11. Anatomy & Physiology - The Respiratory System

Front 1

Describe Sellick's maneuver.

Back 1

Pressure applied in a posterior direction to the anterior cricoid cartilage that occludes the esophagus.

Front 2

Describe the process of expiration.

Back 2

At the end of inspiration, the respiratory muscles relax, thus decreasing the size of the chest cavity, and in turn increasing the intrathoracic pressure. The naturally elastic lungs recoil, forcing air out through the airway (expiration) until intrathoracic and atmospheric pressure are equal once again.

Front 3

Describe the relationship between the frequency of impulses from the medulla, and the respiratory rate.

Back 3

The main respiratory center lies in the medulla oblongata in the brainstem. Various neurons within the medulla initiate impulses that result in respiration. A rise in the frequency of these impulses increases the respiratory rate. Conversely, a decrease in their frequency decreases the respiratory rate.

Front 4

Describe the steps in pulmonary circulation.

Back 4

Each cardiac cycle, the heart pumps as much blood to the lungs as it pumps to the peripheral tissues.In the capillaries, these cells take oxygen from red blood cells coming from the arterial system and give up carbon dioxide to blood returning to the venous system. The venous system carries this deoxygenated blood to the right side of the heart, and the right ventricle pumps it into the pulmonary artery. The pulmonary artery immediately branches into the right and left pulmonary arteries, each supplying its respective lung. Both branches quickly fan into smaller arteries that end in the pulmonary capillaries. Red blood cells exchange carbon dioxide for oxygen.The pulmonary capillaries recombine into larger veins. The pulmonary vein empties the oxygenated blood into the left atrium of the heart. The heart transports the oxygenated blood through the left ventricle and into the systemic arterial system via the aorta and its tributaries.

Front 5

Explain the mechanism that prevents over expansion of the lungs.

Back 5

Pulmonary expansion stimulates microscopic stretch receptors in the bronchi and bronchioles. These receptors signal the respiratory center by way of the vagus nerve to inhibit inspiration, and the air influx stops

Front 6

How is the thoracic cavity able to increase its volume?

Back 6

The thoracic cavity is a closed space. When the diaphragm contracts, it draws downward, away from the thoracic cavity, thus enlarging it. When the muscles between the ribs, or intercostal muscles, contract, they draw the ribcage upward and outward, away from the thoracic cavity, further increasing its volume.

Front 7

How many divisions of bronchioles are in the lung?

Back 7

22 divisions.

Front 8

What are some common causes of decreased carbon dioxide elimination?

Back 8

Respiratory depression by drugs, Airway obstruction, Impairment of the respiratory, muscles, Obstructive diseases such as asthma and emphysema

Front 9

What are some common causes of increased carbon dioxide production?

Back 9

Fever, Muscle exertion, Shivering, Metabolic processes resulting in the formation of metabolic acids.

Front 10

What are the characteristics of inhaled air by the time it reaches the alveoli?

Back 10

By the time inhaled air reaches the lower airway, it is at body temperature (37C), 100% humidified, and virtually free of airborne particles.

Front 11

What are the characteristics of visceral and parietal pleura?

Back 11

Visceral pleura envelopes the lungs and does not contain nerve fibers. Parietal pleura lines the thoracic cavity and does contain nerve fibers.

Front 12

What are the components of the lower airway?

Back 12

Trachea, Bronchi, Alveoli, Lung parenchyma, Pleura.

Front 13

What are the components of the oral cavity?

Back 13

Cheeks, Hard and soft palates, Tongue

Front 14

What are the components of the upper airway?

Back 14

Nasal cavity, Oral cavity, Pharynx

Front 15

What are the four openings in the pharynx?

Back 15

Internal nares, Mouth, Larynx, Esophagus

Front 16

What are the seven components of the larynx?

Back 16

Thyroid, Cricoid cartilage, Glottic opening, Vocal cords, Arytenoid cartilage, Pyriform fossae, Cricothyroid membrane

Front 17

What are the structural characteristics of the bronchi?

Back 17

The right mainstem bronchus is almost straight, while the left mainstem bronchus angles more acutely to the left.

Front 18

What are the structural differences in the pediatric pharynx?

Back 18

The pediatric jaw is smaller, and the tongue relatively larger, resulting in greater potential airway encroachment. The epiglottis is much floppier and rounder ('omega' shaped). The dental (alveolar) ridge and teeth are softer and more fragile than an adult s and potentially more subject to damage from airway maneuvers.

Front 19

What are the structural differences in the pediatric thoracic cage?

Back 19

The ribs and the cartilage of the pediatric thoracic cage are softer and more pliable. This lack of rigidity lessens the thoracic wall and accessory muscles ability to assist lung expansion during inspiration. As a result, infants and children tend to rely more on their diaphragms for breathing.

Front 20

What are the three regions of the pharynx?

Back 20

Nasopharynx, Oropharynx, Laryngopharynx

Front 21

What are vocal cords?

Back 21

Bands of cartilage that regulate the passage of air through the larynx and produce voice by contraction of the laryngeal muscles.

Front 22

What complex anatomical structure joins the pharynx with the trachea?

Back 22

The larynx.

Front 23

What conditions stimulate these chemoreceptors?

Back 23

Decreased PaO2, Increased PaCO2, Decreased pH

Front 24

What does PA stand for?

Back 24

Alveolar partial pressure.

Front 25

What effect do depressant drugs have on normal respiratory rates?

Back 25

Depressant drugs decrease the respiratory rate.

Front 26

What effect do stimulant drugs have on normal respiratory rates?

Back 26

Stimulant drugs increase the respiratory rate.

Front 27

What effect does acidosis have on normal respiratory rates?

Back 27

Increases respirations

Front 28

What effect does emotion have on normal respiratory rates?

Back 28

Increases respirations

Front 29

What effect does fever have on normal respiratory rates?

Back 29

Increases respirations

Front 30

What effect does hypoxia have on normal respiratory rates?

Back 30

Increases respirations

Front 31

What effect does pain have on normal respiratory rates?

Back 31

Increases respirations

Front 32

What effect does sleep have on normal respiratory rates?

Back 32

Decreases respirations

Front 33

What is a hemothorax?

Back 33

An accumulation in the pleural cavity of blood or fluid containing blood.

Front 34

What is a pneumothorax?

Back 34

An accumulation of air or gas in the pleural cavity.

Front 35

What is another name for nare?

Back 35

Nostril

Front 36

What is aspiration?

Back 36

Inhaling foreign material into the lungs (eg vomit)

Front 37

What is atelactasis?

Back 37

Alveolar collapse.

Front 38

What is cellular respiration?

Back 38

Cellular, or internal, respiration occurs in the peripheral capillaries. It is the exchange of the respiratory gases between the red blood cells and the various body tissues. Cellular respiration in th peripheral tissue produces CO2.

Front 39

What is hypercarbia?

Back 39

Excess of carbon dioxide in the blood.

Front 40

What is hypoventilation?

Back 40

Reduction in breathing rate and depth

Front 41

What is mucous?

Back 41

A slippery secretion that lubricates and protects airway surfaces.

Front 42

What is pleural space?

Back 42

The potential space between the two layers of pleura.

Front 43

What is pleurisy?

Back 43

Occasionally, the pleura can become inflamed, causing significant pain with respiration. This condition, called pleurisy, is a common cause of chest pain, particularly in cigarette smokers.

Front 44

What is pulmonary respiration?

Back 44

Pulmonary, or external, respiration occurs in the lungs when the respiratory gases are exchanged between the alveoli and the red blood cells in the pulmonary capillaries through the capillary membranes.

Front 45

What is surfactant?

Back 45

A chemical that decreases surface tension and makes it easier for the lungs to expand.

Front 46

What is the concentration of carbon dioxide in expired air?

Back 46

4.0 percent

Front 47

What is the concentration of carbon dioxide in inspired air?

Back 47

0.04 percent

Front 48

What is the concentration of nitrogen in expired air?

Back 48

79.6 percent

Front 49

What is the concentration of nitrogen in inspired air?

Back 49

79.01 percent

Front 50

What is the concentration of oxygen in expired air?

Back 50

16.4 percent

Front 51

What is the concentration of oxygen in inspired air?

Back 51

20.94 percent

Front 52

What is the effect of hyperventilation on carbon dioxide levels?

Back 52

Lowers CO2 levels and can be the result of an increased respiratory rate or deeper respiration, both which increase minute volume.

Front 53

What is the effect of stimulating the parasympathetic receptors in smooth muscles?

Back 53

When stimulated they cause the bronchial smooth muscles to contract, thus reducing the diameter of the bronchiole.

Front 54

What is the effect of stimulating the receptors in the smooth muscle of the bronchioles?

Back 54

When stimulated, these beta2 receptors relax the bronchial smooth muscle, thus increasing the airway's diameter.

Front 55

What is the name of the air cavity that conducts fluids from the Eustachian tubes and tear ducts to and from the nasopharynx?

Back 55

The sinus.

Front 56

What is the name of the cartilage that separates the right and left nasal cavities?

Back 56

The nasal septum

Front 57

What is the name of the center that controls expiration?

Back 57

The pneumotaxic centre

Front 58

What is the name of the lip-like opening between the vocal cords?

Back 58

The glottis

Front 59

What is the name of the microscopic air sacs where most oxygen and carbon dioxide gas exchanges take place?

Back 59

The alveoli

Front 60

What is the name of the muscular tube that extends vertically from the back of the soft palate to the superior aspect of the esophagus?

Back 60

The pharynx

Front 61

What is the name of the narrow tube that carries tears and debris into the nasal cavity that have drained from the eye?

Back 61

Dasolacrimal duct

Front 62

What is the name of the nerve connecting the medulla and the respiratory muscles?

Back 62

Vagus nerve

Front 63

What is the name of the technique used to describe passing a tube into the trachea to protect and maintain the airway and to permit medication administration and deep suctioning?

Back 63

Endotracheal intubation

Front 64

What is the name of the tube that connects the ear with the nasal cavity?

Back 64

Eustachian tube

Front 65

What is the name of the tube that connects the larynx to the two mainstem bronchi?

Back 65

Trachea

Front 66

What is the name of the tubes going from the trachea into the lungs?

Back 66

Bronchi

Front 67

What is the narrowest part of the adult trachea?

Back 67

The glottic opening is the narrowest part of the adult trachea.

Front 68

What is the normal respiratory rate for adults?

Back 68

12-20 respirations/min

Front 69

What is the normal respiratory rate for children?

Back 69

18-24 respirations/min

Front 70

What is the normal respiratory rate for infants?

Back 70

40-60 respirations/min

Front 71

What is the purpose of the Respiratory System?

Back 71

It provides a passage for oxygen to enter the body and for carbon dioxide to exit.

Front 72

What is the source of blood for the lung tissue?

Back 72

Bronchial arteries that branch from the aorta supply most of the lung's blood.

Front 73

What is the term used to describe a blood clot that travels to the pulmonary circulation and hinders oxygenation of the blood?

Back 73

Pulmonary embolism

Front 74

What is the term used to describe decreased blood oxygen level?

Back 74

Hypoxemia

Front 75

What is the term used to describe the absence of breathing?

Back 75

Apnea

Front 76

What is the term used to describe the amount of air remaining in the lungs at the end of maximal expiration?

Back 76

Residual volume

Front 77

What is the term used to describe the amount of air that can be maximally exhaled after a normal expiration?

Back 77

Expiratory reserve volume

Front 78

What is the term used to describe the amount of air that can be maximally expired after maximum inspiration?

Back 78

Forced expiratory volume

Front 79

What is the term used to describe the amount of air that can be maximally inhaled after a normal inspiration?

Back 79

Inspiratory reserve volume.

Front 80

What is the term used to describe the amount of gas in the tidal volume that reaches the alveoli for gas exchange?

Back 80

Alveolar volume

Front 81

What is the term used to describe the amount of gas in the tidal volume that remains in air passageways unavailable for gas exchange?

Back 81

Dead space volume

Front 82

What is the term used to describe the amount of gas inhaled and exhaled in one minute?

Back 82

Minute volume

Front 83

What is the term used to describe the amount of gas that reaches the alveoli for gas exchange in one minute?

Back 83

Alveolar minute volume

Front 84

What is the term used to describe the average volume of gas inhaled or exhaled in one respiratory cycle?

Back 84

Tidal volume

Front 85

What is the term used to describe the depression between the epiglottis and the base of the tongue?

Back 85

The vallecula

Front 86

What is the term used to describe the mechanical process that moves air into and out of the lungs?

Back 86

Ventilation

Front 87

What is the term used to describe the mechanism that increases respiratory stimulation when blood oxygen falls, and inhibits respiratory stimulation when blood oxygen climbs?

Back 87

Hypoxic drive

Front 88

What is the term used to describe the mechanism that stimulates retching, or striving to vomit, when the soft palate is touched?

Back 88

Gag reflex

Front 89

What is the term used to describe the movement of a gas from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration?

Back 89

Diffusion

Front 90

What is the term used to describe the number of times a person breathes in one minute?

Back 90

Respiratory rate

Front 91

What is the term used to describe the pressure exerted by each component of a gas mixture?

Back 91

Partial pressure

Front 92

What is the total surface area of all the alveoli in the body?

Back 92

More than 40 square meters

Front 93

What type of receptor sites are found in the smooth muscle of the bronchioles?

Back 93

The bronchioles are encircled with smooth muscle that contains beta2 (B2) adrenergic receptors.

Front 94

Where are the chemoreceptors located that assist in regulating respiration?

Back 94

There are chemical receptors in the medulla, and peripheral chemoreceptors in the carotid bodies and in the arch of the aorta.

Front 95

Where is the cricothyroid membrane?

Back 95

The cricothyroid membrane is between the cricoid and thyroid cartilages of the larynx.

Front 96

What is the term used to describe the mechanism that stimulates retching, or striving to vomit, when the soft palate is touched?

Back 96

Gag reflex

Front 97

What are pleura?

Back 97

Membranous connective tissue covering the lungs.

Front 98

What is the term used to describe the volume of gas that remains in the lungs at the end of normal expiration?

Back 98

Functional residual capacity