Blood Vessels and Respiratory System

These flashcards cover key terms and concepts related to blood vessels and the respiratory system, suitable for exam preparation.

Tunica media

The middle layer of blood vessels, responsible for vasoconstriction and vasodilation.

Filtration

Pressure-driven movement of fluid from interstitial spaces into capillaries.

Blood colloid osmotic pressure

Promotes reabsorption of fluid into the blood, similar to filtration.

Cardiac output

The volume of blood that exits a ventricle each minute.

Blood viscosity

The thickness of blood, determined by the ratio of red blood cells to plasma volume.

Thrombosis

A clot in a vessel that reduces blood flow.

Embolism

A piece of a clot that gets stuck and obstructs blood flow.

Renal artery

The artery that carries blood to the kidneys.

Upper respiratory tract

Includes the nose, nasal cavity, oral cavity, and pharynx.

Tracheostomy

An incision in the trachea to facilitate breathing.

Boyle's Law

Describes the inverse relationship between pressure and volume of gases.

Surfactant

A substance produced by type two alveolar cells that prevents alveolar collapse.

Functional residual capacity (FRC)

The volume of air remaining in the lungs after a normal expiration.

Hemoglobin's affinity for oxygen

Influenced by pH, availability of oxygen, temperature, and partial pressure of CO2.

Bicarbonate

70% of CO2 is transported in the blood by bicarbonate ions.