Anatomy of Respiratory System
These structures—the nose, nasal cavity, sinuses, and pharynx—are collectively known as this division of the respiratory tract.
What is the upper respiratory tract?
The force that moves air into the lungs.
What is atmospheric pressure?
This thin barrier consists of alveolar epithelium, fused basement membranes, and capillary endothelium.
What is the respiratory membrane?
This long‑term effect of smoking destroys alveolar walls and reduces surface area for gas exchange.
What is emphysema?
This brainstem center establishes the basic rhythm of breathing.
What is the ventral respiratory group of the medulla?
These bones (maxillary, frontal, ethmoid, sphenoid) contain air‑filled chambers that reduce skull weight and help with voice resonance.
What are the paranasal sinuses?
According to this gas law, pressure and volume are inversely related.
What is Boyle’s Law?
The majority (70%) of CO₂ is transported in the blood in this form.
What are bicarbonate ions (HCO₃⁻)?
This respiratory disorder causes swollen, fluid‑filled alveoli, reducing gas exchange and often involving infection.
What is pneumonia?
These chemoreceptors in the medulla primarily monitor pH changes caused by CO₂.
What are central chemoreceptors?
These hairlike structures sweep mucus toward the pharynx as part of the mucociliary escalator.
What are cilia?
Normal expiration is this type of process.
What is a passive process?
When CO₂ levels increase, this happens to blood pH.
What is “it decreases (becomes more acidic)” ?
Lack of surfactant can cause this condition, especially in premature infants.
What is respiratory distress syndrome?
These receptors in the carotid and aortic bodies respond primarily to low PO₂.
What are peripheral chemoreceptors?
The opening between the true vocal cords is called this.
What is the glottis?
This detergent‑like substance reduces surface tension in alveoli and prevents collapse.
What is surfactant?
Hemoglobin releases more oxygen when temperature, acidity, or CO₂ levels rise—an effect known as this.
What is a right shift of the oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve?
At high altitude, people may develop this severe form of altitude sickness where fluid enters alveoli.
What is high‑altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE)?
This reflex prevents overinflation of the lungs during forced breathing.
What is the Hering‑Breuer reflex?
These are the two serous membranes surrounding the lungs—one attached to the lungs and one lining the thoracic cavity.
What are the visceral pleura and parietal pleura?
These muscles contract during forceful expiration.
What are the internal intercostals and abdominal muscles?
This process prevents electrical charge imbalance when bicarbonate leaves RBCs.
What is the chloride shift?
This disease forms “tubercles” around infection sites and thickens the respiratory membrane.
What is tuberculosis?
During exercise, breathing increases even before PO₂ or PCO₂ changes due to this reflex triggered by joint movement.
What is the joint reflex?