Respiratory and Digestive Systems Review

A set of flashcards for key terminology and concepts related to the respiratory and digestive systems.

Respiratory System

System responsible for obtaining oxygen and expelling carbon dioxide, enabling gas exchange, communication, sense of smell, maintaining acid-base balance, and expelling abdominal contents.

Epiglottis

Spoon-shaped flap that seals the glottis when swallowing to prevent food and liquid from entering the trachea.

Alveoli

Thin pouches in the lungs where gas exchange occurs, lined with squamous alveolar cells.

Bronchi

Branches of the trachea that lead to the lungs.

Larynx

Voice box containing vocal cords that vibrate to produce sound.

Mucociliary elevator

Mechanism that moves mucus and debris out of the respiratory tract towards the throat.

Pulmonary ventilation

The process of breathing, including inspiration and expiration.

Chemoreceptors

Receptors that monitor the pH of blood and the levels of carbon dioxide and oxygen.

Glycolysis

Metabolic pathway converting glucose into pyruvate, producing ATP in the process.

Digestion

The breakdown of food into usable forms through mechanical and chemical processes.

Intrinsic factor

Glycoprotein secreted by parietal cells that is essential for the absorption of Vitamin B12.

Cholecystokinin (CCK)

Hormone secreted by the mucosa in response to fat in chyme, stimulating the secretion of pancreatic juices and bile.

Ghrelin

Hormone known as the hunger hormone, secreted by parietal cells in the stomach, stimulating appetite.

Peptide YY

Hormone secreted in the ileum and large intestine that signals satiety.

Leptin

Hormone secreted by adipocytes proportional to fat stores, regulating energy balance.

Acidosis

Condition characterized by a blood pH below 7.35.

Alkalosis

Condition characterized by a blood pH above 7.45.

Insulin

Hormone produced by the pancreas that lowers blood glucose levels and promotes fat deposition.

Vascular supply to lungs

Lungs receive blood from both pulmonary arteries (for gas exchange) and bronchial arteries (for nutrients).

Enzymatic hydrolysis

Process of breaking covalent bonds in food molecules by adding water to form smaller molecules.

Systemic gas exchange

Exchange of gases between the blood and tissues, influenced by metabolic needs.

Metabolism

The set of life-sustaining chemical reactions in organisms, including anabolic and catabolic pathways.