level 2: Ch 18 Respiratory System - Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts from the Respiratory System lecture notes.

Pulmonary ventilation

Movement of air into and out of the lungs; the first phase of respiration.

External gas exchange

Exchange of gases between air in the lungs and the blood.

Gas transport in the blood

Movement of oxygen and carbon dioxide through the bloodstream.

Internal gas exchange

Gas exchange between the blood and body tissues.

Conducting airways

Pharynx, larynx, trachea, and lungs that conduct air.

Nasal cavity mucous membrane

A mucous membrane in the nasal cavity that guards against abrasion, microbes, and environmental insults.

Nasopharynx

Superior portion of the pharynx.

Oropharynx

Middle portion of the pharynx.

Laryngopharynx

Inferior portion of the pharynx.

Aspiration

Obstruction of air supply by a foreign object, which may cause suffocation.

Right lung lobes

Three lobes: superior, middle, and inferior.

Left lung lobes

Two lobes: superior and inferior.

Alveoli

Thin-walled air sacs where gas exchange between air and blood occurs.

Inhalation

Lung pressure drops below atmospheric pressure.

Exhalation

Lung pressure rises above atmospheric pressure.

Diaphragm action during inhalation

Downward motion of the diaphragm increases the chest’s vertical dimension.

Thoracic cavity expansion and gas pressure

As the thoracic cavity expands, gas pressure within the cavity decreases.

Gas diffusion direction

Gases diffuse from areas of higher partial pressure to lower partial pressure.

Oxygen transport by hemoglobin

About 98.5% of oxygen diffuses into capillary blood and binds to hemoglobin for transport.

Origin of carbon dioxide

CO2 is produced continually in tissues as a by-product of cellular respiration.

CO2 transport forms

CO2 is transported in plasma, on hemoglobin, or as bicarbonate (carbonic acid) after conversion.

CO2 and acid-base balance

Increased CO2 forms bicarbonate acid, lowering pH; expelling CO2 raises pH.

Respiratory control center (medulla)

Sets the basic pattern of respiration; fires about 12 times per minute.

Phrenic nerve

Nerve that innervates the diaphragm and respiratory muscles.

Central chemoreceptors

Sensitive to H+ levels in interstitial fluid; part of a negative feedback control of respiration.

Hypercapnia response

Respiratory center increases signals to ventilatory muscles to expel more CO2.

Apnea

Temporary cessation of breathing.

Orthopnea

Difficulty in breathing that is relieved by sitting in an upright position.

Cheyne-Stokes respiration

Rhythmic variation in breathing depth alternating with apnea.

Hyperventilation effect on CO2

Hyperventilation decreases CO2 in the blood, causing hypocapnia.

Hypoventilation effect on CO2

Hypoventilation increases CO2 in the blood, causing acidosis.

Rhinovirus

Virus(s) that cause the common cold; transmitted via droplets.

Influenza symptoms

Aches, pain, and high fever.

Danger of influenza

Can develop into pneumonia.

Pneumonia

Infectious inflammation of the lungs with fluid-filled air spaces.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Bacterium that causes tuberculosis.

Asthma

Inflammation, excess mucus, and bronchial smooth muscle spasm causing breathing difficulty.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

Chronic airway inflammation with excessive secretions (bronchitis) and destruction of alveoli (emphysema).

Spirometry

Breathing test used to diagnose disorders such as COPD.

Lung cancer risk with smoking

Smokers are about 10 times more likely to develop lung cancer than non-smokers.

Pneumothorax

Air in the pleural space causing lung collapse.