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Respiratory System - Anatomy & Physiology

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Terms in this set (31)

  • Primary functions of the respiratory system

    Gas exchange, olfaction, and speech.

  • Components of the upper respiratory tract

    Nose, sinuses, and pharynx.

  • Components of the lower respiratory tract

    Larynx, trachea, bronchi, and lungs.

  • Functions of the nose and paranasal sinuses

    Provide an airway, moisten and warm air, filter particles, act as a resonating chamber, and contain olfactory receptors.

  • Role of nasal conchae

    Increase surface area in the nasal cavity to enhance air warming and filtering.

  • Functions of paranasal sinuses

    Lighten the skull, warm and moisten air, and secrete mucus.

  • Regions of the pharynx and their functions

    Nasopharynx (airway), oropharynx (food and air), laryngopharynx (food and air).

  • Types of tonsils in the pharynx

    Palatine, lingual, pharyngeal, and tubal tonsils.

  • Functions of the larynx

    Maintain an open airway, route air and food, and enable voice production.

  • Cartilages of the larynx

    Nine cartilages: eight hyaline and one elastic (epiglottis).

  • Difference between true and false vocal cords

    True vocal cords produce sound; false vocal cords protect the airway.

  • Layers of the trachea

    Mucosa (with goblet cells), submucosa (seromucous glands), and adventitia (connective tissue).

  • Effect of smoking on the trachea

    Destroys cilia, impairing mucus clearance; recovery possible after cessation.

  • Structure and function of the bronchial tree

    23 generations of branches; conducting zone leads to respiratory zone where gas exchange occurs.

  • Characteristics of alveoli

    About 300 million alveoli; site of gas exchange; surrounded by elastic fibers and capillaries.

  • Role of surfactant in the lungs

    Reduces surface tension in alveoli to prevent collapse; deficiency causes infant respiratory distress syndrome.

  • Anatomical features of the lungs

    Apex, base, hilum, lobes (right: 3, left: 2), bronchopulmonary segments, and lobules.

  • Blood supply to the lungs

    Pulmonary arteries carry deoxygenated blood; pulmonary veins carry oxygenated blood; bronchial arteries supply systemic blood.

  • Pulmonary ventilation phases

    Inspiration: diaphragm and intercostals contract, increasing thoracic volume.
    Expiration: muscles relax, decreasing thoracic volume.

  • Boyle's Law in pulmonary ventilation

    Pressure of a gas varies inversely with its volume: \(P \times V = \text{constant}\).

  • Pulmonary volumes: Tidal Volume (TV)

    Amount of air moved in or out during normal breathing.

  • Pulmonary volumes: Inspiratory Reserve Volume (IRV)

    Air forcibly inspired beyond tidal volume.

  • Pulmonary volumes: Expiratory Reserve Volume (ERV)

    Air forcibly expired beyond tidal volume.

  • Pulmonary volumes: Residual Volume (RV)

    Air remaining in lungs after maximal expiration.

  • Definition of pulmonary capacities

    Combinations of pulmonary volumes, e.g., Inspiratory Capacity = TV + IRV.

  • Spirometry and its clinical use

    Measures forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume (FEV1) to distinguish obstructive vs. restrictive lung diseases.

  • Dalton's Law of partial pressures

    Total pressure of a gas mixture equals the sum of the partial pressures of individual gases: \(P_{total} = P_1 + P_2 + ...\).

  • Henry's Law in gas exchange

    Gas dissolves in liquid proportional to its partial pressure and solubility.

  • Bohr Effect on oxygen transport

    Decreased pH and increased PCO2 reduce hemoglobin's affinity for oxygen, enhancing oxygen release to tissues.

  • Major forms of carbon dioxide transport in blood

    7-10% dissolved in plasma, ~20% bound to hemoglobin, ~70% as bicarbonate.

  • Types of hypoxia

    Anemic, ischemic, histotoxic, and hypoxemic hypoxia.