Respiratory System

List the flow of air from the nares to the alveoli

What’s the purpose of the nasal conchae?

To increase surface area of the nasal cavity

What’s the purpose of the vestibule hairs?

They act as a physical barrier that traps large airborne debris, dust, and pollen before they can travel deeper into your respiratory tract

What’s the purpose of the epiglottis?

To seal off the windpipe during swallowing

What’s the purpose of the ciliated mucous membrane?

To clear airborne dust, bacteria, allergens, and debris out of the respiratory tract before they can reach the lungs

Explain how the lack of cilia on our true vocal cords causes us to clear our throats

Cilia’s function is to sweep away mucus, so without it, we have to use a sharp buildup of air to knock the mucus off

Describe surfactant, naming where it is found and explaining its function

Surfactant is a soap-like fluid inside the lungs that keeps your tiny air sacs from sticking together and collapsing when exhaling. Located on the inside of alveoli; lines the walls. It decreases the surface tension, making it easier for your lungs to inflate them.

List and define the three steps of respiration

1. Pulmonary ventilation = The physical movement of air into and out of the lungs via contraction and relaxation of diaphragm and rib muscles.

2. External respiration = The exchange of gases O2 and CO2 between the air located in the alveoli

3. Internal respiration = The exchange of gasses between the blood and the bodys tissues and cells

Explain the reltaionship between volume and pressure including how this relates to the movement of air between the alveoli and the external environment.

Volume and pressure have an inverse relationship, meaning that when the volume of a container increases, the gas pressure inside it decreases, and vice versa.

List each step of inhalation

1. Contraction of diaphragm + intercostals

2. Thoracic Cavity expands, increase volume, ribs expand

3. Increase volume and decrease pressure in chest

4. Lung volume increases

5. Alveoli volume increases, pressure drops

6. Air rushes in to restore equilibrium

List each step of exhalation

1. Diaphragm + intercostals relax

2. Thorac cavity shrinks, pressure increases

3. Lung volume decreases, pressure increases

4. Vol. of alveoli decreases

5. Alveolar pressure increases

6. Air flows out of alveoli

Define asthma and name the three types discussed in class

Asthma is the tightening of bronchial tubes from spams and mucus

1. Chronic asthma is an ongoing lung disease where the airways stay constantly inflamed and extra sensitive to everyday triggers.

2. Occupational Asthma is asthma caused directly by breathing in specific dusts, fumes, gases, or chemicals at a workplace

3. Exercise-Induced Asthma is a temporary narrowing of the airways triggered by heavy physical activity