Respiratory System Basic Overview

Respiratory System

1. Anatomy and Physiology of the R'system.

   • Nose
     • Warms, moistens and filters inspired air. Detects smell
   • Phyarynx
     • Passageway for air and food. Warming and humidifying, taste, hearing, protection, speech
   • Larynx
     • Protection of sound, speech, protection of lower respiratory tract.
   • Trachea
     • Support and patency, cough reflex and warms, humidifies, filters.
   • Bronchi and bronchioles
     • Controls air entry, warming and humidifying, support and patency, cough reflex
   • Alveoli
     • External respiration, defense against microbes, warming and humidifying

2. Role of the R'system in maintaining homeostasis

3. To identify some medical terminology associated with the R'system.

4. ·

   • Respiration Steps:
     • Pulmonary Ventilation
       • Process by which gases exchanged between the atmosphere and lung aveoli. Consists of: - Inspiration - Expiration. Air moves due to changes in pressure.
     • External Respiration
     • Internal Respiration
   • Pressure V Volume - Boyle's Law
     • Pressure of gas in a container is inversely proportional to the volume of the container.
       • IF VOLUME INCREASES, THEN PRESSURE DECREASES
   • Thoracic cavity - size changes
     • Changes in size of thoracic cavity during inhalation & exhalation. During inhalation, the ribs move upwards and upwards like the handle on a bucket.
   • Control of Respiration
     • Respiration Centre - Located in the brain stem: - Consists of > Medullary rythmicity centre >Pnumotaxic area > Apneustic area
       • Regulated by: > cortical influences > chemical stimuli > proprioceptor input > inflation reflex > other influences
         • Medullary Rythmicity area: - consists of > Inspiratory area > Expiratory area - Controls basic rythm : IN 2 secs, OUT 3 secs
     • Apneustic area: -located in the pons -Stimulates inspiratory area - prolonged inspiration and inhibition of expiration
     • Pneumotaxic area: -Located in Pons, -Transmits inhibitory impulses to inspiratory center - Limit duration of inspiration - increased respiratory rate
     • Regulation of Respiratory Center:
       • Cortical influences: - Voluntary control of breathing eg helpful in swimming. -Emotional stimuli eg crying
       • Chemical stimuli: - chemoreceptors monitor levels of 02 and co2. - Central and peripheral chemoreceptors exist. - co2 increase, H+ increase and o2 decreases cause inspiratory center to become active - increased rate and depth of breathing. - Maintenance of homeostasis.