TEAS Exam - Respiratory System

Provides large area for gas exchange between air and blood; moves air to and from the gas-exchange surfaces of the lungs (pulmonary ventilation); protect respiratory surfaces from dehydration and temp. changes, provides nonspecific defenses against pathogens; produces sounds permitting speech; provides olfactory sensations to the central NS for sense of smell

What are 5 functions of the respiratory system?

Pulmonary Ventilation

Movement of air into and out of the lungs

Respiration

Process of exchanging gases between atmosphere to the body’s cells via the lungs and blood

Gas exchange

Gas diffusion across respiratory membrane of alveoli

Gas Transport

Transport of oxygen and carbon dioxide between alveoli capillaries and capillary beds in other tissues

Cellular Respiration

Releases of energy from glucose that uses oxygen gas and releases carbon dioxide waste; glucose + oxygen gas —> carbon dioxide + water + ATP energy

Nasal cavity

Hollow space behind the nose

Nasal septum

Partition separating the right and left nasal cavities

Nasal Conchae

Shell like bone that curls from lateral walls of nasal cavity; support the nasal mucous membrane in nasal cavity that help increase surface area

Pharynx

Throat - Passageway for both air and food

Larynx

Enlargement in the airway superior to the trachea; passageway for air moving in and out of the trachea; houses vocal cords

Epiglottis

Flaplike structure at the top of the larynx that the tongue pushes down when swallowing to block the glottis; functions to block solids and liquids from entering the airway

Glottis

Opening to the larynx, which contains the true vocal chords

Trachea

Flexible tube that is surrounded by cartilage; transports air into and out of the lungs; located anterior to the esophagus

Mucus traps dust, particles, pathogens; cilia push the mucus back toward to throat (to cough it out or swallow mucus)

What is the function of the ciliated mucous membrane in the airways

Left and right bronchi that lead to left and right lung respectively

What does the inferior end of the trachea branch into?

Bronchioles

Small diameter airways that branch off bronchi like a tree

Respiratory Bronchioles

Open into expansive chambers called alveolar ducts and these passages end at alveolar sacs

Alveoli

Thin walled air sacs that are the site of gas exchange between the lungs and blood

3

How many lobes are in the right lung?

2

How many lobes are in the left lung?

Upper respiratory tract

Nose: Upper respiratory tract or lower respiratory tract?

Upper respiratory tract

Nasal cavity: Upper respiratory tract or lower respiratory tract?

Upper respiratory tract

Pharynx: Upper respiratory tract or lower respiratory tract?

Both

Larynx: Upper respiratory tract or lower respiratory tract?

Lower

Trachea: Upper respiratory tract or lower respiratory tract?

Lower

Bronchi: Upper respiratory tract or lower

Lower

Bronchioles: Upper respiratory tract or lower

Lower

Alveoli: Upper respiratory tract or lower

Lower

Lungs: Upper respiratory tract or lower

Inspiration

Inhalation

Expiration

Exhalation

Muscle that lies under the lungs that is involved in ventilation (breathing)

What is the diaphragm?

Size increases

What happens to the size of the thoracic cavity when the diaphragm and external intercostal muscles contract?

Enters the lungs

How does air flow when the diaphragm and external intercostal muscles contract?

As a result of this increase in thoracic cavity volume, the pressure inside the lungs decreases, creating a pressure gradient; comparatively, the pressure on the outside of the lungs is high and the pressure inside the lungs is low

When the diaphragm contracts, how does the air pressure differ between the outside of the body and the inside of the lungs?

Decreases

What happens to the size of the thoracic cavity when the diaphragm and external intercostal muscles relax?

Air flows out of lungs

How does air flow when the diaphragm and external intercostal muscles relax?

As a result of this decrease in thoracic cavity volume, the pressure inside the lungs increases, creating a pressure gradient; comparatively, the pressure on the outside of the lungs is low and pressure inside the lungs is high

When the diaphragm relaxes, how does the air pressure differ between the outside of the body and the inside of the lungs?

Surfactant

Oily substance produced by the lungs that reduces surface tension in the alveoli

Alveolar Macrophages

WBS that patrol the epithelium and phagocytize dust, debris, pathogens that have reached alveolar surfaces

Respiratory Cycle

One complete inspiration and expiration

Tidal Volume

Amount of air that moves in or out of the lungs during one respiratory cycle (normal breath)

Inspiratory Reserve Volume

Amount of air that can be taken in over and above the tidal volume

Expiratory Reserve Volume

Amount of air that could be voluntarily expelled beyond the tidal volume

Vital Capacity

Sum of inspiratory reserve volume + expiratory reserve volume + tidal volume; the maximum amount of air that can be moved into and out of the respiratory system in a single respiratory cycle

Residual Volume

Air remaining in respiratory passageways even after expiratory reserve volume has been exhausted (i.e. what air remains in the lungs)

Total Lung Capacity

Total volume lungs can hold: Vital capacity + residual volume

Serous membrane that lines the wall of the pleural cavity

Where is the parietal pleura?

Serous membrane that covers the outer surface of the lungs

Where is the visceral pleura?

Pleural Cavity

Space between the parietal and visceral pleura (surrounding the lungs)

Pleural Fluid

Fluid found in space between parietal and visceral pleura

7% in plasma, 23% can bind to hemoglobin; 70% of carbon dioxide is converted to bicarbonate ions

What are the 3 ways that carbon dioxide is transported in the blood?

Carbonic acid (H2CO3)

When carbon dioxide enters the blood, it will combine with water. What compound is formed as a result?

Hydrogen ion (H+) and bicarbonate (HCO3-)

In the blood, what two molecules does carbonic acid dissociate into?

Since carbon dioxide forms carbonic acid in the blood when it combines with water, the blood will become more acidic as carbon dioxide levels increase

Explain why carbon dioxide affects the pH levels of blood

pH decreases (more acidic)

What happens to the pH of the blood when carbon dioxide levels increase?

pH will increase because the blood becomes less acidic

What happens to the pH of the blood as carbon dioxide levels decrease?

External Respiration

Process of gas exchange between the alveoli and blood; gas is being exchanged from the external environment and the blood

Internal Respiration

Exchange of gas between the blood and tissues