Maria Palacios P2 Respiratory System
Major Functions
Upper Respiratory Structures & Functions
nose: entrance/ exit for air, prevent entry of particles; made of bone & cartilage
nasal cavity: warm/ moistens/ filters air, traps particles; divided by nasal septum & creates passageways
sinuses: reduces skull weight, chambers for voice; open into nasal cavity, air-filled spaces
pharynx: produces sounds for speech, passageways for air & food; space behind oral/ nasal cavities & larynx, 3 subdivisions: nasopharynx, oropharynx, larynogopharynx
Lower Respiratory Structures & Functions
larynx: houses vocal cords, transports air in & out of trachea, prevents particles from entering trachea; made of muscles & cartilage
trachea: extends to esophagus and thoracic cavity, splits into L&R bronchi, cilia sweep mucus
bronchial tree: lead from trachea to alveoli; primary: lead to each lung, secondary: enters a lobe of a lung, tertiary: enters a segment of lung, bronchioles, terminal bronchioles, resp. bronchioles, alveolar ducts, alveolar sacs, alveoli
lungs: separated by mediastinum, enclosed by diaphragm & thoracic cage, soft cone organ; pleuras
Layers of Pleurae
Inspiration vs Expiration
Inspiration
- air moves from higher to lower pressure, force that moves air into lungs
Expiration
- diaphragm pushes upward, passive process of elastic recoil of muscles & lung tissue and surface tension within alveoli
Volume & Pressure Relationships
- increase in volume of thoracic cavity decreases pressure, decrease in volume increases pressure
Internal vs External Respirations
Internal
- occurs in body tissues: cells release carbon dioxide and take in oxygen from blood
External
- occurs in lungs and body takes in oxygen and releases carbon dioxide
Disorders of Respiratory System
Respiratory Volumes & Capacities
COPD: chronic bronchitis, emphysema, asthma
- causes/ risks: air pollution, tobacco smoke
- symptoms: chronic cough, wheezing, tight chest
- treatment: medication, lung transplant
Tidal Volume (TV):
- 500 mL
- volume of air moved in/out during resp. cycle
Inspiratory Reserve Volume (IRV):
- 3,000 mL
- max. vol. of air that can be inhaled at end of respiration
Expiratory Reserve Volume (ERV):
- 1,100 mL
- max. vol. air can be exhaled at end of resting expiration
Residual Volume (RV):
- 1,200 mL
- vol. of air remaining in lungs after max. expiration
Vital Capacity (VC):
- 4,600 mL
- max. vol. air exhaled after taking the deepest breath possible; TV+IRV+ERV= VC
Inspiratory Capacity (IC):
- 3,500 mL
- max. vol. air inhaled following exhalation of resting tidal vol.; TV+IRV= IC
Functional Residual Capacity (FRC):
- 2,300 mL
- vol. of air remaining in lungs after exhalation of resting tidal vol.; ERV+RV= FRC
Total Lung Capacity (TLC):
- 5,800 mL
- total vol. of air that lungs can hold; VC+RV= TLC
Tuberculosis: bacterial infection in resp. system
- causes/ risks: contagious, weak immune system
- symptoms: fever/ fatigue, chest pain, short breath
- treatment: surgery, medication, antibiotics
Pneumonia: bacterial or viral infection of the lungs
- causes/ risks: aspiration, viral infection, impaired immune system
- symptoms: fever, chills, chest pain
- treatment: antibiotic, oxygen therapy, antibiotics
Lung Cancer: uncontrolled cell growth & development of tumors in lungs
- causes/ risks: air pollution, genetics, second-hand smoke
- symptoms: fatigue, chest pain, shortness of breath
- treatment: radiation, chemotherapy, surgical removal
Seasonal Flu: viral infection changes the severity of symptoms
- causes/ risks: inhaled in respiratory, age, pregnancy
- symptoms: fatigue, dry cough, congestion
- treatment: early vaccination, rest/ hydration, antiviral meds
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- receives oxygen & removes carbon dioxide from cells
- allows us to talk and smell
- warms and moistens incoming air
- removes wastes from body
- allows us to breathe
- protects from dust & microbes
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- serous fluid: lubricates pleural cavity between 2 layers
- parietal pleura: outer layer; lines thoracic cavity
- visceral pleura: inner layer; attached to surface of lungs