Respiratory System Quiz

Prayer Before Class

• A prayer seeking guidance and enlightenment from the Holy Spirit for a successful class.
• It asks for understanding, memory, and ease in learning.
• The prayer requests God's direction for the learning process.
• It is to be used before a class.

Anatomy and Physiology with Pathophysiology Unit 11: The Respiratory System

• This unit focuses on the anatomy and physiology of the respiratory system and potential diseases.
• The course content will cover respiratory system physiology, oxygen and carbon dioxide transport in the blood, pulmonary ventilation, lung volumes and capacities, respiratory diseases relevant to the Philippines, and diagnostic tests for respiratory disorders.
• Its Intended Learning Outcomes include: describing the general functions of the respiratory system and integrating an understanding of its physiology with the pathophysiology of common diseases and conditions affecting the system.
• The formative assessment questions include:
  • The respiratory system consists of what organs? (e.g., external nose, nasal cavity, pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, lungs)
  • What transports oxygen from lungs to the tissues and carbon dioxide from tissues to the lungs? (hemoglobin)
  • Identify the processes displayed in the diagram. (Inspiration and Expiration)

Word Roots and Combining Forms

• List of terms and related meanings for study.
• alveol/o: alveolus, air sac
• bronch/o: bronchial tube
• bronchi/o: bronchus
• bronchiol/o: bronchiole
• laryng/o: larynx
• nas/o: nose
• pharyng/o: pharynx
• phren/o: diaphragm
• pneum/o,pneumon/o: air
• pulmon/o: lung
• rhin/o: nose
• sinus/o: sinus
• spir/o: breathing
• thorac/o: chest
• trache/o: trachea

Overview of the Respiratory System

• The respiratory system is involved in acquiring oxygen and removing carbon dioxide.
• Crucial for ATP synthesis within the body.
• This system includes the external nose, nasal cavity, pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, and lungs.
• Carbon Dioxide is a byproduct of ATP production and must be removed from the body.

Ventilation vs. Respiration

• Ventilation is the movement of air into and out of the lungs.
• Respiration describes the diffusion of gases across plasma membranes within the body, involving pulmonary (external) and systemic (internal) respiration.
• The respiratory zone within the lungs encompasses specialized air tubes and alveoli where gas exchange occurs.
• The conducting zone in the respiratory system includes the nose to the smallest air tubes within the lungs and is dedicated solely for ventilation.
• Gas exchange takes place only within the respiratory zone.

Four Simultaneous Processes (for Gas Exchange)

• Ventilation (movement of air in and out of respiratory passages)
• Pulmonary respiration (oxygen moves out of alveolar air and into blood, carbon dioxide diffuses out of the blood and joins the air in the alveoli)
• Gas transport (oxygen and carbon dioxide travel in the blood to and from cells)
• Systemic respiration (gas exchange with tissues, where oxygen exits the blood and enters the cells, while carbon dioxide exits the cells and enters the blood)

Functions of the Respiratory System

• Regulation of blood pH.
• Production of chemical mediators.
• Voice production.
• Olfaction (smell).
• Protection from inhaled foreign objects.
• The lungs also produce Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE).
• Function: to allow air to flow and out of the lungs.
• Essential for maintaining a balance in the body's internal environment (homeostasis).

Muscles of Respiration (Inspiration)

• Diaphragm
• External intercostal muscles
• Pectoralis minor
• Scalene muscles

Muscles of Respiration (Expiration)

• Internal intercostals
• Abdominal muscles

Quiet vs. Labor breathing

• During quiet breathing, the external intercostal muscles contract.
• During labored breathing, additional muscles besides the external intercostals contract.
• Labor breathing results in a more forceful and rapid expansion of the thorax.

Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide Transport in the Blood

• Hemoglobin: A protein in red blood cells that carries a significant amount of both oxygen and carbon dioxide.
• Four Types of Hemoglobin molecules: embryonic, fetal, adult, and hemoglobin-S.
• Some carbon dioxide is dissolved directly in the plasma.

Transport of Oxygen (O2)

• Oxygen diffuses into the blood, bound to hemoglobin in red blood cells.
• About 98.5% of oxygen is transported by hemoglobin.
• Remaining 1.5% dissolved in the plasma.

Transport of Carbon Dioxide (CO2)

• Carbon dioxide is produced as a byproduct of glucose breakdown.
• Diffuses into the blood, transported in dissolved form (7%), bound to hemoglobin (23%) or as bicarbonate ion (70%).
• Carbonic anhydrase facilitates the conversion of carbon dioxide into bicarbonate ion.

Transport of CO2 by Hemoglobin

• Approximately 23% of carbon dioxide is transported bound to hemoglobin.
• The amount of carbon dioxide bound to hemoglobin increases as oxygen levels decrease and vice versa.

Chloride Shift

• In tissues, this process maintains the electrical neutrality of red blood cells.
• Bicarbonate ions diffuse out and chloride ions move into red blood cells.
• This shift facilitates carbon dioxide removal.

Physiological Factors Affecting Gas Transport

• Chemoreceptors: Specialized nerve cells that detect chemical changes.
• Central chemoreceptors (medulla): Sensitive to blood CO2 and H+ changes.
• Peripheral chemoreceptors (carotid and aortic bodies): Sensitive to blood pH, O2, and H+.

Effect of Po2 on Respiration

• Carbon dioxide is the main regulator of respiratory rate, but changes in partial pressure of oxygen (PO2) can affect it.
• Hypoxia (low PO2) triggers an increase in respiratory rate.

Effect of Pco2 on Respiration

• Carbon dioxide is the primary regulator of respiratory rate.
• Increased carbon dioxide leads to an increase in both rate and depth of breathing.

Effect of pH on Respiratory Rate

• Central chemoreceptors detect changes in blood H+ concentration (via CO2)
• Peripheral chemoreceptors detect H+ directly, influencing respiratory rate adjustment

Gas Exchange

• Oxygen intake and release of carbon dioxide.
• Inhale air through nose/mouth → pharynx → larynx → trachea → bronchi → bronchioles → alveoli → capillaries.
• Oxygen diffuses into capillaries and carbon dioxide diffuses into alveoli.
• Exhale air through bronchioles → bronchi → trachea → larynx → pharynx → nose/mouth.

Disorders & Diagnostic Tests relevant to the Respiratory System

• Effects of aging (e.g., decreased lung function, increased mucus accumulation).
• Upper respiratory tract infections (e.g., strep throat, common cold).
• Lower respiratory tract infections (e.g., pneumonia).
• Paralysis of the respiratory muscles (e.g., impact on diaphragm and intercostal muscles).
• Diagnostic tests (e.g., chest X-rays, sputum Gram stains, cultures).

Central and Peripheral Chemoreceptors

• Central chemoreceptors: located in the medulla oblongata and respond to changes in CO2 levels in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).
• Peripheral chemoreceptors: located in the carotid and aortic bodies and respond directly to changes in blood pH and oxygen levels.