Respiratory System Ch 23 Study Prompts

Do you know the main functions of the respiratory system? Which of the functions is vital to survival?

Exchange of gasses between the external environment and the blood, warm and moisten air, voice production.

1. Exchange of gasses

Can you list the four steps of respiration?

Steps

1. Pulmonary ventilation- inhaling and exhaling

2. External respiration- exchange of gasses between the blood and air

3. Transport- done by cardiovascular system

4. Internal respiration- exchange of gasses between the blood and tissues

Can you list the major organs/structures of the respiratory system?

1. Which two structures aid in respiration but are not officially parts of the respiratory system? Which systems do they belong to?

Structures:

1. Nose

2. Pharynx

3. Larynx

4. Trachea

5. Bronchi

6. Bronchioles

7. Alveoli

8. Lungs

9. Muscles (diaphragm, intercostals and scalenes and sternocleidomastoid) and the oral cavity. Muscles belong to the muscular system and oral cavity to the digestive system

Which two zones make up the respiratory system?

respiratory and conduction zones

What is the function of the respiratory zone?

1. Do you know the components that make up this zone?

exchange of gasses between the blood and air: respiratory bronchioles, alveolar duct, alveolar sac, alveoli

What is the function of the conduction zone?

1. Do you know the components that make up this zone?

leads air to the respiratory zone. These structures are conduits for air only, no diffusion can occur across their walls

1. external nose, nasal cavity, naso-, oro-, and laryngopharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi and bronchioles

Do you know which muscle is the primary muscle for ventilation?

diaphragm

Do you know the functions of the nose?

airway for respiration, warms and moistens air, filters and cleanses air, resonating chamber and houses olfactory receptors

Can you name the structures of the internal and external nose?

root, bridge, dorsum nasi, apex, nares (nostrils), alae

Do you know which bones help to form the nose and nasal cavity?

frontal, maxillae, nasal, palatine, ethmoid, sphenoid, inferior nasal conchae and vomer

Which bones form the nasal septum?

vomer and perpendicular plate of ethmoid

Do you know the names of the structures to which the nasal cavity opens posteriorly?

posterior nasal aperatures (choanae)

Do you know what "nares" are? What is another name for these structures?

• nostrils.

• Folds of skin that form openings into the nasal cavity

Do you know the name of the cavity superior to the nares?

vestibule

Do you know the name and function of the structures located within the vestibule?

vibrissae- hairs that help trap debris in the air that we breathe into the nose

Do you know the location and function of nasal epithelium?

1. What are the two mucosae of the nasal epithelium?

lines the nasal cavity:

1. olfactory- contains the sensory receptors for smell

2. respiratory- contains receptors that initiate the sneeze reflex, glands for mucus production and capillaries for warming and moistening the air

What important structures are located in the olfactory mucosa?

bipolar neurons with receptors for smell

What substance do the cells of the respiratory mucosa secrete? What type of epithelia is the respiratory mucosa?

• mucus.

• Pseudostratified ciliated columnar.

Can you list and describe the location and function of the conchae in the nasal cavity?

• the middle and superior are on the ethmoid bone in the roof of the nose.

• The inferior curls into the nasal cavity from the lateral walls.

• These swirl the air to keep it in the nasal cavity to be warmed and moistened

Do you know which bones contain sinuses? What is the function of these sinuses?

• frontal, maxillae, ethmoid and sphenoid.

• Resonate speech, warm and moisten air, lighten the skull.

Can you describe the location and function of the pharynx?

1. Can you list and describe the function of the three regions of the pharynx?

the pharynx is located between the sphenoid bone and the openings to the esophagus and larynx. It is a food/beverage/air passageway.

1. Nasopharynx- from the sphenoid to soft palate. Air only.

2. Oropharynx- Air/food/drink.

3. and Laryngopharynx- epiglottis to esophagus posteriorly/trachea anteriorly.

Can you list and describe the function of the pharyngeal tonsils?

immune tissue that helps fight bacteria/debris entering the body through the nasal cavity.

Do you know the names of the other two sets of tonsils and their locations?

• palatine tonsils at the soft palate and lingual tonsils at the base of the tongue.

• There are also tubal tonsils around the opening to the pharyngotympanic tube.

Can you list and describe the function of the pharyngotympanic tube?

• connects the pharynx to the middle ear.

• Equilibrates pressure between the middle ear and the external environment.

Can you describe the location and function of the larynx?

• superior to the trachea and anterior to the esophagus.

• Patent air passage.

• Contains the vocal cords.

Can you list and describe the cartilages that form the larynx?

Cartilages (all hyaline)

1. Thyroid- large, shield-shaped cartilages that form the anterolateral walls of the larynx

2. Cricoid- inferior to the thyroids. Ring-shaped and is thinner in the front and gets larger posteriorly

3. Arytenoid- wing-shaped small cartilages on the posterior aspect that help anchor the vocal cords

Can you describe the location and function of the epiglottis?

• superior to the larynx.

• Folds over and closes off the larynx during swallowing.

• Made of elastic cartilage

Can you list and describe the location and function of the two types of vocal ligaments?

types:

1. true vocal cords (vocal folds)- produce sound

2. false vocal cords (vestibular folds)- help form a seal with the epiglottis to close the glottis during swallowing.

Do you know what the glottis is?

the opening into the larynx.

Can you describe the structure, location and function of the trachea?

• inferior to the larynx.

• Patent airway.

• Hyaline cartilage rings ensure its open structure.

1. Can you list and describe the three layers of the trachea wall?

Layers:

1. Mucosa- pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelia with goblet cells (to make and coat the trachea with mucus).

2. Submucosa- CT layer. Contains seromucous glands that make and secrete additional mucus.

3. Adventitia- CT fibrous outer layer that contains the hyaline cartilage tracheal rings

Do you know the name of the glands in the submucosa of the trachea that supply the lining of the trachea with extra mucous?

seromucous glands

Do you know the function of tracheal rings? What are these rings made of?

• inferior to the larynx.

• Patent airway.

• Hyaline cartilage rings ensure its open structure.

Do you know what the carina is?

• the last hyaline cartilage ring at the inferior end of the trachea.

• It divides in two to produce the two primary bronchi that will enter the lungs

Can you describe the primary bronchi, and describe how they divide into smaller airways in the lungs? Can you name the smaller airways?

• the primary bronchi enter each lung, then divide into secondary (lobar) bronchi that lead into each lobe, then into tertiary (segmental) bronchi that go into each segment of each lobe.

• From there they continue to branch into bronchioles.

Can you describe what structural changes occur from the bronchii to the bronchioles?

• lose tracheal rings and gain smooth muscle in the bronchioles.

• Pseudostratified columnar is replaced with simple columnar then cuboidal in the bronchioles.

Do you know which type of epithelia lines the bronchioles?

ultimately simple cuboidal

Do you know what the bronchial tree is? What is the end structure of the bronchial tree?

• branching pattern of the airways in the lungs.

• Terminal bronchioles.

Can you trace the path of air from the terminal bronchioles to the alveoli?

terminal bronchioles → respiratory bronchioles → alveolar ducts → alveolar sacs →alveoli

Can you describe the structure, location and function of the alveoli?

thin, simple squamous, round "pockets" for gas exchange in the lungs.

Do you know which structures make up the air-blood barrier? What is the name of this structure?

• alveolar wall + basement membrane + capillary wall.

• Respiratory membrane.

Can you describe and give the function for the Type I and Type II cells in the alveolar walls?

Cells:

1. Type I- simple squamous cells that form most of the alveolar wall. Thin and allow the diffusion of gasses across them.

2. Type II- cuboidal-shaped cells that make and secrete surfactant to decrease surface tension of water so that the alveoli can expand and take up air

Do you know the function of the elastic fibers that surround each alveolus?

provide elastic function so that the alveoli return to their natural resting size after air leaves the alveoli.

Do you know the function of macrophages in the alveoli?

immunity- they are phagocytic

Can you describe the structure, location and function of the lungs?

triangular shaped organs located in the pleural cavities of the thorax for respiration

Do you know the main difference between the right and left lungs?

right has three lobes (superior, middle and inferior) and the left has two (superior and inferior)

Do you know which body cavity the lungs occupy? Do you know the names of the membranes that line this cavity?

• right has three lobes (superior, middle and inferior) and the left has two (superior and inferior)

• parietal pleura

Can you define the following lung structures?

1. Apex

2. Base

3. Hilus

4. Costal surface

5. Cardiac notch

6. Horizontal fissure

7. Oblique fissure

Structure:

1. Apex- pointed superior tip of the lung

2. Base- wide inferior portion that sits on the diaphragm

3. Hilus- portion of lung where structures (vessels and bronchi) enter/leave the lung

4. Costal surface- any portion of the lung that faces the ribs

5. Cardiac notch- only in the left lung. The heart pushes into the left lung and forms a depression

6. Horizontal fissure- transversely running gap that separates the superior and middle lobes in the right lung

7. Oblique fissure- separates the middle from inferior lobe in the right and superior from inferior lobe in the left lung

Do you know what is the smallest subdivision of the lung that is visible to the naked eye?

lobule

Do you know what type of fluid is contained in the pleural cavity? Do you know its function?

pleural fluid (serous fluid in pleural cavity). Reduces friction

Do you know the other term for "breathing"?

1. What are the two components of breathing?

pulmonary ventilation

1. inhale + exhale

What mechanism (process) does pulmonary ventilation rely on to occur?

a change in pressure within the thoracie cavity- achieved by a change in volume caused by the diaphragm

Do you know which muscles are responsible for inspiration? Forced inspiration? Expiration? Forced expiration?

diaphragm only.

External intercostals, scalenes and sternocleidomastoid.

NONE-expiration is simply a relaxation of the diaphragm.

Internal intercostals.

Can you describe where the respiratory centers are in the CNS?

1. Which is responsible for modifying eupnea?

2. Which is responsible for integration of chemical info and passing it to the ventral respiratory group? 

3. Responsible for setting eupnea and sending the information to the diaphragm by the phrenic nerve?

pons and medulla oblongata.

1. The rest of these should read (due to recent research):

   1. Responsible for modifying eupnea- pontine respiratory center

   2. Responsible for integration of chemical info and passing it to the ventral respiratory group- dorsal respiratory group.

   3. Responsible for setting eupnea and sending the information to the diaphragm by the phrenic nerve- ventral respiratory group.

What types of breathing processes can higher brain centers (cortex) influence or control?

• cerebral cortex.

• Can do voluntary breathing actions such as hold breath, increase/decrease rate or depth...

How do these breathing centers "know" how to control breathing? For example, what is the stimulus they receive?

chemical information (oxygen, carbon dioxide and protons) is integrated in the brainstem.