PSE1 Respiratory System

Respiratory System

The system in the body responsible for the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the body and the environment.

Air Quality

The measure of the cleanliness and purity of the air, particularly in terms of pollutants and contaminants.

Pulmonary Ventilation

The process of breathing, which involves the movement of air into and out of the lungs.

Pulmonary Diffusion

The exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the lungs and the blood.

Gas Exchange

The process by which oxygen is taken in and carbon dioxide is released in the lungs and tissues.

Oxygen Transport

The movement of oxygen from the lungs to the body's tissues via the bloodstream.

Carbon Dioxide Transport

The movement of carbon dioxide from the body's tissues to the lungs via the bloodstream.

Respiratory Membrane

The thin barrier between the alveoli in the lungs and the capillaries, where gas exchange occurs.

Partial Pressures of Gases

The pressure exerted by each individual gas in a mixture, such as oxygen and carbon dioxide in the lungs.

Arterial-Venous Oxygen Difference

The difference in oxygen content between the arterial blood (oxygen-rich) and venous blood (oxygen-poor).

Factors Influencing Oxygen Delivery and Uptake

Various factors, such as exercise, altitude, and blood flow, that affect the delivery of oxygen to the tissues and its uptake by the cells.

Carbon Dioxide Removal

The process of eliminating carbon dioxide from the body, primarily through exhalation.

Regulation of Pulmonary Ventilation

The involuntary control of breathing, which is regulated by the brain to maintain appropriate levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the body.

Inspiration

The active process of increasing the dimensions and volume of the thoracic cage by contracting the diaphragm and external intercostal muscles, resulting in a decrease in pressure in the lungs and the flow of air into the lungs.

Atmospheric pressure

The pressure exerted by the Earth's atmosphere, which is typically 760 mmHg.

Intrapulmonary pressure

The pressure within the lungs, which decreases during inspiration and increases during expiration.

Intrapleural pressure

The pressure within the pleural cavity, which decreases during inspiration and increases during expiration.

Boyle's gas law

The principle that the pressure of a gas is inversely proportional to its volume, meaning that when the volume of the lungs increases during inspiration, the intrapulmonary pressure decreases.

Respiratory pump

The mechanism by which changes in intra-abdominal and intra-thoracic pressure during forced breathing help return venous blood back to the heart.

Expiration

The passive process of the relaxation of inspiratory muscles and diaphragm, causing the elastic tissue of the lungs to recoil and the thoracic cage to return to its original dimensions, resulting in an increase in pressure in the lungs and the forceful expulsion of air.

Tidal volume

The amount of air entering and leaving the lungs with each breath.

Vital capacity (VC)

The greatest amount of air that can be expired after a maximal inspiration.

Residual volume (RV)

The amount of air remaining in the lungs after a maximal expiration.

Total lung capacity (TLC)

The sum of the vital capacity and the residual volume.

Pulmonary Ventilation

The process of breathing, which involves the movement of air into and out of the lungs.

Inspiration

The act of inhaling or taking in air into the lungs.

Expiration

The act of exhaling or expelling air from the lungs.

Pulmonary Volumes

The different measurements of air volume in the lungs, such as tidal volume, inspiratory reserve volume, and expiratory reserve volume.

Pulmonary Diffusion

The exchange of gases (oxygen and carbon dioxide) between the alveoli in the lungs and the capillary blood.

Blood Flow to the Lungs at Rest

The amount of blood that flows through the lungs when the body is at rest.

Respiratory Membrane

Also known as the alveolar-capillary membrane, it is the thin membrane where gas exchange occurs between the air in the alveoli and the blood in the pulmonary capillaries.

Partial Pressures of Gases

The pressure exerted by each gas in a mixture, such as oxygen, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen.

Gas Exchange in the Alveoli

The process of oxygen entering the blood and carbon dioxide leaving the blood in the alveoli.

Transport of Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide in the Blood

The movement of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the bloodstream.

Oxygen Transport

The process of carrying oxygen from the lungs to the body tissues.

Carbon Dioxide Transport

The process of carrying carbon dioxide from the body tissues to the lungs.

Gas Exchange at the Muscles

The exchange of gases (oxygen and carbon dioxide) that occurs in the muscles during exercise.

Arterial-Venous Oxygen Difference

The difference in oxygen content between arterial blood (oxygenated) and venous blood (deoxygenated).

Oxygen Transport in the Muscle

The delivery of oxygen to the muscle tissues during exercise.

Factors Influencing Oxygen Delivery and Uptake

Various factors that affect the delivery of oxygen to the tissues and the uptake of oxygen by the cells.

Carbon Dioxide Removal

The process of removing carbon dioxide from the body.

Regulation of Pulmonary Ventilation

The involuntary control of breathing, which is regulated by the respiratory centers in the brain.

Atmospheric Pressure

The pressure exerted by the air in the atmosphere, which is approximately 760 mmHg at sea level.

Dalton's Law

The law stating that the total pressure of a mixture of gases is equal to the sum of the partial pressures of the individual gases in the mixture.

Pulmonary Diffusion

The process of gas exchange between the alveoli and the blood.

Partial Pressures of Gases

The pressure exerted by each gas in a mixture, which determines the direction and rate of gas diffusion.

Henry's Law

States that gases dissolve in liquids in proportion to their partial pressures, depending on their solubilities in the specific fluids and temperature.

Respiratory System

The system responsible for the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the body and the environment.

Alveoli

Small air sacs in the lungs where gas exchange occurs.

Gas Exchange

The process of oxygen and carbon dioxide moving between the alveoli and the blood.

Oxygen Exchange

The movement of oxygen from the alveoli into the blood.

Fick's Law

Describes the rate of diffusion through a tissue, stating that it is proportional to the surface area and the difference in partial pressure of gas between the two sides of the tissue.

Carbon Dioxide Exchange

The movement of carbon dioxide from the blood into the alveoli.

Oxygen Diffusion Capacity

The rate at which oxygen diffuses from the alveoli into the blood.

Uneven Distribution of Blood Flow

The limited perfusion of the upper regions of the lungs due to gravity at rest.

Regulation of Pulmonary Ventilation

The involuntary control of breathing to maintain appropriate levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the body.

Pulmonary Ventilation

The process of breathing, which involves the movement of air into and out of the lungs.

Anatomy of the Respiratory System

The study of the basic structures of the lungs and other respiratory organs.

Inspiration

The act of inhaling air into the lungs.

Expiration

The act of exhaling air out of the lungs.

Pulmonary Diffusion

The process of gas exchange in the lungs, where oxygen enters the bloodstream and carbon dioxide is removed.

Arterial-Venous Oxygen Difference

The difference in oxygen content between the arteries and veins.

Respiratory Membrane

The thin barrier in the lungs where gas exchange occurs between the alveoli and the capillaries.

Partial Pressures of Gases

The pressure exerted by each gas in a mixture, such as oxygen and carbon dioxide in the alveoli.

Gas Exchange in the Alveoli

The exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the alveoli and the capillaries.

Oxygen Transport

The process of carrying oxygen in the blood, either bound to hemoglobin or dissolved in the plasma.

Carbon Dioxide Transport

The process of carrying carbon dioxide in the blood, primarily as bicarbonate ions.

Gas Exchange at the Muscles

The exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the blood and the muscles during exercise.

Factors Influencing Oxygen Delivery and Uptake

Various factors, such as pH, temperature, and oxygen saturation, that affect the delivery and uptake of oxygen by the body.

Carbon Dioxide Removal

The process of removing carbon dioxide from the body, primarily through exhalation.

Regulation of Pulmonary Ventilation

The involuntary control of breathing, which is regulated by the respiratory centers in the brain.

Hemoglobin Saturation

The percentage of hemoglobin molecules that are bound to oxygen.

Oxygen Dissociation Curve

A graph that shows the relationship between the partial pressure of oxygen and the saturation of hemoglobin with oxygen.

pH

A measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a solution.

Blood Oxygen-Carrying Capacity

The maximum amount of oxygen that can be carried by the blood.

Carbaminohemoglobin

The compound formed when carbon dioxide binds to hemoglobin.

Oxygen

A gas that is transported in the blood primarily bound to hemoglobin.

Hemoglobin

A protein in red blood cells that binds to oxygen and carries it throughout the body.

Oxyhemoglobin

The combination of hemoglobin and oxygen.

Plasma

The liquid component of blood in which oxygen can dissolve.

Desaturation

The process of hemoglobin unloading oxygen.

PO2

Partial pressure of oxygen in the blood.

pH

A measure of acidity or alkalinity in the blood.

Bicarbonate ion

A form in which carbon dioxide is transported in the blood to prevent the accumulation of carbonic acid.

Arteries

Blood vessels that carry oxygenated blood away from the heart.

Veins

Blood vessels that carry deoxygenated blood back to the heart.

Oxygen-carrying capacity

The maximum amount of oxygen that blood can carry.

Gas exchange

The process of oxygen and carbon dioxide moving between the lungs and the bloodstream.

Myoglobin

A molecule that transports oxygen to the mitochondria in the muscle.

Mitochondria

Organelles in cells where energy production occurs.

Oxygen Delivery

The process of transporting oxygen to active muscles during exercise.

Oxygen Uptake

The process of cells taking in oxygen from the blood.

Oxygen Content of Blood

The amount of oxygen present in the blood.

Oxygen-Carrying Capacity

The ability of the blood to transport oxygen.

PO2

Partial pressure of oxygen in the arterial blood.

Blood Flow

The movement of blood through the body.

Local Conditions

Factors such as pH and temperature that affect muscle activity.

Hemoglobin

The molecule in red blood cells that carries oxygen.

Oxygen Unloading

The release of oxygen from the hemoglobin molecule.

Carbon Dioxide Removal

The process of removing carbon dioxide from the muscles and transporting it to the lungs for clearance.