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Respiratory System - Anatomy & Physiology Study Guide

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Terms in this set (27)

  • Major functions of the respiratory system

    Includes gas exchange (oxygen in, carbon dioxide out), regulation of blood pH, voice production, olfaction, and protection against pathogens.

  • Four respiratory processes

    Pulmonary ventilation (breathing), external respiration (gas exchange in lungs), transport of gases in blood, and internal respiration (gas exchange at tissues).

  • Upper vs. lower respiratory tracts

    Upper tract: nose, nasal cavity, pharynx. Lower tract: larynx, trachea, bronchi, lungs.

  • Conducting vs. respiratory zones

    Conducting zone: air passageways that filter, warm, and moisten air (nose to terminal bronchioles). Respiratory zone: sites of gas exchange (respiratory bronchioles, alveolar ducts, alveoli).

  • Air passage during inspiration

    Nose → nasal cavity → pharynx → larynx → trachea → bronchi → bronchioles → alveoli.

  • Function of nasal cavities and paranasal sinuses

    Warm, moisten, and filter air; enhance voice resonance; reduce skull weight.

  • Pharynx function and anatomy

    Passageway for air and food; divided into nasopharynx, oropharynx, and laryngopharynx.

  • Larynx function

    Voice production, airway protection during swallowing, and air passage.

  • Trachea structure and function

    Rigid tube with C-shaped cartilage rings; conducts air to bronchi and filters particles via ciliated mucosa.

  • Bronchi and lungs overview

    Bronchi branch into lungs; lungs contain bronchioles and alveoli for gas exchange.

  • Pleural membranes function

    Serous membranes that reduce friction and create pressure gradients to keep lungs inflated.

  • Pulmonary ventilation definition

    Movement of air into and out of the lungs (breathing).

  • Muscles used in quiet inspiration

    Diaphragm and external intercostal muscles.

  • Boyle’s Law in respiration

    At constant temperature, pressure is inversely proportional to volume; lung volume changes cause pressure changes driving air flow.

  • Airway resistance effect on ventilation

    Resistance increases with bronchoconstriction; ventilation decreases as \(F=\frac{P}{R}\).

  • Pulmonary surfactant role

    Reduces alveolar surface tension to prevent collapse and maintain lung compliance.

  • Respiratory volumes: TV, IRV, ERV, RV

    TV: tidal volume; IRV: inspiratory reserve volume; ERV: expiratory reserve volume; RV: residual volume.

  • Dalton’s Law

    Total pressure of a gas mixture equals the sum of partial pressures of individual gases.

  • Henry’s Law and gas exchange

    Gas dissolves in liquid proportional to its partial pressure; affects oxygen and CO2 dissolved in plasma.

  • Ventilation-perfusion coupling

    Matching of alveolar ventilation and pulmonary blood flow; decreased ventilation causes vasoconstriction, decreased blood flow causes bronchodilation.

  • Oxygen transport in blood

    Mostly bound to hemoglobin; temperature, pH, and PCO2 affect oxygen loading/unloading.

  • Oxygen-hemoglobin saturation curve shifts

    Right/down shift (↑temp, ↓pH, ↑PCO2) increases oxygen unloading; left/up shift facilitates oxygen loading in lungs.

  • Brainstem respiratory centers

    Medullary rhythmicity center and pontine respiratory group regulate breathing rate and depth.

  • Chemical stimuli affecting respiration

    CO2, O2, and pH levels detected by chemoreceptors influence respiratory centers.

  • Definitions: hyperventilation, hypoventilation, eupnea

    Hyperventilation: increased breathing rate/depth; hypoventilation: decreased ventilation; eupnea: normal breathing.

  • Respiratory system response to high altitude

    Increased ventilation to compensate for lower oxygen partial pressure.

  • Effects of emphysema on respiration

    Destruction of alveoli reduces surface area, impairing gas exchange and lung elasticity.