A&P respiratory system

What are the functions of the respiratory system?

Gas exchange, oxygenation of the blood, co2 removal, immune defence, regulation of pH, speech and vocalisation, sense of smell

What happens to the air breathed into the respiratory system?

It is warmed or cooled according to body temp, saturated with water vapour and cleaned

Name the parts of the upper respiratory system

Nasal cavity, pharynx, larynx

What is function of the nasal cavity?

nose hairs trap larger particles and smaller particles such as dust and bacteria settle and adhere to the mucus

What are the three parts of the pharynx?

nasopharynx, oropharynx, laryngopharynx

What is the nasopharynx?

the part that allows air to pass from your nose into your windpipe and eventually your lungs

What is the oropharynx?

passageway for food and air, the soft palate and uvula are pushed upwards sealing the nasal cavity preventing the entry of food and fluids

What is the laryngopharynx?

extends from the oropharynx above and continues as the oesophagus below

What are the functions of the pharynx?

passageway for food and air, warming and humidifying, hearing, protection, speech

What is the larynx?

the voice box that links the laryngopharynx and the trachea

What is the structure of the larynx?

composed of several irregularly shaped cartilages attached by ligaments and membranes. main cartilages are hyaline and elastic fibrocartilage

How are low and high pitched sounds produced?

when the muscles controlling the vocal cords are relaxed, the vocal cord open and passage for air is clear vibrating the cords produces low pitched sounds.

What are the functions of the larynx?

production of sound, speech, passageway for air, protection for the lower respiratory tract, humidifying, filtering and warming

What is the trachea?

windpipe, continuation of the larynx, extends downwards where it divides into the right and left primary bronchi

What is the structure of the trachea?

composed of three layers of tissue. outer layer contains fibrous and elastic tissue and encloses the cartilage. Middle layer consisting of cartilages and bands of smooth muscle the wind round the trachea. Lining is ciliated epithelium containing mucus-secreting goblet cells

What is the functions of the trachea?

support and patency, mucociliary escalator, cough reflex, warming, humidifying and filtering

What are the lungs?

Main organs of the respiratory system

What is the structure of the right lung?

divided into three lobes: superior, middle, inferior

What is the structure of the left lung?

only two lobes: superior and inferior. smaller than the right lung as the heart occupies space

What is the pleura?

a thin layer of tissue that lines the chest cavity and covers the lungs

What is the structure of the pleura?

the visceral pleura, the parietal pleura and the pleural cavity

Visceral pleura

covers the lungs

Parietal pleura

adheres to the inside of the chest wall and the thoracic surface of the diaphragm

Pleural cavity

space between the folds of the pleura

What are the lungs composed of?

bronchi and smaller air passages, alveoli, connective tissue, blood and lymph vessels and nerves

What is the structure of the right bronchus?

wider, shorter and more vertical than the left bronchus. increasing the likelihood of becoming obstructed by an inhaled foreign body. after entering the right lung at the hilum it divides into three branches

What is the structure of the left bronchus?

about 5cm long and narrower than the right bronchus. after entering the lung at the helium it divides into two branches

What is the structure of the bronchi?

Bronchial walls contain the same three layers as the trachea. Cartilage: present in the larger airways only. Smooth muscle: as cartilage disappears it is replaced by smooth muscle. Epithelial lining: the ciliated epithelium is replaced with non-ciliated epithelium

What is the functions of the bronchi?

control of air entry, warming and humidifying, support and patency, removal of particulate matter, cough reflex

What occurs at the alveoli?

gas exchange

What is respiration?

the exchange of gases between body cells and the environment

What is pulmonary ventilation?

the movement of air into and out of the lungs

Air enters the lungs due to...

Negative pressure in the thorax

Breathing out is normally...

A passive process involving no muscular contraction

Cilla lining the respiratory tract...

Waft to carry mucous towards the pharynx

How many pulmonary lobes does an adult have?

5

The alveoli are reached via the...

Terminal bronchioles

How wide are the capillaries surrounding the alveoli?

As wide as a single red blood cell

What are the cells lining the respiratory tract made of?

Pseudostratified columnar epithelium

What is the diaphragm controlled by?

phrenic nerve

What is the epithelium of the respiratory tract attached to?

A basal laminar layer

What process are the intercostal muscles involved in?

Forced expiration

What is the lowest part of the larynx?

Cricoid cartilage

What are the lungs surrounded by?

A visceral and perietal pleura

What is the narrowest part of the airways?

Vocal cords

How many layers of pleura are there?

Two and the pleura cavity

What shape do the vocal cords form when open?

Triangle

Air moves out of the lungs when the pressure inside the lungs is...

Greater than atmospheric pressure

For diffusion to occur what must the alveolus be?

Moist

Inspiration is created by

Generating a negative pressure in the thoracic cavity

What does Salbutamol act on?

Beta2 cells

Anatomical dead space in the lungs refers to...

The volume of air in the conducting airways that does not take part in gas exchange

What does the nasal cavity do?

Resonates sound