respiratory-drhunter

Nose

Passageway for air

Mouth

Passageway for air & food

Epiglottis

Covers larynx during swallowing

Nasal Cavity

Filters, warms & moistens air

Pharynx

Common passageway for air, food & liquid

Larynx

Enables sound production

Trachea

Contains cartilage that keeps airway open

Pleural membranes

Cover & protects the lungs, lines the chest cavity & reduces friction

Lung

Primary organ of the respiratory system that allows gas exchange

Intercostal muscles

Moves ribs during respiration

Rib

Protects soft tissues of the thorax & aid respiration

Diaphragm

Large, domed skeletal muscle which allows respiration

Bronchi

Branches off the trachea producing ever smaller airways into the lung tissue

Alveoli

Air sacs within the lungs where gas exchange actually occurs

Right lung

Respiratory organ on the right side of the thorax

Left Lung

Respiratory organ on the left side of the thorax

Respiratory system

Allows one to obtain oxygen (O2 from air to blood) & eliminate carbon dioxide (CO2 from blood to air).

2 phases of breathing/ventilation

inspiration and expiration

Inspiration

The active process of taking in air

Expiration

The passive process of releasing out air

Functions of the upper respiratory tract

Passageway for respiration

Receptors for sense of smell

Filters incoming air to remove larger particulate foreign material

Moistens and warms incoming air

Resonating chambers for voice

Glottis

The opening to the larynx

Bronchioles

Airways in the lungs that lead from the bronchi to the alveoli.

Respiratory Cycle

One complete inspiration and expiration starting from a resting state.

Vital Capacity

The maximum amount of air a person can expel from the lungs after a maximum inhalation.

Inspiratory reserve

The maximal amount of additional air that can be drawn into the lungs by determined effort after normal inspiration.

Tidal Volume

The amount of air which enters the lungs during normal inhalation at rest.

Expiratory reserve

The additional amount of air that can be forced from the lungs by determined effort after normal expiration.

Residual volume

The volume of air still remaining in the lungs after the most forcible expiration. (about 1000 cc)

Asthma

Chronic spasm or severe allergic reaction characterized by the constriction of bronchioles.

Bronchitis

Inflammation of the lining of the bronchioles.

Emphysema

Condition in which the alveoli become clogged & deteriorate, causing the lungs to lose their elasticity.

Pneumonia

Generally caused by a bacterial or viral infection in which the alveoli become filled with fluid, preventing the exchange of gases.

Lung cancer

Irregular & uncontrolled growth of mutated tumor cells in the lung tissue.

Breathing (ventilation)

Moving air in to and out of lungs.

External respiration

Gas exchange between air and blood.

Internal respiration

Gas exchange between blood and tissues.

Aerobic Cellular respiration

The production of ATP in the presence of 02, producing CO2 & H2O as a waste product.

Anaerobic cellular respiration

The production of ATP in the absence of O2, producing lactic acid.

Turbinates

The nasal conchae protrude slightly into the nasal cavity producing folds that induce turbulance in air as you inhale through the nose.

External nares

The 2 oval openings in the nose where air enters.

Nasal septum

The partition separating the nasal cavity into right & left sides.

Pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium

Tissue lining the respiratory passages

Olfactory nerve

The cranial nerve that carries impulse to the brain that allow us to sense smells.

Sinuses

Air spaces in the bones of the skull that act as resonating chambers for the voice.

Nasopharynx

Where the nasal cavity meets the throat.

Oropharynx

Central portion of the throat that meets the posterior portion of the mouth.

Laryngopharynx

The lower portion of the throat where it meets the top of the trachea.

Pathway of external respiration

Air enters through the nasal or oral cavity then enters the pharynx --> larynx --> trachea --> bronchus --> bronchiole --> alveoli.

Paranasal Sinuses

Frontal + Ethmoid + Sphenoid + Maxillary

Sleep apnea

A serious disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops & starts during sleep, lowering levels of oxygen in the blood during sleep.

Surfactant

A lipoprotein secreted by type II alveolar cells that decreases the surface tension of the fluid lining the alveoli, permitting expansion & prevents collapse.

Alveolar sacs

It is through the moist walls of both these globes & the capillaries that surround them that rapid exchange of CO2 & O2 actually occurs.

Lungs

Fairly large, cone shaped organs that fill the two lateral chambers of the thoracic cavity.

Pleura

A double layered, thin, moist, slippery membrane of tough endothelial cells that covers the lungs.

Visceral pleura

The inner layer of membrane lying closer to the lung tissue.

Parietal pleura

The outer layer of membrane lining the inner wall of the thoracic cavity.

Pleural fluid

The slippery serous fluid necessary to prevent friction between the pleural membranes.

Thoracentesis

A surgical procedure used to drain excess pleural fluid.

Pneumothorax

A condition cause by air getting into the pleural cavity that puts pressure on the lung causing collapse.

Mediastinum

The centrally located space between the lungs that holds the heart.

Ventilation

The movement of air into & out of the lungs.

Normal breathing rate

Adults normally breath about 14-20 but this rate may changes based on a number of factors like age, sex, body position, presence of certain pathological disorders or exercise.

Hiccoughs

An unusual inhalation caused by a spasm of the diaphragm and a spasmodic closure of the glottis.

Effects of aging on respiratory system

Decreased elasticity of lungs; decreased lung volume; decreased alveoli function; decreased activity of cilia; diminished cough and gag reflexes.

Hering-Breuer reflex

A protective mechanism that terminates inhalation, thus preventing over expansion of the lungs.

Control of breathing

Mostly occurs in the respiratory center located in the medulla of the brain stem but is also controlled by chemical factors such as the level of CO2 in the blood.

Carotid bodies

Chemoreceptors located in the internal carotid arteries respond to decreased changes in O2 in the blood going to the brain.

Pulmonary function tests

Assess the volume & flow of air &/or the concentration of O2 or CO2 in the blood.

Physical fitness

The efficiency with which the body is able to get O2 from the lungs to the tissues & CO2 from the tissues to the lungs.

Dyspnea

Difficult or labored breathing.

Eupnea

Normal easy breathing.

Hyperpnea

Increased rate & depth of breathing with abnormal exaggeration of respiratory movements.

Orthopnea

Difficulty breathing when in horizontal position.

Tachypnea

Abnormally rapid, shallow rate of breathing.

Hyperventilation

Rapid breathing that causes the body to loose CO2 too quickly leading to an increase in blood ph.

Respiratory Therapist

A technician trained to evaluate, treat & care for patients with breathing or other cardiopulmonary disorders.

Common cold

Acute, self-limiting, & highly contagious viral infection of the upper respiratory tract.

Pharyngitis

Inflammation of the throat that may be caused by one of several bacteria or viruses.

Laryngitis

Inflammation of the voice box.

Sinusitis

Inflammation caused by infection of the mucous membrane that lines the upper respiratory cavities.

Influenza

A type A or B viral infection of the respiratory system characterized by chills, fever, body aches, and fatigue.

Diffusion

Movement of molecules from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration.

Osmosis

Diffusion of water through a selectively permeable membrane.

apnea

Transient cessation of respiration.

Sars-CoV2

The virus that causes COVID.

COPD

A group of lung diseases that block airflow and make it difficult to breathe.

Pruritus

Itchy skin.

Normal Respitory Rate Adults

14-20 breaths/min (females slightly higher than males)

Normal breathing rate children

Normal respiratory rate decreases as age increases. It is highest in infants (30-60 bpm), then toddlers (22-34