exam 4

These flashcards cover key vocabulary terms and definitions related to the respiratory system and its regulation, preparing students for their exam.

Pulmonary Ventilation

The process of moving air into and out of the lungs.

Gas Exchange

The exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the alveoli and blood.

Lungs

Organs responsible for gas exchange in the respiratory system.

Diaphragm

Muscle that contracts to assist in breathing by enlarging the thoracic cavity.

Intrapulmonary Pressure

Pressure inside the lung alveoli, which changes during breathing.

Respiratory Membrane

The membrane across which gas exchange occurs in the alveoli.

Spirometry

A method used to measure lung volumes and capacities.

Tidal Volume (TV)

The amount of air entering or leaving the lungs in a single breath.

Vital Capacity (VC)

The maximum amount of air that can be expired after a maximal inspiration.

Residual Volume (RV)

The volume of air remaining in the lungs after maximal expiration.

Total Lung Capacity (TLC)

The total volume of air the lungs can hold.

Alveoli

Tiny air sacs in the lungs where gas exchange occurs.

Partial Pressure

The pressure exerted by a specific gas in a mixture of gases.

Bohr Effect

A concept where increased acidity or temperature reduces hemoglobin's affinity for O2.

Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Transport

CO2 is transported in the blood as bicarbonate ions, dissolved in plasma, or bound to hemoglobin.

Hemoglobin

A protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen.

Afferent Feedback

Signal transmitted from exercising limbs that initiates the drive to breathe.

Hyperventilation

Increased rate and depth of breathing, often leading to decreased CO2 levels.

Hypoventilation

Decreased rate and depth of breathing, often leading to increased CO2 levels.

Pulmonary Diffusion

The movement of oxygen and carbon dioxide between alveoli and blood.

Central Chemoreceptors

Chemoreceptors in the brain that regulate breathing based on CO2 levels.

Peripheral Chemoreceptors

Chemoreceptors in the aortic and carotid bodies sensitive to changes in blood gases.

Fick's Law

The principle stating that the rate of gas diffusion is proportional to surface area and partial pressure gradient.

Myoglobin

A protein that carries oxygen in muscle cells, having a higher affinity for O2 than hemoglobin.

Oxygen Cascade

The gradual decrease of oxygen partial pressure from the atmosphere to tissues.

Exercise Training

Physical activity aimed at improving fitness, which can impact respiratory function.

Hering-Breuer Reflex

A reflex triggered by lung stretch that helps to regulate the depth of breathing.

Ventilation

The process of moving air into and out of the lungs.

Intrapleural Pressure

Pressure within the pleural cavity, typically negative to ensure lung inflation.

Hypoxia

Low oxygen supply to tissues.

Acidosis

A condition characterized by an increase in acidity in the blood, often affecting breathing.

Alveolar Ventilation

The volume of fresh air entering the alveoli per minute.

Transport of CO2

Methods by which carbon dioxide is carried in the blood, including bicarbonate formation.

Physiological Dead Space

The volume of the lungs that does not participate in gas exchange.

Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR)

The maximum speed of expiration, commonly measured in asthma testing.

Airway Resistance

Resistance to airflow in the respiratory pathway, affecting ventilation.

Optimal Breathing Patterns

Breathing strategies that maximize oxygen intake and carbon dioxide expulsion.

Chloride Shift

The exchange of bicarbonate and chloride ions in red blood cells.

Aging Effects on Respiration

Changes in respiratory function and efficiency caused by aging.

Asthma

Chronic inflammatory disease of the airways that causes wheezing and breathing difficulties.