RSP 110 Final Exam Prep

A collection of vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts from the RSP 110 course material related to the respiratory and circulatory systems.

Anatomy of the respiratory system

The study of the structures, tissue types, and cell types that comprise the respiratory system.

Boyle's Law

A principle that describes the inversely proportional relationship between the pressure and volume of a gas.

Transpulmonary pressure

The difference in pressure between the inside of the lungs and the pleural space surrounding them.

Compliace

A measure of the lung's ability to stretch and expand; calculated as the change in volume divided by the change in pressure.

Elastance

The ability of the lung to return to its original shape after being stretched; inverse of lung compliance.

Surfactant

A substance secreted by the alveolar cells that reduces surface tension within the alveoli, preventing collapse.

Laplace's Law

A law indicating the relationship between surface tension, radius, and pressure in alveoli.

Fick's Law

A law that describes the diffusion of gases across a permeable membrane, based on differences in concentration.

Obstructive Disorders

Lung diseases characterized by obstruction of airflow, as seen in conditions like asthma and COPD.

Restrictive Disorders

Lung diseases characterized by reduced lung volume, as seen in conditions like pulmonary fibrosis.

V/Q Ratio

The ratio of ventilation (V) to perfusion (Q) in the lungs, important for assessing lung function.

Medullary Resp. Centers

The group of neurons in the medulla oblongata that regulate the rhythm of breathing.

Hypo vs hyperventilation

Hypoventilation refers to inadequate ventilation leading to increased carbon dioxide levels, while hyperventilation involves excessive ventilation decreasing carbon dioxide.

Alveolar Minute Volume

The total amount of air that reaches the alveoli per minute, calculated using tidal volume and respiratory rate.

Chemoreceptors

Sensory receptors that respond to changes in carbon dioxide and oxygen levels, regulating breathing.

Total oxygen content of blood

The sum of the oxygen bound to hemoglobin and the oxygen dissolved in plasma.

Dissociation Curve

A graph that shows how the affinity of hemoglobin for oxygen changes with different oxygen concentrations.

Renal Failure

A condition where the kidneys lose the ability to filter waste and excess fluid, affecting the cardiopulmonary system.

Baroreceptors

Sensory receptors that detect changes in blood pressure and help regulate cardiovascular function.