Anatomy of Respiration Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts, muscle origins, insertions, innervations, and functional actions involved in the anatomy and physiology of respiration.

Pressure

Force over area ($P = \frac{F}{A}$), where pressure increases as force increases and decreases as area increases.

Boyle's Law

The physical principle stating that pressure varies inversely with volume for a given gas ($P \propto \frac{1}{V}$).

Dyne

Unit of force required to move a mass of $1\,\text{gram}$ at $1\,\text{cm/second}^2$.

Newton

Unit of force required to move a mass of $1\,\text{kg}$ at $1\,\text{meter/second}^2$.

Pascal

Derived unit of pressure equal to $1\,\text{Newton/meter}^2$.

Micropascal

Pressure unit equal to $1\,\text{millionth}$ of a Pascal, where $20\,\text{micropascal}$ represents SPL (Sound Pressure Level).

Inspiration

The process of bringing air into the lungs.

Diaphragm

The thin, musculotendinous, dome-shaped primary muscle of respiration that separates the thorax and abdomen; it is the only unpaired muscle of respiration.

Central Tendon

The intermediate aponeurosis into which the muscle fibers of the diaphragm insert.

Foramen Vena Cava

An opening in the diaphragm accommodating the inferior vena cava, which carries blood from the lower body.

Esophageal Hiatus

An opening in the diaphragm that acts as a passageway for the esophagus.

Aortic Hiatus

An opening in the diaphragm that permits the passage of the descending abdominal aorta from the thorax to the abdomen.

Muscle Origin

The attachment of a muscle on the more stable bone.

Muscle Insertion

The attachment of a muscle on the more moveable bone.

Innervate

To supply nerves to, stimulate, or supply with energy.

Phrenic Nerve

The major nerve that provides the primary motor supply to the diaphragm.

Sternal Portion of Diaphragm

Diaphragmatic muscle originating in the lower dorsal aspect of the xiphoid process of the sternum and inserting into the middle leaf of the central tendon.

Costal Portion of Diaphragm

Diaphragmatic muscle originating on ribs 7 to 12 (cartilages and costal surface) and inserting into the central tendon.

Vertebral Portion of Diaphragm

Diaphragmatic muscle originating from the upper lumbar vertebrae (left and right crura), encircling the esophagus, and inserting into the central tendon.

Sternocleidomastoid

Accessory muscle of inspiration comprised of sternal and clavicular heads that functions to rotate the head and elevate the rib cage.

External Intercostals

Inspiratory muscles originating on the lower margin of each rib and inserting on the upper margin of the rib below; they elevate the rib cage.

Chondral Portion of Internal Intercostals

The cartilaginous section of the internal intercostal muscles that functions in inspiration, unlike the rest of the internal intercostals.

Scalenus Anterior

Neck muscle originating on C3 to C6 transverse processes and inserting on rib 1, functioning to elevate rib 1.

Scalenus Medius

Neck muscle originating on C2 to C7 transverse processes and inserting on the upper surface of rib 1, functioning to elevate rib 1.

Scalenus Posterior

Neck muscle originating on C5 to C7 transverse processes and inserting on the outer surface of rib 2, functioning to elevate rib 2.

Abdominal Aponeurosis

A broad, multi-layered tendinous structure serving as a support mechanism for the abdominal muscles.

Linea Alba

A line within the abdominal aponeurosis extending from the xiphoid process to the pubic symphysis.

Transverse Abdominis

The deepest abdominal muscle, originating on inner surfaces of ribs 6-12, inguinal ligament, and iliac crest; compresses abdominal viscera.

External Oblique Abdominis

The most superficial abdominal muscle, originating on ribs 5-12 and inserting into the abdominal aponeurosis and iliac crest; compresses abdominal viscera.

Internal Oblique Abdominis

Abdominal muscle deep to the external obliques, originating on the inguinal ligament and inserting into the abdominal aponeurosis and ribs 8-12; compresses abdominal viscera.

Rectus Abdominis

Parallel abdominal muscle enclosed in an aponeurotic sheath, originating on the xiphoid process and costal cartilages 5-7 and inserting into the pubic symphysis.

Transversus Thoracis

Expiratory muscle on the inner surface of the anterior thorax originating from the posterior/interior sternal corpus and xiphoid and inserting onto ribs 2-6 to pull ribs down.

Internal Intercostals (Osseous Portion)

Interosseous expiratory muscles originating on superior margins of ribs 2-11 and inserting into inferior borders of ribs above; they depress the rib cage.

Quadratus Lumborum

Expiratory muscle originating on the iliac crest and inserting into rib 12 and lumbar vertebrae to pull the rib cage down.

Serratus Posterior Inferior

Expiratory muscle originating on spinous processes of T11-L3 and inserting into ribs 7 through 12 to pull the rib cage down.

Erector Spinae Group

The largest muscle group in the body, consisting of lateral (iliocostalis), intermediate (longissimus), and medial (spinalis) bundles that stabilize and move the vertebral column.