PRACTICAL 3 STUDY GUIDE FLASHCARDS

What is the main role of the nasal cavity in respiration?

To warm, humidify, filter, and conduct incoming air.

What additional sensory function is supported by the nasal cavity?

Smell.

What are nasal meatuses?

Open air passageways located beneath the nasal conchae.

Where are the superior, middle, and inferior meatuses found?

Within the nasal cavity underneath their corresponding conchae.

What is the main job of the nasal meatuses?

To allow air to move through the nasal cavity.

What nearby structures also drain into the nasal meatus region?

The paranasal sinuses and the nasolacrimal duct.

What are nasal conchae?

Curved bony shelves in the nasal cavity that project inward.

What is another name for nasal conchae?

Turbinates.

What are the three major nasal conchae?

Superior nasal concha, middle nasal concha, and inferior nasal concha.

What is the main function of the nasal conchae?

To create turbulence in inhaled air.

What does turbulence in the nasal cavity do to airflow speed?

It slows the airflow.

What does turbulence do to air contact with the mucous membrane?

It increases contact with the mucous membrane.

How do nasal conchae help warm inhaled air?

They increase contact between air and the warm mucosal surface.

How do nasal conchae help humidify inhaled air?

They increase contact between air and moist mucosa.

How do nasal conchae help filter inhaled air?

They increase the chance that particles will get trapped in mucus.

What is the key difference between a nasal meatus and a nasal concha?

A meatus is a passageway, while a concha is a structure.

What kind of structure should you think of when you see a bony ridge in the nasal cavity?

A concha.

What kind of structure should you think of when you see an open space beneath a concha?

A meatus.

What is the bronchial tree?

The branching airway system that carries air from the trachea to the microscopic gas-exchange areas.

What is the correct order of the bronchial tree progression?

Trachea → Bronchi → Bronchioles → Terminal bronchioles → Respiratory bronchioles → Alveolar ducts → Alveoli.

What is the trachea?

The main airway tube conducting air toward the lungs.

What structural feature supports the trachea?

C-shaped cartilage rings.

What are bronchi?

Large airway branches that come off the trachea and enter the lungs.

Which main bronchus is wider, shorter, and more vertical?

The right main bronchus.

Why do foreign objects often lodge in the right main bronchus?

Its wider, shorter, and more vertical shape makes entry easier.

What are bronchioles?

Smaller airways that branch from the bronchi.

What structural feature do bronchioles lack that bronchi have?

Cartilage.

What tissue becomes more prominent in bronchioles?

Smooth muscle.

What can bronchioles do due to their smooth muscle?

They can constrict or dilate.

What are terminal bronchioles?

The smallest airways of the conducting zone.

What important structure is absent from the walls of terminal bronchioles?

Alveoli.

What process does not occur in terminal bronchioles?

Gas exchange.

What are respiratory bronchioles?

The first part of the respiratory zone where gas exchange begins.

What makes respiratory bronchioles different from terminal bronchioles?

Respiratory bronchioles begin to have alveoli on their walls.

What structures are alveolar ducts?

Tiny tubes lined by alveoli that lead deeper into the gas-exchange region.

What are alveoli?

Tiny air sacs that serve as the main site of gas exchange.

What is the conducting zone?

The part of the respiratory tract that moves, filters, warms, and humidifies air.

What is the last structure of the conducting zone?

The terminal bronchiole.

What is the respiratory zone?

The part of the respiratory tract where gas exchange occurs.

What is the first structure of the respiratory zone?

The respiratory bronchiole.

What structures are included in the conducting zone from this guide?

Nose, pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, bronchioles, and terminal bronchioles.

What structures are included in the respiratory zone from this guide?

Respiratory bronchioles, alveolar ducts, and alveoli.

What tissue type lines the alveoli?

Simple squamous epithelium.

What does simple squamous epithelium mean structurally?

One layer of very flat, thin cells.

Why is simple squamous epithelium ideal for alveoli?

Its thin structure allows rapid diffusion.

What is diffusion in the alveoli?

The movement of oxygen and carbon dioxide across thin membranes.

What direction does oxygen move during alveolar gas exchange?

From alveolar air into the blood.

What direction does carbon dioxide move during alveolar gas exchange?

From blood into alveolar air.

What is the respiratory membrane made of?

Alveolar epithelium, basement membranes, and capillary endothelium.

What feature of the respiratory membrane is essential for proper gas exchange?

It must remain very thin.

What happens to oxygen transfer when the alveolar wall thickens?

Oxygen transfer becomes slower and less efficient.

What happens to carbon dioxide removal when the diffusion distance increases?

Carbon dioxide removal becomes less efficient.

What is ARDS?

Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome, a condition that damages alveoli and impairs gas exchange.

What happens in ARDS that interferes with gas exchange?

Fluid leaks into alveoli, inflammation develops, and the membrane thickens.

What happens in pneumonia that interferes with gas exchange?

Inflammatory fluid or pus fills alveoli and reduces oxygen exchange.

What common respiratory result occurs when alveoli fill with fluid, collapse, or become inflamed?

Gas exchange worsens.

What can happen to oxygen levels when alveoli are damaged?

Oxygen levels can drop.

What happens to breathing effort when gas exchange is impaired?

Breathing becomes harder.

What are the pleura?

Membranes associated with the lungs.

What are the two pleural layers?

Parietal pleura and visceral pleura.

What does the parietal pleura line?

The inside of the thoracic cavity.

What areas are associated with the parietal pleura?

The chest wall, diaphragm, and mediastinal region.

What does the visceral pleura cover?

The outer surface of the lungs.

What is found between the parietal and visceral pleura?

The pleural cavity with pleural fluid.

What is the function of pleural fluid?

To reduce friction and allow pleural surfaces to slide smoothly.

How does pleural fluid help with breathing mechanics?

It helps the lungs stay in contact with the thoracic wall.

What is the difference between pleural fluid and surfactant?

Pleural fluid lubricates pleural membranes, while surfactant reduces alveolar surface tension.

Where is surfactant located?

Inside the alveoli.

Which cells produce surfactant?

Type II alveolar cells.

What is the function of surfactant?

To reduce alveolar surface tension and help prevent alveolar collapse.

What is pulmonary ventilation?

The movement of air into and out of the lungs.

What phases make up pulmonary ventilation?

Inspiration and expiration.

What is external respiration?

Gas exchange between alveoli and pulmonary capillary blood.

What is the difference between ventilation and respiration?

Ventilation is air movement, while respiration is gas exchange.

What is residual volume?

The air left in the lungs after maximal exhalation.

What is total lung capacity?

All the air the lungs can hold after maximal inhalation.

What is functional residual capacity?

The amount of air left in the lungs after a normal exhalation.

What is vital capacity?

The maximum amount of air a person can exhale after maximum inhalation.

Which lung volume from this guide includes residual volume and represents all air in the lungs?

Total lung capacity.

Which lung volume from this guide includes residual volume after a normal exhalation?

Functional residual capacity.

Which lung volume from this guide does not include residual volume?

Vital capacity.

What is a common exam trap involving vital capacity?

Students often think all capacities include residual volume, but vital capacity does not.

What factors tend to increase vital capacity?

Male sex, taller height, exercise, and good health.

How does male sex affect vital capacity on average?

Males generally have larger thoracic dimensions and lung volumes.

How does taller height affect vital capacity?

Taller people usually have larger lung size.

How can exercise affect vital capacity?

Exercise can improve muscle conditioning and pulmonary efficiency.

How does good health affect vital capacity?

Healthy lungs and chest wall allow better expansion.

What factor from this guide decreases vital capacity?

Aging.

What changes with aging help explain lower vital capacity?

Loss of lung elasticity, stiffer chest wall, weaker respiratory muscles, and changes in alveolar walls.

What trend in residual volume is associated with aging?

Residual volume tends to increase.

What is minute ventilation?

The total amount of air moved in and out in one minute.

What is the formula for minute ventilation?

Respiratory rate × tidal volume.

What is respiratory rate?

The number of breaths taken per minute.

What is tidal volume?

The amount of air moved in one normal breath.

What is the minute ventilation for 12 breaths per minute with a tidal volume of 500 mL?

6000 mL per minute.

What important limitation does minute ventilation have as a measure?

It reflects total air moved, not necessarily how much participates in gas exchange.

What reduces the amount of minute ventilation that actually reaches gas-exchange areas?

Dead space.

What does Boyle’s law state in respiratory physiology?

Pressure and volume are inversely related.

What happens to pressure when volume increases?

Pressure decreases.

What happens to pressure when volume decreases?

Pressure increases.