respiratory system

What are the factors affecting lung capacity?

Factors influencing the capacity of the lungs encompass biological sex, athletic conditioning, hereditary traits, tobacco usage, lung anomalies, exposure to secondhand smoke, and contact with hazardous substances.

What is tidal volume (TV)?

This term describes the quantity of air inhaled and exhaled during standard, unobstructed respiration, averaging around 500 mL.

What is inspiratory reserve volume (IRV)?

Refers to the extra air that can be inhaled forcefully following a normal breath.

What is expiratory reserve volume (ERV)?

Denotes the additional air that can be expelled forcefully following a standard exhalation.

What is residual volume (RV)?

Indicates the volume of air retained in the lungs after a forceful exhalation, preventing the collapse of alveoli, approximately 1200 mL.

What is vital capacity (VC)?

Represents the complete sum of air that can be exchanged, calculated by adding tidal volume (TV), inspiratory reserve volume (IRV), and expiratory reserve volume (ERV).

What is ventilation?

Refers to the act of air moving in and out of the pulmonary system.

What is respiration?

Involves the interchange of gases, specifically oxygen (O₂) and carbon dioxide (CO₂), within the biological system.

What are the types of respiration?

Classified into two principal types: external respiration, detailing gas exchange between the pulmonary system and bloodstream; and internal respiration, involving gas exchange between blood and body tissues.

What is inspiration?

Characterized as an active process wherein the diaphragm contracts, drawing air into the lungs.

What is expiration?

Defined as a passive action that takes place when the muscles relax, allowing air to exit the lungs.

What are the primary muscles of breathing?

Critical muscles engaged in the respiratory process include the diaphragm and the external intercostals.

What happens to pressure during inspiration?

The internal pressure decreases during the intake of air, facilitating airflow into the lung.

What happens to pressure during expiration?

The internal pressure rises when exhaling, compelling air to be expelled.

What are the three major parts of the respiratory system?

The main components consist of the respiratory airway, lungs, and respiratory musculature.

What is the function of the upper respiratory tract?

Essentially, it serves to warm, filter, and moisten the air that enters the body.

What is the function of the nasal cavity?

Divides by the nasal septum and is lined with ciliated mucosa to entrap particulates.

What are the three sections of the pharynx?

Consists of three distinct regions: nasopharynx, oropharynx, and laryngopharynx.

What is the epiglottis?

A flexible cartilage flap that obstructs the airway during the act of swallowing.

What is the larynx?

Often referred to as the voice box, it houses the vocal cords.

What is the trachea?

Known colloquially as the windpipe, it is a structure measuring 10-12 cm, reinforced by C-shaped cartilage rings.

What are bronchi?

Main branches that the trachea bifurcates into, subsequently subdividing into smaller bronchioles.

What are terminal bronchioles?

Represent the smallest air passages that lead toward respiratory bronchioles and alveoli.

What are alveoli?

Minute air sacs responsible for gas exchange, enveloped by a network of capillaries.

What are pleural membranes?

Comprises the visceral pleura (covering the lungs) and parietal pleura (lining the thoracic cavity).

What is asthma?

A chronic condition marked by airway inflammation and tightening.

What is acute bronchitis?

A temporary infection of the lungs, often resulting in a cough, typically due to viral causes.

What is chronic bronchitis?

Persistent inflammation of the bronchial tubes, commonly linked to tobacco usage.

What is COPD?

A progressive respiratory condition leading to difficulties in breathing, frequently associated with smoking.

What is emphysema?

A condition characterized by the loss of elasticity in the alveoli, resulting in shortness of breath.

What is cystic fibrosis?

A genetic disorder that results in the production of thick mucus, predisposing individuals to recurrent lung infections.

What is pneumonia?

An infection causing the alveoli to fill with fluid, which impedes normal breathing.

What is tuberculosis (TB)?

A bacterial infection of the lungs marked by chronic cough and chest discomfort.

What is lung cancer?

The leading cause of cancer death, predominantly related to smoking.

What is respiratory rate?

Measured by the count of breaths taken in a minute, typically 12-20 BPM for adults.

What is fetal lung development?

Infant lungs filled with liquid prior to birth undergo significant inflation typically within two weeks post-delivery.

What is bronchoscopy?

A diagnostic procedure employing a camera to visualize air pathways.

What is a chest X-ray?

An imaging technique that provides visual insight into the lungs, blood vessels, and surrounding thoracic structures.

What is a tuberculin skin test?

A diagnostic assessment designed to detect prior exposure to tuberculosis (TB).

What is a sputum culture?

A test aimed at identifying bacteria or fungi responsible for respiratory infections.

What are antitussives?

Medications that inhibit the cough reflex by acting on the brain's cough center.

What are expectorants?

Drugs that facilitate the clearance of mucus by reducing its viscosity.

What is pulmonary ventilation?

The process governing the movement of air into and out of the pulmonary system.

What are non-respiratory air movements?

Include various actions such as sneezing, coughing, laughing, crying, hiccupping, and yawning.

What is respiratory gas transport?

Involves the transit of oxygen and carbon dioxide throughout the circulatory system.

What is gas exchange?

Takes place through simple diffusion across the respiratory membrane in the alveoli.

What is external respiration?

Refers to the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between alveoli and the bloodstream.

What is internal respiration?

Describes the gas exchange occurring between blood and the cells of tissues.

What is the function of the diaphragm?

Contracts during inhalation and relaxes during exhalation, crucial for breathing.

What happens to lung pressure during inspiration?

Intrapulmonary pressure diminishes during inhalation, resulting in airflow into the lungs.

What happens to lung pressure during expiration?

Intrapulmonary pressure elevates during exhalation, causing air to be expelled from the lungs.

What is the role of ciliated mucosa?

Functions to trap particles and contaminants while moving debris toward the throat for expulsion.

What is the humidification of air?

Occurs when the nasal mucous membranes add moisture to inhaled air before reaching the lungs.

What is the function of pleural membranes?

Enable smooth lung movement by reducing friction during expansion and contraction.

Why does residual volume exist?

Preserves lung structure by preventing alveolar collapse and facilitates ongoing gas exchange.

What are the effects of secondhand smoke?

Harms lung tissue and elevates the likelihood of developing lung cancer and respiratory illnesses.

What are the effects of harsh chemicals on lungs?

Can precipitate chronic bronchitis, lung scarring, and predisposition to lung cancer.

Why is lung cancer deadly?

Rapid metastasis throughout the body and late-stage diagnosis contribute to its lethality.

What are the four events of respiration?

Include pulmonary ventilation, external respiration, respiratory gas transport, and internal respiration.

What do infants' fluid-filled lungs indicate?

Signify that fetal lung function is absent until birth, a process requiring about two weeks for full inflation.