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respiratory lab

Terms in this set (72)

Upper respiratory tract
nasal cavity, pharynx, larynx
Lower respiratory tract
trachea, bronchi, bronchiole, alveolar ducts, and alveoli
nasal cavity
-Inside the nasal cavity are curved shelves of bone called conchae (or turbinates). The surface of these conchae are lined with ciliated respiratory epithelium, which secretes mucus and fluid.
-At rest, inspired air first flows in through the nasal cavity
pharynx
-located posterior to the nasal and oral (mouth) cavities. It is a common pathway for the respiratory and digestive tracts, allowing both air and food to pass.
-The pharynx contains three pairs of tonsils (mounds of lymphatic tissue involved in the immune response). Swelling of the tonsils can interfere with breathing, swallowing, and can lead to recurrent ear and sinus infections
Larynx
is a short tube comprised of several cartilages connected by ligaments and muscles. It also contains the vocal folds (chords) that are needed for sound production.
-(voice box)
trachea
-The trachea (windpipe) links the upper airways to the lungs. It runs down the neck and into the chest anterior to the esophagus.
-The trachea consists of C-shaped rings of cartilage connected by smooth muscle.
bronchi
-The trachea splits into two primary bronchi which enter each lung.
-Within the lung, the bronchi split into smaller secondary bronchi which enter separate lobes.
-Within the lobes, they split into even smaller tertiary bronchi.
alveolar ducts & alveoli
-The alveolar ducts are passageways that connect the respiratory bronchioles to the alveoli. Alveoli are thin-walled, elastic buds at the end of the respiratory tree.
-There are approximately 300-600 million alveoli. Collectively, they provide a relatively large surface area for gas exchange (equivalent to a tennis court!)
-The walls of the alveoli are very thin, consisting of a single layer of cells.
mucociliary clearance
cilia and mucus trap particles and move them up to be coughed out or swallowed through the pharynx
how might the cilia and mucus secretions in the respiratory epithelium act as a barrier against infection
Potentially infectious particles are trapped in the sticky mucus. These are either engulfed and removed by immune cells or pushed up towards the pharynx by mucociliary clearance. In the pharynx, the mucus can be expelled by a cough or is swallowed. In this way, mucociliary clearance is a major barrier against infection
turbulent flow
Irregular flow with random variations in pressure.
- because turbulent flow produces numerous collisions between molecules, the air quickly loses speed and a higher pressure gradient is required to maintain flow rate.
-has a greater flow resistance. more work is required to move the same volume of air
-airflow is turbulent higher in the respiratory tract
laminar flow
a smooth pattern of flow
-resistance is lower when the flow is laminar
-airflow becomes relatively more laminar from the bronchi downwards
how does resistance affect airflow?
-the dimensions of the airway (length & radius)
-the density of the gas
-the flow profile (whether the flow through the airway is laminar or turbulent)
Why is it harder to breathe in a more humid enviroment?
high water vapor increases the density of the air
what effect does breathing through the mouth have on resistance to flow?
decreases resistance
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