Respiratory System and Gas Exchange Vocabulary

A comprehensive vocabulary review set covering respiratory anatomy, blood gas mechanics, chemical buffering, and life functions based on lecture notes.

Diffusion

The movement of gases from high concentration to low concentration, such as $O_2$ moving from lungs to blood and $CO_2$ moving from blood to lungs.

Respiration (Gas Exchange)

Process driven by pulmonary circulation moving blood from the heart to the lungs to trade old waste gas for fresh oxygen at tiny air sacs.

True Perfusion

The delivery of oxygen-rich blood to the cells and taking $CO_2$ waste away.

Carbonic Acid ($H_2CO_3$)

An unstable chemical form created when $CO_2$ meets and mixes with water ($H_2O$) in blood, which easily splits into acidic $H^+$ ions and basic $HCO_3^-$ ions.

Kussmaul Breathing

A respiratory state where the lungs panic and breathe harder and faster to remove acid because the brain senses that blood is too acidic.

Normal Blood pH

The normal physiological range for blood pH, which is $7.35 - 7.45$.

Four Life Functions

Ventilation (air movement), Oxygenation ($O_2$ in blood), Circulation (gas exchange/blood movement), and Perfusion (respiratory rate, volume, chest rise, and blood delivery to tissues).

$$PaO_2$$

Partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood, with a normal reference range of $75 - 100\,mmHg$.

Controller (Respiratory System)

The component consisting of the Central Nervous System and peripheral chemoreceptors that regulates the respiratory system by maintaining and adjusting breathing rate and depth.

Central Nervous System (Respiratory Control)

The medulla oblongata and pons, which control the involuntary aspects of breathing.

Peripheral Chemoreceptors

Sensory structures located in the carotid/aortic bodies and medulla that sense changes in blood levels of oxygen, carbon dioxide, and pH to adjust breathing.

Pump (Respiratory System)

The muscular system (diaphragm, intercostal muscles, sternocleidomastoid, scalenes) providing the necessary force to move air in and out of the lungs.

Diaphragm

The primary respiratory muscle that contracts to create negative pressure, drawing air into the lungs.

Intercostal Muscles

Muscles that expand and contract the rib cage, assisted by accessory muscles (sternocleidomastoid and scalenes) during increased respiratory demand.

Mixer (Respiratory System)

The structure consisting of the lungs and alveoli where the exchange of $O_2$ and $CO_2$ between air and blood occurs.

Alveoli

Tiny air sacs in the lungs where gas exchange occurs, moving oxygen into the blood and carbon dioxide out.

Ventilation

The movement of air in and out of the respiratory tract that ensures air reaches the alveoli.