Chapter 1: Anatomy and Physiology of the Respiratory System — Vocabulary Flashcards

Upper Airway

• Description: Upper airway consists of nose, oral cavity, pharynx, and larynx.

• Primary functions:

  • Conductor of air

  • Humidify and warm or cool inspired air

  • Prevent foreign materials from entering the tracheobronchial tree

  • Important for speech and smell

Nose

• Structure and function focused on filtering, humidifying, and conditioning inspired air

• Functions of the nose: Filter; Humidify; Condition (warm or cool) inspired air

Oral Cavity

• Components related to respiration:

  • Vestibule

  • Tongue: intrinsic and extrinsic muscles

  • Lingual frenulum

  • Hard palate

  • Soft palate

  • Palatine arches

Pharynx

• Air passage after the nasal cavity into the pharynx

• Divided into three parts:

  • Nasopharynx

  • Oropharynx

  • Laryngopharynx

Larynx

• Vestibule: opening into the trachea from the pharynx

• Functions:

  • Passageway of air between pharynx and trachea

  • Protection from aspiration of food and liquids

  • Generates sounds for speech

Tracheobronchial Tree (Lower Airways)

• Two major forms: 1) Cartilaginous airways

  • Trachea

  • Main stem bronchi

  • Lobar bronchi

  • Segmental bronchi

  • Subsegmental bronchi

  • Function: only conduct air between the external environment and sites of gas exchange
    2) Noncartilaginous airways

  • Bronchioles

  • Terminal bronchioles

  • Function: both conduct air and serve as sites of gas exchange

Structures of the Lungs and Generations

• Major structures and generations of the tracheobronchial tree (Table 1-1)

• Note: The precise number of generations between the subsegmental bronchi and the alveolar sacs is not known.

• Some structures collectively referred to as:

  • Primary lobule (lung parenchyma)

  • Terminal respiratory units

  • Functional units

Sites of Gas Exchange

• Primary lobule

• Alveolar epithelium

• Pores of Kohn

• Alveolar macrophages

• Interstitium

Pulmonary Vascular System

• Arteries

• Arterioles

• Capillaries

• Venules and veins

Lymphatic System

• Lymphatic vessels of bronchial airways, pulmonary arteries, and veins

Neural Control of the Lungs

• Autonomic nervous system balance controls involuntary vital functions

• Sympathetic: accelerates heart rate, constricts blood vessels, relaxes bronchial smooth muscles, raises blood pressure

• Parasympathetic: slows heart rate, constricts bronchial smooth muscles, increases peristalsis and gland activity

Some Effects of Autonomic Nervous System Activity (Table 1-2)

• Heart

  • Sympathetic: increases rate; increases strength of contraction

  • Parasympathetic: decreases rate; decreases strength of contraction

• Bronchial smooth muscle

  • Sympathetic: relaxation

  • Parasympathetic: constriction

• Bronchial glands

  • Sympathetic: decreases secretions

  • Parasympathetic: increases secretions

• Salivary glands

  • Sympathetic: decreases secretions

  • Parasympathetic: increases secretions

• Stomach motility

  • Sympathetic: decreases motility

  • Parasympathetic: increases motility

• Intestines motility

  • Sympathetic: decreases motility

  • Parasympathetic: increases motility

• Eyes

  • Sympathetic: widens pupils

  • Parasympathetic: constricts pupils

Pleural Membranes

• Identify the components of the pleural membranes: parietal pleura, visceral pleura, and the pleural space

Accessory Muscles of Inspiration

• External intercostal muscles

• Scalenus muscles

• Sternocleidomastoid muscles

• Pectoralis major muscles

• Trapezius muscles

Accessory Muscles of Expiration

• Rectus abdominis muscles

• External obliques (obliquus externus) muscles

• Internal obliques (obliquus internus) muscles

• Transversus abdominis muscles

• Internal intercostal muscles