Respiratory System Overview

These flashcards cover essential concepts and mechanisms related to the respiratory system, including types of respiration, gas exchange, lung volumes, and regulatory factors.

What are the two types of respiration?

Internal respiration (metabolic processes in mitochondria) and external respiration (exchange of O2 and CO2 between the environment and cells).

What is the function of alveoli in the respiratory system?

Alveoli facilitate gas exchange via diffusion due to their thin walls and large surface area.

What pressure is considered atmospheric pressure at sea level?

760 mm of Hg.

What occurs during a pneumothorax?

Loss of pressure in the pleural cavity causes the lung to collapse as intrapleural pressure equates to atmospheric pressure.

According to Boyle's law, how is gas pressure related to volume?

The pressure of a gas is inversely related to its volume.

What is pulmonary surfactant and its role?

A mixture of proteins and lipids secreted by Type II alveolar cells that lowers surface tension and increases lung compliance.

What are the components and functions of total lung capacity?

Total lung capacity (TLC) is the maximum amount of air in the lungs, comprising tidal volume (TV), inspiratory reserve volume (IRV), expiratory reserve volume (ERV), and residual volume (RV).

What is the significance of the Haldane effect?

The Haldane effect describes how loading O2 onto hemoglobin decreases its affinity for CO2.

How is carbon dioxide transported in the blood?

10% dissolved in plasma, 30% bound to hemoglobin, and 60% as bicarbonate (HCO3-).

What triggers the regulation of respiration according to PCO2?

PCO2 is the primary signal for minute-to-minute regulation, monitored by central chemoreceptors in the medulla.