Untitled Flashcard Set
Respiratory Therapy Master Study Guide
I. Essential Terminology & Roots
An- / A-: Without or absent.
-centesis: Surgical puncture with a needle to aspirate fluid.
-pnea: Breathing.
Stenosis: Narrowing or constriction.
Patent: Open.
Eupnea: Normal, spontaneous breathing.
Apnea: Absence of breathing.
Dyspnea: Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath.
Hemoptysis: Coughing up blood from the lungs.
II. Anatomical Structures
Pharynx: Throat; common passageway for digestive and respiratory tracts.
Larynx: Voice box; contains the epiglottis and cricoid cartilage.
Epiglottis: Leaf-shaped cartilage that covers the airway during swallowing to prevent aspiration.
Glottis: The opening between the vocal cords.
Trachea: Windpipe (Generation 0); contains 15–20 C-shaped cartilages.
Carina: The point where the trachea splits into the right and left mainstem bronchi.
Hilum: Point where vessels, bronchi, and nerves enter and exit the lungs.
Cilia: Microscopic hairs that sweep mucus up and out of the lungs.
Alveoli: Tiny air sacs where gas exchange occurs.
Canals of Lambert: Alternative gas pathways located in the terminal bronchioles.
III. Lung Anatomy & Development
Right Lung: 3 lobes (Upper, Middle, Lower), 10 segments, Horizontal and Oblique fissures.
Left Lung: 2 lobes (Upper, Lower), 8 segments, Oblique fissure only. Features the cardiac notch and lingula.
Fetal Development Stages:
Embryonal (0–8 wks): Trachea and major bronchi form.
Pseudoglandular (8–16 wks): Conducting airways and glands develop.
Canalicular (17–24 wks): Capillaries develop; surfactant appears (~week 20).
Saccular (24–38 wks): Alveolar sacs form.
Alveolar (32 wks–8 yrs): Rapid proliferation of true alveoli.
IV. Control of Ventilation
Medulla: Contains the DRG (basic rhythm) and VRG (forced breathing).
Pons:
Pneumotaxic Center: The "off-switch" that limits inspiration to regulate rate and depth.
Apneustic Center: Helps control depth and inspiratory time.
Central Chemoreceptors: Located in the medulla; respond to H
+
levels in the CSF driven by CO
2
.
Peripheral Chemoreceptors: Located in carotid and aortic bodies; respond primarily to low PaO
2
(hypoxemia).
V. Gas Laws & Mechanics
Boyle’s Law: Pressure and volume are inversely related (P
1
V
1
=P
2
V
2
).
LaPlace’s Law: Pressure equals 2 times Surface Tension divided by Radius (P=2T/r). Surfactant lowers surface tension to prevent collapse.
Henry’s Law: Gas dissolution in liquid is proportional to partial pressure.
Compliance: The ease of lung expansion (ΔV/ΔP).
Reflexes:
Hering-Breuer: Stretch receptors that stop inspiration to prevent over-inflation.
J-Receptors: Triggered by fluid/edema; cause rapid, shallow breathing.
Irritant Receptors: Triggered by smoke/dust; cause cough and bronchoconstriction.
(Below is the logic for your recent homework and quiz questions)
Question: The secondary stimulus for breathing is... Answer: Arterial hypoxemia.
Question: Receptors primarily stimulated by elevated PaCO
2
are... Answer: Central chemoreceptors in the medulla.
Question: The "off-switch" center in the pons is the... Answer: Pneumotaxic center.
Question: Quiet expiration is a... Answer: Passive process caused by elastic recoil.
Question: The last generation of conducting airways is... Answer: Terminal bronchiole.
Question: The reflex triggered by lung stretch is... Answer: Hering-Breuer reflex.
Question: The primary muscle of inspiration is... Answer: Diaphragm.
Question: Surfactant is produced by... Answer: Type II alveolar cells.
Question: CO
2
crosses the blood-brain barrier to affect... Answer: Central chemoreceptors.
Question: The structure that prevents aspiration is... Answer: Epiglottis.
I. Medical Terminology & Roots
Which prefix means "without" or "absent"?
What is the suffix for a surgical puncture to aspirate fluid?
The term for "difficulty breathing" or "shortness of breath" is:
Which term describes "normal, spontaneous breathing"?
What does the term "stenosis" mean?
The absence of breathing is called:
What term refers to an airway being "open"?
Difficulty breathing while lying flat is called:
Coughing up blood from the lungs is:
The sensation of breathing is called:
II. Anatomy: Upper & Lower Airway
Which structure is the common passageway for both the respiratory and digestive tracts?
What leaf-shaped cartilage prevents aspiration during swallowing?
The opening between the vocal cords is the:
Which structure is known as the "voice box"?
What is the name of the "windpipe" (Generation 0)?
The point where the trachea bifurcates into the right and left lungs is the:
Microscopic hairs that sweep mucus out of the lungs are:
Where are the "Canals of Lambert" located?
What is the primary function of the Canals of Lambert?
The "root" of the lung where vessels and nerves enter is the:
Which structure is the primary muscle for breathing?
The "breastbone" is technically called the:
The membrane that lines the lungs is the:
Which pleural layer is directly attached to the lung surface?
Tiny air sacs responsible for gas exchange are:
Which cartilage is the only complete circular ring in the airway?
The nasopharynx is lined with which type of epithelium?
The oropharynx is lined with which type of epithelium?
What is the function of the nasal turbinates?
The "respiratory zone" begins at which structure?
III. Lung Lobes & Segments
How many lobes does the right lung have?
How many lobes does the left lung have?
Which fissure is unique to the right lung?
The horizontal fissure separates which two lobes?
Which lung contains the "cardiac notch"?
What is the name of the "tongue-like" extension on the left lung?
How many bronchopulmonary segments are in the right lung?
How many bronchopulmonary segments are in the left lung?
Which fissure is present in both lungs?
Why is knowledge of bronchopulmonary segments clinically important?
IV. Fetal Lung Development
Which stage occurs during Weeks 0–8?
During which stage do the trachea and major bronchi develop?
What happens during the Pseudoglandular stage (Weeks 8–16)?
In which stage does pulmonary surfactant first appear?
At approximately what week does surfactant appear?
Which cells are responsible for surfactant production?
Which stage is characterized by the formation of alveolar sacs?
When does the "Alveolar stage" begin and end?
During which stage does gas exchange become possible for a premature infant?
What happens to fetal lung fluid during the transition to extrauterine life?
V. Gas Laws & Mechanics of Breathing
Which law states that pressure and volume are inversely related?
According to Boyle’s Law, as thoracic volume increases, alveolar pressure:
What is the formula for LaPlace’s Law?
What is the primary role of surfactant regarding surface tension?
Which law explains that gas dissolution is proportional to partial pressure?
The change in volume divided by the change in pressure is:
Which type of compliance is measured under "no-flow" conditions?
What is the primary difference between Static and Dynamic compliance?
Where is airway resistance (R
aw
) the highest?
Where is airway resistance the lowest?
During quiet breathing, is expiration active or passive?
What causes the "passive" nature of quiet expiration?
During inspiration, does pleural pressure become more positive or negative?
Gas flows into the lungs because alveolar pressure is _____ than atmospheric pressure.
Which muscle contracts and moves down during inspiration?
VI. Control of Ventilation
Which structure is the primary "rhythm generator" for breathing?
Where are the central chemoreceptors located?
Central chemoreceptors respond directly to which ion?
Where are the peripheral chemoreceptors located?
What is the primary stimulus for peripheral chemoreceptors?
Peripheral chemoreceptors "kick in" when PaO
2
falls below:
Which chemoreceptor is primarily stimulated by elevated PaCO
2
?
Which nerve center in the medulla sends inspiratory signals to the diaphragm?
The "off-switch" center in the pons is the:
Which center in the pons increases depth and inspiratory time?
What is the "secondary stimulus" for breathing?
The Hering-Breuer reflex is triggered by what type of receptors?
What is the purpose of the Hering-Breuer reflex?
Which receptors are triggered by dust, smoke, or cold air?
Where are J-receptors located?
What breathing pattern is caused by J-receptor stimulation?
Proprioceptors in the joints stimulate breathing in response to:
Which receptors monitor blood pressure, not gas levels?
What happens if the CO
2
"primary drive" fails in a COPD patient?
The VRG is primarily responsible for:
VII. Histology & Cells
Which epithelium allows oxygen and CO
2
to pass through easily?
Which cells produce mucus in the airways?
What is a key characteristic of "pseudostratified" epithelium?
Which alveolar cells are responsible for diffusion?
What is the function of the mucociliary escalator?
VIII. Clinical & Miscellaneous
What is the "Anion Gap"?
List the accessory muscles used for inspiration.
List the accessory muscles used for active expiration.
What is the angle of the right mainstem bronchus from the carina?
What is the angle of the left mainstem bronchus?
Which lung segment is the "superior lingula" part of?
If a patient is hypoventilating, will the A-a gradient be normal or widened?
What is "internal respiration"?
What is "external respiration"?
Which generation is the terminal bronchiole?
Answer Key Hints:
1-10: Check the "Terminology" section of your study guide.
41-50: Refer to the 5 stages (Embryonal to Alveolar).
66-75: Remember: Medulla = Rhythm; Pons = Regulation.
94-95: Right is 25°; Left is 40–60°.