Upper Respiratory
Which structures are in the upper respiratory system?
Nose
Paranasal sinuses
Pharynx
What structures make up the lower respiratory system?
Larynx
Trachea
Bronchi
Alveoli
Lungs
Which process of ventilation is active? Which is passive?
Inspiration = active
Expiration = passive
What relationship is being illustrated in the oxygen-hemoglobin dissociation curve?
The relationship between the amount of oxygen bound to hemoglobin (percent saturation) and the partial pressure of oxygen in the blood.
What type of receptors monitors blood oxygen and carbon dioxide? Where are they located?
Chemoreceptors
Location: brain stem, carotid arteries, aortic arch
What are 3 functions of the upper respiratory system?
Warm air
Humidifies air (adds water)
Filters air
Name ONE of the 3 functions of the larynx.
Provide an open airway
Act as a switching mechanism to direct air and food to their proper channels
Voice production
Which type of pressure is between the parietal and visceral pleura and creates a partial vacuum which keeps the lungs against the chest wall.
Intrapleural pressure
The higher the partial pressure of oxygen, the _____ the percent saturation.
Is this relationship inverse or proportional?
Higher; proportional
Central chemoreceptors sense that blood carbon dioxide levels are elevated. Where will they send this information?
Central chemoreceptors will send this signal to the respiratory centers (medulla and pons)
What upper respiratory structure decreases the weight of the skull and produces mucus?
Paranasal sinuses
Glottis closes to prevent exhalation and abdominal muscles contract, causing intra-abdominal pressure to rise.
Valsalva maneuver
Which gas law states that as volume increases, pressure decreases? Vice versa.
Boyle's law
What 3 factors affect the affinity of hemoglobin (Hb) for oxygen (O2)?
Partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PCO2)
Temperature
Acidity of blood (pH levels)
The respiratory centers (medulla and pons) have been notified of elevated blood carbon dioxide levels from the chemoreceptors, and they have made the decision to increase the respiratory rate. Where will they send this signal?
The respiratory centers will send a signal to the phrenic nerve that innervates the diaphragm to increase the respiratory rate.
Name the 3 regions of the pharynx.
Nasopharynx
Oropharynx
Laryngopharynx
Point where trachea branches into R/L main bronchi.
Carina
During inspiration, does the intrapulmonary pressure fall to -1 mmHg, or rise to +1 mmHg?
Intrapulmonary pressure falls to -1 mmHg during inspiration to create a pressure gradient for oxygen to flow into the lungs.
What occurs to hemoglobin's affinity for oxygen when the curve shifts to the left? What does this mean?
Affinity increases.
Hemoglobin is less likely to release oxygen.
When we choose to breathe deeply, slowly, etc. what brain structure is in charge?
Higher brain centers in the cerebral cortex
Which region of the pharynx permits only air to pass and is made up of pseudostratified ciliated columnar?
What 3 structural changes occur as we move deeper into the bronchial tree?
Less supportive cartilage (rings to plates to nothing)
Epithelium becomes simpler (pseudostratified columnar to simple columnar to simple cuboidal)
Amount of smooth muscle increases
Explain how increased airway resistance influences ventilation. What medical condition would increase airway resistance?
If the airway gets smaller, resistance increases, so air flow decreases.
Chronic bronchitis and/or asthma would increase airway resistance due to narrow airways that may also produce excess mucus.
As temperature increases, what happens to hemoglobin's affinity to oxygen? In what direction will the curve shift?
Once arterial PO2 falls below ___mmHg, it then becomes the major stimulus for respiration.
60 mmHg