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Respiratory System
Dr. Moore, A&P 2
47
Anatomy
Undergraduate 2
02/21/2011

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Term
What is the primary role of the respiratory system?
Definition
To bring oxygen from the atmosphere into the body cells and to eliminate carbon dioxide produced by the body cells.
Term
What are the secondary functions of the respiratory system?
Definition
-eliminate water and heat
-enhance venous and lymph return
-contribute to acid/base balance
-enable vocalization
-defend against inhaled foreign matter
-removing and modifying substances in pulmonary circulation (e.g. small clots)
Term
This process transports gases, facilitates exchange between blood and cells and increases use of oxygen by cells.
Definition
respiration
Term
What are the organs that conduct respiration?
Definition
-nose
-pharynx
-oropharynx
-laryngopharynx
-larynx
Term
What is the purpose of the nose as part of the respiratory system?
Definition
It traps particles, warms and humidifies air, detects odors and contributes to voice.

*note: conchae-- increase surface area, lined with mucous membranes with cilia and hair.
Term
What is the purpose of the pharynx as part of the respiratory system?
Definition
helps to maintain equal pressure on each side of the tympanic membrane, houses the tonsils and eustachian tube.

note: located above the soft palate
Term
What is the role of the oropharynx in the respiratory system?
Definition
It is the location where the respiratory passage and digestive system come together. In the oropharynx are housed the palatine tonsils (to the sides) and the lingual tonsils (at the base of the tongue).
Term
What is the role of the laryngopharynx in the respiratory system?
Definition
opens into the larynx (glottis, esophagus) and houses the epiglottis which covers the glottis.
Term
What is the Larynx?
Definition
It is the part of the respiratory system that houses 6 different cartilages, false vocal cord (vestibular fold) and the true vocal cord (vocal fold).
Term
Why is the hyaline cartilage on the outside of the trachea in the shape of a C ?
Definition
It allows for stretching so that food can move down the esophagus.
Term
What causes smoker's cough?
Definition
Nitric acid is created by the smoke and it kills cilia which cause mucous to drain down into the lungs. Smoker's must cough frequently to move the mucous out of the lungs.
Term
Why are there 3 lobes on the right lung and 2 lobes on the left lung?
Definition
The heart sits in the thoracic cavity toward the left lung.
Term
What is the role of the lungs as part of the respiratory system?
Definition
They house the bronchus, pulmonary artery and veins.
There is a thin water film between the visceral and parietal pleura which lubricates for lung movement, reducing friction.
Term
What is emphysema?
Definition
It is the loss of alveoli, which reduces gas exchange. Less oxygen provides lower levels of ATP.
Term
How are alveoli lost?
Definition
Generally speaking, the enzyme tripson which digests particulates in the lungs does not attack self tissue. In the case of smokers, the balance between tripson and anti-tripson is thrown off causing macrophages to attack self tissue.
Term
What is the purpose of surfactant?
Definition
It prevents cohesion of the water film between viscera and prevents collapse of the lungs.
Term
Why are premature infants placed on an incubator?
Definition
Because they do not produce enough surfactant and cannot get enough oxygen.
Term
What is the respiratory center?
Definition
the medulla oblongata (brain stem)/
Term
Inspiration (by way of the phrenic nerve)
Definition
contraction of diaphragm and external intercostal muscles
Term
Expiration (phrenic nerve)
Definition
inhibits contractions, relaxing of respiratory muscles.
Term
Why might you control your breathing when you are engaging in strenuous exercise but not control it when you are relaxing?
Definition
Because during strenuous exercise you need more oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange and in order to do so one must exert control over breathing patterns.
Term
apneustic center:
Definition
promotes inspiration
Term
pneumotaxic area:
Definition
promotes expiration
Term
apnea:
Definition
without breathing
Term
dyspnea:
Definition
irregular breathing patterns
Term
eupnea:
Definition
normal breathing
Term
How is the pressure outside the lungs related to the endothoracic pressure?
Definition
The pressure differences create a gradient which helps to control breathing.
Term
Case study: At a crime scene there is a dead infant. How can you tell if the infant was dead when it was born or if it died after it was born?
Definition
If you take a piece of lung tissue from the infant and set it in water the tissue will either float or sink. If it floats then you know the tissue had air in it, meaning the infant was not a stillborn.
Term
What are some factors that affect breathing rate?
Definition
Chemoreceptors pick up signals in the blood and spinal fluid. Some important chemoreceptors are the carotid bodies and the medulla.
Term
What happens when you hyperventilate?
Definition
Breathing out, you expel carbon dioxide and you are not getting in more oxygen, you only continue to expel co2. This decreases blood pH and decreases the stimulus to breathe.
Term
What is the purpose of Baroreceptors?
Definition
Located in the carotid and aortic arch, they monitor blood pressure.
If there is a decrease in Bp, there is a corresponding decrease in respiratory rate. If there is an increase in Bp, then there is an increase in respiratory rate.
Term
What is the Hering-Breur reflex?
Definition
A stretch receptor in the lungs which prevents overinflation and inhibits inhalation.
Term
What triggers inhalation and exhalation?
Definition
inhalation: pH changes caused by carbon dioxide buildup.
exhalation: stretch receptors
Term
Why does hyperventilation allow you to hold your breath for longer?
Definition
Because buildup of carbon dioxide provides the reflex to breathe. If you hyperventilate and expel extra co2, then you slow down the reflex.
Term
How does gas exchange occur in the lungs?
Definition
oxygen travels out of the alveolus into the blood and circulates to other tissues while tissue cells send carbon dioxide to the blood circulation and then to the alveolus to receive oxygen. This is all initiated through simple diffusion.
Term
What accounts for the pressure differences in the air vs in our lungs?
Definition
The amount that is not expired has lower oxygen concentration in it and it dilutes the pressure of the fresh air.
Term
What regulates the release of oxygen into the body?
Definition
concentration gradients, decreases in pH and increases in temperature.
Term
What is the effect of body temperature on the oxygen hemoglobin curve?
Definition
The higher the body temperature, the lower hemoglobin's affinity for oxygen. As the body temperature declines, affinity of hemoglobin for oxygen goes up.
Term
What is the effect of pH on the oxygen hemoglobin curve?
Definition
In an acidic environment hemoglobin latches on to oxygen very well. In the alkalosis state there is very little carbon dioxide present oxygen goes down.
Term
What happens to hematocrit during exercise?
Definition
it goes up
Term
How does blood doping help an athlete?
Definition
More oxygen will be available to a lower amount of hemoglobin, making it less competitive and therefore easier for hemoglobin to pick up the oxygen.
Term
What harm is there in blood doping?
Definition
Increased blood volume increases blood pressure which in turn increases risk of stroke.
Term
What is the harm in ingesting carbon monoxide?
Definition
It competes with carbon dioxide for the same spot on hemoglobin. You would need an oxygen mask in a hyperbaric chamber in order to survive. It could take 120 days to return to normal.
Term
What is nitrogen narcosis?
Definition
When you become drunk off of the nitrogen in your blood. This happens in deep sea divers.
Term
What are the important steps in carbon dioxide transport?
Definition
1. It dissolves in the plasma
2. It attaches to hemoglobin (as Co2Hb)
3. Most will be carried as bicarbonate
Term
In the buffer system, when bicarbonate moves out of the plasma what happens?
Definition
Chloride moves into the cell (the chloride shift). This keeps electronegativity equal. (carbonic anhydrase is what drives this rxn)
Term
What is the nature of the blood supply of the alveolis?
Definition
Blood vessels constrict when oxygen is down, at the same time pH is also down as is ventilation as carbon dioxide levels are up.
Blood vessels expand when there is an increased level of oxygen, when pH goes up and when ventilation is enhanced. At this time carbon dioxide decreases.
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