the respiratory system
respiration
ventilation of the lungs (breathing)
functions of the respiratory system
gas exchange
communication
olfaction
acid-base balance
blood pressure regulation
blood and lymph flow
blood filtration
expulsion of abdominal contents
anatomical divisions of the respiratory system
upper respiratory tract & lower respiratory tract
upper respiratory tract
in head and neck
nose - larynx
lower respiratory tract
organs of the thorax
trachea - lungs
functions of the nose
warms, cleanses, and humidifies inhaled air
detects odors
serves as a resonating chamber that amplifies voice
vibrissae
stiff guard hairs that block insects and debris from entering nose
three regions of the pharynx
nasopharynx
oropharynx
laryngopharynx
nasopharynx
receives auditory tubes and contains pharyngeal tonsil
oropharynx
contains palatine tonsils
laryngopharynx
esophagus begins at that point
primary function of the larynx
to keep food and drink out of the airway
structures located inside the larynx
epiglottis
vestibular folds
vocal folds
glottis
vocal cords
produce sound when air passes between them
glottis
the vocal cords and the opening between them
trachea
patent airway
mucocillary escalator
mechanism for debris removal
mucus traps inhaled particles & upward-beating cilia drive mucus toward pharynx where it is swallowed
right lung
shorter than the left
has three lobes: superior, middle, and inferior
left lung
tall and narrow
contains the cardiac impression
has two lobes: superior and inferior
conducting zones
right and left main (primary) bronchi
secondary (lobar) bronchi
tertiary (segmental) bronchi
bronchioles
terminal bronchioles
respiratory zones
respiratory bronchioles
alveolar ducts
alveolar sacs (saccules)
alveoli
site of gas exchange
cells of the alveolus
squamous (type I) alveolar cells
great (type II) alveolar cells
alveolar macrophages
squamous (type I) alveolar cells
thin, broad cells that allow for rapid gas diffusion between alveolus and bloodstream
cover 95% of alveolus surface area
great (type II) alveolar cells
repair the alveolar epithelium when the squamous (type I) cells are damaged
secrete pulmonary surfactant
alveolar macrophages
most numerous of all cells in the lung
wander the lumens of alveoli and the connective tissue between them
keep alveoli free from debris by phagocytizing dust particles
respiratory membrane
thin barrier between the alveolar air and blood
consists of: squamous (type I) alveolar cells, endothelial cells of blood capillary, and their shared basement membrane
respiratory cycle
one complete inspiration and expiration
quiet respiration
while at rest, effortless, automatic
forced respiration
deep or rapid breathing
Boyle’s Law
at a constant temperature, pressure and volume are inversely related
muscles involved in quiet inspiration
diaphragm
external intercostals
sternocleidomastoid
muscles involved in quiet expiration
diaphragm
internal intercostals
Charles’ Law
the volume of a gas is directly proportional to its absolute temperature
two factors that influence airway resistance
diameter of the bronchioles
bronchodilation
bronchoconstriction
compliance
stimulants of bronchodilation
epinephrine and sympathetic stimulants
stimulants of bronchoconstriction
histamine, parasympathetic nerves, cold air, and chemical irritants
pulmonary compliance
ease with which the lungs can expand
surfactant
secreted by great (type II) cells of alveoli and disrupts hydrogen bonds between water molecules and thus reduces the surface tension of the water film inside the alveoli
Infant Respiratory Distress Syndrome (IRDS)
premature babies lacking surfactant are treated with artificial surfactant until they can make their own
anatomic dead space
conducting division of airway where there is no gas exchange
physiologic dead space
sum of anatomic dead space and any pathological alveolar dead space
minute ventilation
amount of air moving into or out of the lungs in one minute
alveolar ventilation rate
AVR = frequency x (TV - dead space)
spirometry
the measurement of pulmonary function
restrictive disorders
those that reduce pulmonary compliance
obstructive disorders
those that interfere with airflow by narrowing or blocking the airway
examples of restrictive disorders
black lung disease & tuberculosis
examples of obstructive disorders
asthma & chronic bronchitis
ventral respiratory group (VRG)
primary generator of the respiratory rhythm
produces a respiratory rhythm of 12 breaths per minute
dorsal respiratory group (DRG)
modifies the rate and depth of breathing
receives influences from external sources
pontine respiratory group (PRV)
modifies the rhythm of the VRG by outputs to both the VRG and the DRG
adapts breathing to special circumstances such as sleep, exercise, vocalization, and emotional responses
central chemoreceptors
the pH of cerebrospinal fluid reflects the CO2 level in the blood
peripheral chemoreceptors
found in the carotid and aortic bodies & respond to the O2/CO2 content and the pH of the blood
stretch receptors
found in the smooth muscles of bronchi and bronchioles, and in the visceral pleura & respond to inflation of the lungs
Inflation (Hering-Breuer) Reflex
triggered by excessive inflation & inhibits neurons associated with inhalation
apnea
temporary cessation of breathing
dyspnea
labored, gasping breathing; shortness of breath
hyperpnea
increased rate and depth of breathing in response to exercise, pain, or other conditions
hyperventilation
increased pulmonary ventilation in excess of metabolic demand
hypoventilation
reduced pulmonary ventilation leading to an increase in blood CO2
Kussmaul respiration
deep, rapid breathing often induced by acidosis
orthopnea
dyspnea that occurs when person is lying down
respiratory arrest
permanent cessation of breathing
tachypnea
accelerated respiration
Dalton’s Law
total atmospheric pressure is the sum of the contributions of the individual gases
partial pressure
the separate contribution of each gas in a mixture
three influences that cause the composition of inspired and alveolar air to differ
air is humidified by contact with mucous membranes
air in alveolar mixes with residual air left from previous respiratory cycle
alveolar air exchanges O2 and CO2 with blood
alveolar gas exchange
the swapping of O2 and CO2 across the respiratory membrane
Henry’s Law
the amount of gas that dissolves is determined by the partial pressures of the gases in the mixture
ventilation-perfusion coupling
the ability to match air flow and blood flow to each other
venous reserve
lots of oxygen remaining in venous blood
BPG
a breakdown product in glycolysis
hormones that promote oxygen delivery to tissues by stimulating BPG synthesis
testosterone
thyroxine
growth hormone
epinephrine
Haldane effect
low level of oxyhemoglobin enables the blood to transport more CO2
the rate of CO2 loading into the blood is increased in metabolically active tissues
standard pH level
7.35 to 7.45
standard CO2 level
40 mmHg
standard PO2 level
95 mmHg
acidosis
blood pH is lower than 7.35
alkalosis
blood pH is higher than 7.45
hypocapnia
PaCO2 is less than 35 mmHg (most common cause of alkalosis)
hypercapnia
PaCO2 is greater than 45 mmHg (most common cause of acidosis)
hypoxic drive
respiration driven more by low PO2 than by CO2 or pH
extrinsic ligaments of the larynx
cricothyroid
cricotracheal
thyrohoid
valsalva maneuver
increasing abdominal pressure by holding a deep breath while contracting the abdominal muscles — the depressed diaphragm increases abdominal pressure and helps push out organ contents during childbirth, urination, and defecation
atelectasis
the collapse of a lobe or lung due to equalizing the intrapleural and atmospheric pressure
role of the dorsal respiratory group
adjusts respiratory rate based on stimuli from peripheral chemoreceptors
role of the ventral respiratory group
sets basal respiratory rate
role of the pontine group
adjusts respiratory rate based on stimuli from limbic system or cerebral cortex
alveolar gas exchange
movement of oxygen and carbon dioxide across the respiratory membrane
systemic capillary beds
where most CO2 is loaded into the blood
alveolar sacs
where CO2 is unloaded in the lungs
the Bohr effect
the rate of O2 unloading is increased in metabolically active tissues due to increased acidity
two factors that facilitate systemic unloading of oxygen from hemoglobin in the peripheral tissues
lower PO2 in tissue fluid
binding of protons to hemoglobin
carbonic anhydrase
converts CO2 and H2O to carbonic acid which dissociates into bicarbonate and hydrogen ions