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Pt.1 Exam Respiratory System: Understanding the Respiratory System: From Air Path to Lung Mechanics
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Path of air from external nares to alveolus
External nares ➡ nasal cavity ➡ pharynx ➡ larynx ➡ trachea ➡ bronchi ➡ bronchioles ➡ alveoli
How is the trachea held open?
Incomplete rings of cartilage
Relationship of pleura and lungs
Pleura surrounds lungs and lines chest cavity, produces fluid for lubrication, ensures synchronized movement during breathing, and prevents lung collapse.
Structures of the pleura
1. Visceral Pleura: Inner layer in direct contact with lungs. 2. Parietal Pleura: Outer layer lining inside of chest cavity. 3. Pleural Cavity: Space between visceral and parietal pleurae, containing pleural fluid.
Bronchial tree components
Trachea, Primary Bronchi, Secondary Bronchi, Tertiary Bronchi, Bronchioles, Terminal Bronchioles, Respiratory zone
Respiratory zone structures
Respiratory Bronchioles, Alveolar Ducts, Alveolar Sacs, Alveoli
Structure of an alveolus
Alveolar Wall, Capillaries, Type II Pneumocytes, Interstitial Fluid, Macrophages
Structure of the respiratory membrane
Alveolar Epithelium, Interstitial Space, Capillary Endothelium, Basement Membranes
Muscles of Inspiration
Diaphragm (main muscle) and External intercostal muscles (supporting muscles)
Process of Inspiration
Muscles contract, thoracic cavity expands, lungs draw in air
Quiet Expiration
Passive process, muscles relax, elastic recoil pushes air out
Deep Inspiration
Increased force by diaphragm and external intercostals, sternocleidomastoid and scalene muscles contract to lift rib cage further
Forced Expiration
Requires contraction of muscles to push air out
What is the process of inspiration in the respiratory system?
Muscles contract, thoracic cavity expands, lungs expand drawing in air
Describe quiet expiration (breathing out) in the respiratory system.
Passive process, muscles relax, elastic recoil of lungs and chest wall pushes air out
What is deep inspiration (heavy breathing) in the respiratory system characterized by?
Increased force by diaphragm and external intercostals, sternocleidomastoid and scalene muscles contract to lift rib cage further
Explain forced expiration (exhaling with force) in the respiratory system.
Requires contraction of expiratory muscles, internal intercostal muscles depress rib cage, abdominal muscles contract to compress abdominal cavity and push organs against diaphragm
What is Boyle's Law and how does it relate to breathing and pressure gradients?
States that the pressure of a gas is inversely proportional to the volume of its container. In breathing, pressure changes cause air to move into the lungs based on pressure gradients
What are the types of pressures involved in breathing?
Atmospheric pressure, intrapulmonary pressure, intrapleural pressure
Explain the suction effect in the respiratory system.
Lower intrapleural pressure creates a suction effect, pulling lungs outward, similar to suction cups sticking to a shower wall
Describe the process of inspiration (breathing in) in the respiratory system.
Muscles expand thoracic cavity and lungs, intrapulmonary pressure decreases below atmospheric pressure, air flows into lungs due to pressure gradient
Explain the process of expiration (breathing out) in the respiratory system.
Thoracic cavity and lungs decrease in volume, intrapulmonary pressure increases above atmospheric pressure, air flows out of lungs due to pressure gradient
What is pneumothorax and how does it affect the respiratory system?
Puncture in chest wall creates opening between atmosphere and pleural space, air rushes into pleural cavity, equalizing pressure and reducing suction, lung on that side collapses due to loss of suction
What is residual capacity in the context of the respiratory system?
When muscles of respiration are relaxed and there is no air flow, lungs deflate passively back to the functional residual capacity, average adult male has about 2400 milliliters
Define tidal volume in the respiratory system.
The amount of air you inhale and exhale with each breath, around 500 milliliters during quiet breathing
What is anatomical dead space in the respiratory system?
Not all the air in a breath makes it to the alveoli, some remains in the trachea, bronchi, and other conducting airways, panting only ventilates the anatomical dead space
What is inspiratory reserve volume in the respiratory system?
The extra air that you can inhale
Explain expiratory reserve volume in the respiratory system.
Extra amount you can exhale with contraction of expiratory muscles
Define vital capacity in the context of the respiratory system.
The maximum amount of air that you can inhale and then exhale
What is residual volume in the respiratory system?
Minimal lung volume that cannot be expired, helps prevent alveoli and lung airway from collapsing
Describe functional residual capacity (FRC) in the respiratory system.
Resting lung volume where respiratory muscles are relaxed, inflating lungs above FRC requires contraction of inspiratory muscles, deflating below FRC requires contraction of expiratory muscles
Explain lung compliance in the respiratory system.
The ease with which the lungs expand and contract, higher compliance means lungs inflate more easily
What is residual volume (RV)?
Minimal lung volume that cannot be expired. It helps prevent the alveoli and lung airway from collapsing.
What is functional residual capacity (FRC)?
Resting lung volume when respiratory muscles are relaxed. Inflating lungs above FRC requires inspiratory muscle contraction; deflating lungs below FRC requires expiratory muscle contraction.
What is lung compliance?
The ease with which the lungs expand and contract. Higher compliance means lungs inflate more easily, like a new balloon. Influenced by chest wall expansion, lung tissue elasticity, alveolar surface tension.
What is airway resistance?
Opposition to airflow in the airways. Higher resistance makes breathing harder, similar to breathing through a straw. Affected by airway diameter, smooth muscle relaxation/contraction in airway walls (bronchioles). Relaxed by epinephrine, contracted by acetylcholine and histamine.
Define intrapleural pressure.
Pressure between the lungs and chest wall.
Explain alveolar surface tension.
Inward force acting on alveoli due to water molecule attraction.
What is surfactant?
A substance that reduces surface tension in alveoli, making them easier to inflate.
What is the role of epinephrine in the respiratory system?
Causes smooth muscle relaxation, leading to bronchodilation.
What is the function of acetylcholine in the respiratory system?
Causes smooth muscle contraction, resulting in bronchoconstriction.
How does histamine affect the respiratory system?
Causes smooth muscle contraction, leading to bronchoconstriction.
How does increased fibrous connective tissue affect lung inflation?
It decreases the stretchiness of the lungs, making it harder to inflate them.
What effect does paralysis of external intercostal muscles have on lung inflation?
It limits the expansion of the thoracic cavity during inspiration, making it harder to inflate the lungs.
How does surfactant impact lung inflation?
Surfactant decreases surface tension of the alveoli, making it easier to inflate the lungs.
What effect does decreased surfactant levels have on lung inflation?
It reduces lung inflation.
What does sympathetic activity do in the respiratory system?
It relaxes airway smooth muscle, causing bronchiole dilation and making it easier for air to flow.
What is the role of parasympathetic activity in the respiratory system?
It contracts airway smooth muscle, causing bronchiole constriction and making it harder for air to flow.
How does histamine affect airway resistance?
It decreases airway resistance by contracting airway smooth muscle, causing bronchiole constriction and making it harder for air to flow.
Contraction of which muscles would decrease the volume of the thoracic cavity?
Abdominal muscles and internal intercostals
Which of the following measures the air pressure within the alveoli of the lungs?
Intrapulmonary pressure
What occurs when intrapulmonary pressure is greater than atmospheric pressure?
Air is moving out of the lungs during expiration.
Which of the following refers to the maximum volume of air moved into and out of the lungs during forceful breathing?
Vital capacity
Which of the following refers to the friction gas molecules encounter as they flow along the airways?
Resistance
Which of the following could be administered during an allergic response to dilate the airways and make it easier to breathe?
Epinephrine
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Understand the respiratory system from air path to lung mechanics using flashcards on structures and processes.
Respiratory System
Anatomy
Physiology
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Lung Mechanics
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