UH Fundamentals of Respiratory

• What is pulmonary ventilation?

  Movement of air in and out of the lungs
• What is inhalation also known as?

  Inspiration
• What is exhalation also known as?

  Expiration
• What are the main functions of the respiratory system?

  • Gas exchange: supplies oxygen and disposes of carbon dioxide
  • Produces sounds for speech
  • Protects respiratory surfaces from dehydration, temperature changes, and pathogens
  • Site for olfactory sensation aiding the sense of smell
• What structures are included in the upper respiratory system?

  Nose, nasal cavity, sinuses, and pharynx

  
• What structures are included in the lower respiratory system?

  Larynx, trachea, bronchi, and lungs

  
• What is the upper respiratory tract also known as?

  The upper airway

  
• What are the anterior nares also known as?

  Nostrils
• What are the functions of the nasal cavity?

  • Air conditioning: warms and humidifies inhaled air
  • Air filtration: removes debris and germs
  • Smell: contains specialized nerve endings for olfaction
  • Voice: contributes to sound during speech
  • Nasal cycle: alternates congestion and decongestion
  • Nasal turbinates: warm, humidify air, regulate airflow, and assist in immune surveillance
• What is the nasal septum?

  It is the wall in the middle of the nasal cavity made of cartilage and bone.
• What is the pharynx?

  A muscular tube in the neck that helps with breathing and digestion.
• What are the three parts of the pharynx?

  • Nasopharynx: upper part behind the nose, contains adenoids and tubal tonsils
  • Oropharynx: middle part behind the mouth, involved in speech and swallowing
  • Hypopharynx: bottom part, connects to the larynx and esophagus

  
• What is the role of the pharynx in the respiratory system?

  It is a shared structure between the respiratory system and the gastrointestinal tract.
• What are the three regions of the larynx?

  Supraglottis, glottis, and subglottis
• What are the functions of the larynx?

  • Protecting the airway from food entering the trachea
  • Producing sound through vocal cords
  • Controlling airflow and pressure for breathing
  • Involved in the process of swallowing
• What is the trachea also known as?

  The windpipe
• How long is the trachea?

  9-15 cm long
• What supports the trachea?

  16-20 C-shaped cartilaginous rings made of hyaline cartilage
• What is the carina?

  The point where the trachea bifurcates into two primary bronchi.

  
• What is the inner lining of the trachea made of?

  A mucous membrane containing ciliated pseudostratified columnar epithelium.
• What are the bronchi and their role in the respiratory system?

  • Main passageways for air traveling from the trachea to the lungs
  • Part of the lower respiratory tract
  • Conduct air to the alveoli for gas exchange

  
• Where do the primary bronchi divide from the trachea?

  At the level of the carina (around the T4-T5 vertebral level)
• How does the right primary bronchus differ from the left?

  The right primary bronchus is shorter, wider, and more vertical.
• How many secondary bronchi does the right lung have?

  Three secondary bronchi
• How many secondary bronchi does the left lung have?

  Two secondary bronchi
• What are tertiary bronchi?

  They supply specific bronchopulmonary segments in the lungs.

  
• How do bronchi work with the respiratory system?

  They help conduct air to the alveoli for gas exchange.

  
• What happens to air when you breathe?

  Air passes from your mouth to your trachea, then divides into left and right bronchi.
• What are bronchioles?

  Small airways in the lungs that branch off from the bronchi.

  
• What do bronchioles lack in their walls?

  Cartilage
• What is the bronchial bifurcation?

  • The division point where the left main bronchus divides into smaller bronchi
  • Refers to the branching of primary bronchi into secondary (lobar) bronchi
  • Houses the carina, a cartilaginous ridge

  
• What are terminal bronchioles?

  • The smallest bronchioles that conduct air but do not participate in gas exchange
  • Mark the end of the conducting zone of the respiratory system
  • Only transport air without direct involvement in gas exchange

  
• What are respiratory bronchioles?

  • The first parts of the respiratory zone where gas exchange begins
  • Characterized by the presence of some alveoli budding from their walls
  • Allow for limited gas exchange

  
• What are alveolar ducts and their function?

  • Small passages connecting respiratory bronchioles to alveolar sacs
  • Collect inhaled air and transport it to alveoli
  • Collect carbon dioxide from alveoli for exhalation

  
• What are alveoli and their role in the lungs?

  • Cells in the lungs that exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide
  • Terminal ends of the respiratory tree located in alveolar sacs
  • Essential for gas exchange in the body

  
• What is the structural anatomy of the alveoli?

  • Tiny, balloon-like structures at the end of bronchioles
  • Clustered in groups known as alveolar sacs
  • Composed of a single layer of squamous epithelial cells for efficient gas exchange

  
• What do type II alveolar cells do?

  • Scattered among type I cells in the alveoli
  • Secrete surfactant to reduce surface tension
  • Prevent alveoli from collapsing during exhalation
• What are pulmonary capillaries and their function?

  • Tiny blood vessels surrounding the alveoli
  • Carry deoxygenated blood from the right side of the heart to the alveoli for oxygenation
  • Return oxygenated blood to the left side of the heart
• What are the lungs and their role in the respiratory system?

  • Vital organs responsible for gas exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide
  • Two lungs: right lung (three lobes) and left lung (two lobes)
  • Composed of millions of alveoli for efficient gas exchange

  
• What happens to the lungs during inhalation?

  The lungs expand when air is inhaled.