Respiratory System Lecture Notes

Practice flashcards covering respiratory anatomy, physiology, gas transport, and regulatory mechanisms based on lecture transcript notes.

Normal Blood pH

The physiological range of blood pH is between $7.35$ and $7.45$.

Respiratory Epithelium

Pseudostratified ciliated epithelium containing mucus, used for filtering and conducting air in the lower respiratory tract.

Dalton's Law of Partial Pressure

The principle that gas diffusion occurs from an area of High Partial Pressure ($P.P.$) to an area of Low Partial Pressure through membranes.

Boyle's Law

The physical principle stating that pressure and volume are inversely related ($\uparrow P \downarrow V$), which facilitates pulmonary ventilation.

Tidal Volume (TV)

The volume of air inhaled or exhaled during normal breathing.

Vital Capacity

A diagnostic measurement of respiratory health calculated as the sum of $TV + IRV + ERV$.

Surfactant

A substance in the alveoli that maintains surface tension and prevents alveolar collapse.

Carbonic Anhydrase

An enzyme that converts $CO_2$ and $H_2O$ into carbonic acid ($H_2CO_3$), which then dissociates into $H^+$ and $HCO_3^-$.

Bicarbonate ($HCO_3^-$)

The primary form of $CO_2$ transport in the blood, accounting for $70\%$ of total $CO_2$ transport.

Carbaminohemoglobin ($Hb \cdot CO_2$)

The form of $CO_2$ transport where $23\%$ of carbon dioxide binds directly to hemoglobin.

Chloride Shift

The process where $HCO_3^-$ moves out of the Red Blood Cell (RBC) in exchange for chloride ($Cl^-$).

Medulla Control Center

The region of the brainstem that monitors $CO_2$ and pH levels to regulate the basic rhythm of respiration.

DRG (Dorsal Respiratory Group)

A respiration control center in the medulla responsible for normal inspiration.

VRG (Ventral Respiratory Group)

A respiration control center in the medulla responsible for forced breathing.

Pons Control Center

The region of the brain that measures $O_2$ and increases respiration during exercise.

External Respiration

The exchange of gases between the alveoli and the pulmonary capillaries.

Internal Respiration

Cellular respiration and gas exchange between systemic capillaries and tissue cells.

Sleep Apnea

A condition where weight on the chest or other factors disrupt normal inspiration during sleep.