Respiratory System Overview

Respiratory System Overview

• The respiratory system is responsible for gas exchange, allowing oxygen intake and carbon dioxide release.
• Objectives for this chapter include identifying respiratory system parts, pronouncing/spelling/building respiratory system related words, and describing pathological conditions.
• Components of the respiratory system include air passages (upper and lower airways), thoracic cage (ribs, diaphragm, intercostal muscles, pleura) and the respiratory center.
• Upper Airways include the nasal cavity, pharynx, and larynx.
• Lower Airways include the trachea, bronchi, and lungs. Lungs have lobes, right lung has three and left lung has two.
• The pharynx is used by the respiratory and digestive systems. Air enters the trachea, food/liquids enter the esophagus. Pharynx subdivisions include nasopharynx, oropharynx, and laryngopharynx.

Functions of the Respiratory System

• Gas exchange in the alveoli (tiny air sacs in the lungs) surrounded by capillaries.
• Ventilation (breathing): movement of air into and out of the lungs
• Regulation of blood pH.
• Speech: movement of air through pharynx, larynx and mouth. Speaking requires the respiratory system to produce airflow.
• Olfaction (smell) sensation is facilitated by the respiratory system
• Protection: airway epithelial cells produce molecules for lung defense, including IgA and surfactant (to keep the lungs lubricated.)

Terms Related to the Respiratory System

• Nas/o - pertaining to the nose, (nasal cavity)
• Rhin/o - surgical repair of the nose (rhinoplasty)
• Sept/o - septum; septoplasty is surgical repair of the septum to correct a deviated septum
• Sinus/o - sinus; sinusotomy is an incision to improve ventilation or drainage.
• Adenoid/o - adenoids; adenoidectomy is the excision/removal of adenoids.
• Pharyng/o - pharynx; pharyngoscope is an instrument to examine the pharynx.
• Laryng/o - larynx; laryngoplegia is paralysis of the vocal cords and larynx.
• Trache/o - trachea; tracheoplasty is surgical repair of the trachea to fix narrow or stenotic tracheas. Tracheostomy is an incision to create an opening to insert a breathing tube.
• Bronchi/o/Bronch/o - bronchus(i) bronchoscope is to examine the bronchi
• Alveol/o - alveolus; alveolar refers to the alveoli,
• Pleur/o - pleura; pleur/o/centesis is an incision into the pleura
• Pneum/o/Pneumon/o- lung or air;
• Pulmon/o -lung; pulmonologist studies and treats lung diseases
• -capnia - carbon dioxide
• -osmia - smell
• -phonia - voice
• -pnea - breathing
• -thorax - chest

Symptomatic Respiratory Terms

• Brady- - slow (e.g., bradypnea: slow breathing),
• Dys- - bad, painful, difficult (e.g. dyspnea: difficult breathing).;
• Eu- - good, normal (e.g., eupnea: normal breathing).
• Tachy- - rapid (e.g., tachypnea: rapid breathing).

Pathological Related Terms

• Hypoxemia - deficiency of oxygen in the blood;
• Hypoxia- deficiency of oxygen in the tissues;
• Pleurisy - inflammation of the pleural membrane

Respiratory Rate

• Normal respiration rate varies with age and other factors.
• Children breathe more than 20 times per minute.
• Adults breathe 16 to 20 times per minute.
• Elderly individuals often breathe less than 16 times per minute.

Common Respiratory Terms

• Respiratory cycle: one inspiration plus one expiration
• Eupnea: normal respiration
• Dyspnea: painful or difficult respiration
• Tachypnea: abnormal respiratory rate > 24 breaths/minute
• Bradypnea: abnormal respiratory rate < 10 breaths/minute
• Sleep apnea: sleep disorder with pauses or shallow breathing during sleep