alveoli where gas exchange occurs, made up of simple squamous epithelium.

Epithelium

A type of tissue that lines the alveoli in the lungs, consisting of type I cells associated with a dense network of capillaries for gas exchange.

Alveolus

Tiny air sacs in the lungs where gas exchange occurs between the alveolar air and the blood in the capillaries.

Respiratory membrane

The thin layers of epithelial cells and basement membranes that separate the air in the alveoli from the blood in the capillaries, allowing for gas exchange.

Diffusion

The process by which solutes move from areas of higher concentration to areas of lower concentration, such as gases diffusing across the respiratory membrane.

Surfactant

Fluid secreted by cells in the alveolar wall to reduce surface tension and prevent the alveoli from collapsing.

Capillary

Small blood vessels with thin walls that are in close contact with the alveoli for gas exchange to occur.

High-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE)

A condition that can occur at high altitudes where fluid leaks from blood vessels into the alveoli due to increased capillary pressure, leading to breathing difficulties.

Hypoxia

Low levels of oxygen in the blood associated with high altitudes, which can lead to symptoms like shortness of breath and reduced oxygen saturation in the blood.

Emphysema

A lung condition where the air sacs in the lungs are damaged, impairing gas exchange and reducing surface area for diffusion.

Breath analysis

A method of detecting certain chemicals in exhaled breath that can provide information about a person's health status, such as detecting alcohol, acetone, or specific biomarkers for diseases.

Gas Exchange

The process of exchanging oxygen and carbon dioxide between the lungs and the body cells through respiration.

Pneumonia

An infection that inflames the air sacs in one or both lungs, which may fill with fluid or pus, causing symptoms like fever, chills, and difficulty breathing.

Atelectasis

The collapse of a lung or a part of it due to the collapse of the air sacs and blood vessels supplying that region, impairing gas exchange.

Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS)

A severe form of lung condition where the alveoli collapse, leading to difficulty in breathing and impaired gas exchange, often fatal.

Tuberculosis

A lung infection caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis, leading to the development of fibrous tissue around infected areas, affecting gas exchange.

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)

A viral respiratory disease caused by SARS-coronavirus, infecting lower respiratory structures and causing symptoms like fever, cough, and shortness of breath.

Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)

An acute respiratory condition caused by MERS-coronavirus, leading to symptoms like fever, cough, and shortness of breath, primarily affecting the Middle East region.

Hemoglobin

A protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen, with most of the oxygen (over 98%) bound to hemoglobin and the rest dissolved in the blood plasma.

Oxyhemoglobin

The compound formed when oxygen binds to hemoglobin in the blood, facilitating the transport of oxygen to body tissues.

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Toxicity caused by carbon monoxide binding to hemoglobin, preventing oxygen delivery to tissues and potentially inhibiting cellular respiration.

Carbon Dioxide

A waste product produced by cells in the body that is transported in the blood to the lungs for exhalation.

Carbaminohemoglobin

A compound formed when carbon dioxide binds to hemoglobin in the blood.

Bicarbonate Ions

Formed when carbon dioxide reacts with water in the blood, playing a role in transporting carbon dioxide and regulating blood pH.

Deoxyhemoglobin

Hemoglobin without oxygen bound to it, which readily binds hydrogen ions in the blood.

Chloride Shift

The exchange of chloride ions into red blood cells as bicarbonate ions diffuse out, maintaining ionic balance.

Oxyhemoglobin

Hemoglobin bound to oxygen, transporting oxygen from the lungs to the body tissues.

Carbonic Anhydrase

An enzyme in red blood cells that speeds up the reaction between carbon dioxide and water to form carbonic acid.

Alveoli

Tiny air sacs in the lungs where gas exchange occurs, allowing oxygen to enter the bloodstream and carbon dioxide to be exhaled.

pH

A measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a solution, important for regulating various physiological processes in the body.

Bronchioles

Small air passages in the lungs where fibrous connective tissue can replace smooth muscle, affecting the ability to dilate.

Diaphragm

A muscle critical for breathing, especially as other respiratory muscles weaken with age.

Hemoglobin

Protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen and carbon dioxide simultaneously.

Bicarbonate ions

Help buffer the blood to maintain its pH balance.

Chloride shift

Process where chloride ions move into red blood cells as bicarbonate ions move out to maintain electrical neutrality during carbon dioxide transport.

Alveoli

Tiny air sacs in the lungs where gas exchange occurs, which can decrease in number and efficiency with age.

Collagen and elastin

Proteins in the lungs that can change in proportion with age, affecting the ability of alveoli to expand fully.

Respiratory infections

Susceptibility to and severity of infections increase with age due to changes in the respiratory system.

Cartilage calcification

Calcification of cartilage between the sternum and ribs can stiffen, increasing the effort required for breathing.

Upper respiratory tract

Includes the nose, nasal cavity, sinuses, and pharynx.

Lower respiratory tract

Includes the larynx, trachea, bronchial tree, and lungs where gas exchange occurs.

Respiration

The process of gas exchange between the atmosphere and body cells, essential for cellular function and waste removal.