BIO_313_Respiratory_System_S24

Respiratory System

The system responsible for the transportation and exchange of gases, particularly oxygen and carbon dioxide, in the body.

Oxygen (O₂)

A vital gas required for cellular respiration to create ATP.

Carbon Dioxide (CO₂)

A waste product of cellular respiration that must be eliminated from the body.

Cellular Respiration

The biochemical process in cells that converts nutrients into energy (ATP) using oxygen.

Metabolism

The set of life-sustaining chemical reactions in organisms that convert food into energy.

Bicarbonate Buffer System

A system that helps maintain pH balance in the blood and body fluids by regulating levels of carbonic acid and bicarbonate ions.

Gas Exchange

The process of oxygen and carbon dioxide being exchanged in the lungs and tissues.

External Respiration

Gas exchange that occurs between the air in the lungs and the blood.

Internal Respiration

Gas exchange that occurs between the blood and tissue cells.

Ventilation

The process of air moving in and out of the lungs; involves inhalation and exhalation.

Conducting Zone

The part of the respiratory system that conducts air without gas exchange, including the nose, pharynx, larynx, trachea, and bronchi.

Respiratory Zone

The part of the respiratory system where gas exchange occurs, including the respiratory bronchioles and alveoli.

Tidal Volume (TV)

The amount of air inhaled or exhaled during normal breathing.

Residual Volume (RV)

The amount of air remaining in the lungs after a forced exhalation.

Vital Capacity (VC)

The maximum amount of air that can be exhaled after maximum inhalation.

Surfactant

A substance secreted by Type II alveolar cells that reduces surface tension and prevents alveolar collapse.

Atelectasis

Lung collapse that occurs when intrapleural pressure equals pulmonary pressure.

Hemoglobin

A protein in red blood cells that binds oxygen for transport in the bloodstream.

Myoglobin

A protein similar to hemoglobin, with a higher affinity for oxygen, found in muscle tissues.

Hypoxia

A deficiency in the amount of oxygen reaching the tissues.

Chemoreceptors

Receptors that respond to chemical changes in the blood, such as levels of CO₂ and O₂.

Respiratory Centers

Groups of neurons in the brain that regulate the rate and depth of breathing.

Dalton's Law

A law stating that the total pressure of a gas mixture is the sum of the partial pressures of each gas in the mixture.

Henry's Law

A law stating that the amount of gas that dissolves in a liquid is directly proportional to its partial pressure and solubility.

Alveolar Ventilation Rate (AVR)

The amount of fresh air that reaches the alveoli per minute, accounting for dead space.

Compliance

The ability of the lungs to expand and contract; a measure of lung elasticity.

Airway Resistance

The resistance to airflow in the respiratory airways; influenced by airway diameter.

Obstructive Disorders

Conditions that interfere with airflow by narrowing or blocking the airways, such as asthma.

Pleura

The serous membranes surrounding the lungs, consisting of the visceral and parietal pleura.

Pulmonary Ventilation

The process of moving air in and out of the lungs, driven by pressure gradients.

Inspiratory Reserve Volume (IRV)

The additional volume of air that can be inhaled after a normal inhalation.

Expiratory Reserve Volume (ERV)

The additional volume of air that can be exhaled after a normal exhalation.