Respiratory System Anatomy & Physiology. L1

These following structures compose which respiratory tract?

nasal cavity

nostrils

oral cavity

epiglottis

laryxn

pharynx: nasal pharynx, oropharynx, hypopharynx

upper respiratory tract

These following structures compose which respiratory tract?

Right primary bronchus

superior lobe

middle lobe

inferior lobe

trachea

left primary bronchus

bronchi

bronchioles

alveoli

diaphragm

lower respiratory tract

How many lobes does the right lung have?

3

how many lobes does the left lung have?

2

How does the right bronchus differ from the left main bronchus?

It is shorter, wider, and more straightly aligned with the trachea

The _______ bronchus is the preferential side for aspirated material to go.

right

Aspiration pneumonia is more common in which lobes?

right lobes

What is the average length of the trachea in adults?

10 cm

What is the average length of the trachea in children?

4 cm

The walls of alveoli are how many cells thick?

one cell thick

What is the function of alveoli?

facilitate gas exchange

T/F: alveoli have thick walls to reduce the distance for diffusion.

false, they have thin walls to reduce the distance of diffusion

How does the diaphragm move during inhalation?

It contracts and moves downward

How does the diaphragm move during exhalation?

It relaxes and moves upwards

Which system functions to exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide between the environment and body’s cells?

respiratory system

What is the term for the primary function of the respiratory system where oxygen is absorbed from the air we breathe into the bloodstream and carbon dioxide is released from the bloodstream into the external environment?

gas exchange

What is the term for adjusting the speed and depth of breathing, respiratory system can influence the level of carbon dioxide in the blood and control acid-base balance?

regulation of blood pH

What is the term for the system that filters out foreign particles (pollutants) and microorganisms from incoming air to protect against infection and irritation?

protection

What is the term for the movement of air through the vocal cords in the larynx allowing us to produce sounds for speech and other vocalizations?

voice production

What is the term for the nasal cavity having olfactory receptors for the sense of smell and when we breathe, airborne molecules are drawn into the nose, providing a sense of smell which is crucial for taste, appetite, and detecting danger signals?

olfaction

What are the anatomical/clinical respiratory divisions?

upper respiratory tract

lower respiratory tract

What are the mechanical divisions of the lower respiratory tract?

extrathoracic airways

intrathoracic airways

Describe the extrathoracic airway.

It is surrounded by atmospheric pressure

it includes the supraglottic, glottic, and infraglottic regions

Describe the intrathoracic airways.

It is surrounded by intrapleural pressure.

it includes the trachea, mainstem bronchi, and multiple bronchial generations

Which muscles are involved in the inspiratory mechanics of breathing?

Pulmonary Ribcage Area:

sternocleidomastoid - elevate sternum

scalenes - elevate the upper ribs

external intercostals - elevate ribcage

Abdominal Ribcage Area:

diaphragm - primary muscle of respiration; flow generator

Which muscles are involved in the expiratory mechanics of breathing?

Pulmonary Ribcage Area:

internal intercostals - depress ribcage

Abdomen:

external oblique

rectus abdominis

transversus abdominis

internal obliques

When the diaphragm contracts, the abdominal contents are pushed ______ and the ribs are ______________.

downward

lifted upward and outward

During exercise, when breathing frequency and tidal volume increase, which muscles may also be used for more vigorous inspiration?

external intercostal muscles

accessory muscles

T/F: Expiration is an active process.

False. expiration is a passive process.

How is air driven out of the lungs?

by reverse pressure gradient between the lungs and the atmosphere until the system reaches its equilibrium point again

During exercise or diseases in which airway resistance is increased, which muscles may aid in the expiratory process?

expiratory muscles

abdominal muscles

internal intercostal muscles

In Boyle’s Ideal Gas Law and Pressures of Ventilation, as volume increases, pressure ________ and air will flow _____.

decreases

in

In Boyle’s Ideal Gas Law and Pressures of Ventilation, as volume decreases, pressure _______ and air flows _____.

increases greater than atmospheric

out

T/F: the larger the transpulmonary pressure, the greater the inflation of alveoli and lungs.

True

T/F: Pleural pressure is always more negative than alveolar pressure to create negative pressure vacuum for inflation.

true

Intrapleural pressure is always slightly negative at around ________ mmHg.

-4 mmHg

If intrapleural pressure becomes equal to the atmospheric pressure, what happens? What could cause this?

the lung will collapse

due to pneumothorax

What is a pneumothorax?

Collapsed lung

occurs when there is air in the space between the chest wall and your lung AKA the pleural space

Air in the pleural space can build up and press against your lung, causing partial or full collapse.

What is a common immediate symptom of pneumothorax?

shortness of breath due to decreased oxygen

Chronic respiratory diseases are among the leading causes of mortality and disability. Name three of these diseases.

asthma

chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

lung cancer

Roughly how many people in the US have asthma? This is approximately ____/_____ people.

25 million

1 in 13

How many people have a diagnosis of COPD?

16 million +

Over ________ Americans die of lung cancer each year.

150,000

What is the most common cause of respiratory diseases such as COPD and lung cancer?

smoking

Both viral and bacterial _______ can lead to respiratory disease. Examples include ______, ________, and ______.

infections

tuberculosis

pneumonia

COVID-19

Why are allergens and irritants risk factors for respiratory diseases?

exposure to certain substances like pollen, dust mites, mold spores, pet dander, particles of cockroach waste can trigger asthma.

Why are occupational hazards risk factors for respiratory diseases?

Long term exposure to certain harmful substances in the workplace can lead to conditions like asbestosis, silicosis, or industrial bronchitis

Why are genetics considered risk factors for respiratory disease?

certain diseases, like cystic fibrosis or alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, are caused by inherited genetic mutations.

Why is air pollution a risk factor of respiratory disease?

chronic exposure to polluted air can lead to a variety of respiratory conditions, including COPD and lung cancer.

What are 6 symptoms of respiratory diseases?

chronic cough lasting for several weeks

mucus: variety of mucus including yellow, red, white and foamy

dyspnea - shortness of breath

fatigue - weight loss

hemoptysis - coughing up blood

chest discomfort - chest pain

What are some questions we should ask our patients?

Is the pain sudden or sharp or is it constant in waves?

Is it a new pain or chronic?

What improves the pain?

What seems to cause it?

What are the physiological processes in respiration?

lungs - ventilation

cells - gas exchange (diffusion, perfusion, transport)

mitochondria - oxygen utilization

CNS - breathing regulation and control

The process of air moving in and out of the lungs

ventilation

the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the lungs and the blood

gas exchange

Movement of oxygen from the lungs into the bloodstream and carbon dioxide from the blood into the lungs

diffusion

The circulation of blood through the lungs and body tissues.

perfusion

The delivery of gases through the bloodstream to various body systems.

transport

The use of oxygen at the cellular level, primarily in the mitochondria during cellular respiration or oxidative phosphorylation.

oxygen utilization

The reflex mechanisms that regulate the rate of ventilation.

control of breathing

The exchange of gases between the external environment and the lungs.

external respiration

Respiration that takes place in the lungs

external respiration

Which respiration involves inhalation and exhalation?

external respiration

Which respiration involves oxygen being taken in from the environment and carbon dioxide being released back into the environment?

external respiration

Which respiration has the transport medium of air that is inhaled and exhaled?

external respiration

Which external respiration involves the alveoli in the lungs?

external respiration

Which respiration has higher oxygen concentration in the environment, lower oxygen concentration in the blood; higher carbon dioxide concentration in the blood, lower carbon dioxide concentration in the environment?

external respiration

Which form of respiration involves the exchange of gases between the blood and the body tissues?

internal respiration

Which form of respiration takes place in the body tissues and involves cellular respiration?

internal respiration

Which form of respiration involves oxygen being released from the blood to the tissues, and carbon dioxide being taken in from the tissues to the blood?

internal respiration

Which form of respiration utilizes blood as the transport medium?

internal respiration

Which form of respiration has a respiratory surface of the cells in the body tissues?

internal respiration

Which form of respiration has a higher oxygen concentration in the blood, lower oxygen concentration in the tissues; higher carbon dioxide concentration in the tissues and lower carbon dioxide concentration in the blood?

internal respiration

The nasal passages, pharynx, trachea, bronchi, bronchioles, and terminal bronchioles form the ________ zone.

conducting zone

The conducting zone is responsible for what?

the transportation of air into and out of the respiratory zone

The respiratory bronchioles, alveolar ducts, and alveolar sacs form which zone?

respiratory zone

The respiratory zone is responsible for what?

gas exchange

The lining of the conducting and respiratory zone airways of what four cell types?

ciliated

goblet

basal

brush

What regulates the smooth muscle function that is present throughout the conducting and respiratory zones?

The autonomic nervous system

Sympathetic stimulation of the conducting and respiratory zones activates _________ receptors, which leads to _______ and ______ of the airways.

B2-adrenergic receptors

dilation

relaxation

Parasympathetic stimulation activates ________ receptors, resulting in airway _____ and _______.

muscarinic

contraction

constriction

What cells do respiratory bronchioles contain?

Clara cells

T/F: respiratory bronchioles contain innervated smooth muscle

true

What three cell types make up the alveoli?

Type I pneumocyte

Type II pneumocyte

Alveolar macrophages

Which alveolar cell is described as epithelial cells that facilitation diffusion and are the msot abundant cell type?

Type I pneumocyte

Which alveolar cell is described as involved in removing foreign particles and debris from the alveoli?

Alveolar macrophages

Which alveolar cell is described as being responsible for synthesizing surfactant?

Type II pneumocytes

The air-blood barrier is comprised of what three layers?

alveolar epithelium

capillary endothelium

basement membrane

What term is defined as the pressure that tends to collapse the alveolus?

surface tension

What is the function of surfactant?

to decrease alveolar surface tension, which will decrease the collapsing pressure on the alveolus

Neonatal Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS) is caused by a deficiency or absence of ________.

Surfactant

A lack of surfactant production in infants leads to:

Neonatal respiratory distress syndrome

Which syndrome is identified by increased surface tension of the alveolus, increased collapsing pressure on the alveolus, alveolar collapse and what causes this?

Neonatal respiratory distress syndrome

lack of surfactant production

What age of infant is at risk of NDS?

Prematurely delivered infants born prior to 32 weeks gestation