Upper Airways
Lower Airways
Larynx
- cartilage structure that help prevent collapse
Laryngeal pharynx
- made up of oropharynx, nasopharynx and laryngeal pharynx
Epiglottis
flap that covers larynx during swallowing to prevent aspiration
Trachea
large tube connecting larynx to bronchi, cartilage keeps the airway patent and clear
Carina
bifurcation points of trachea, extremely sensitive
Right Bronchi
more vertical than left, more likely to see aspiration on right bronchi
Terminal Bronchioles
Acinus
Aveoli
Made up of:
Surfactant
lipoprotein that coats the inner surface of the alveolus
- lowers surface tension during expiration so that alveolus doesn’t collapse
Pleura
Double-walled sacs that hold alveoli
Made up of:
Pleural effusion
Build up of excess fluid between layers of the pleura, caused by infection
Four Major Functions of the Respiratory System
Maintain blood pH level
Blood pH needs to be within a narrow range, outside of this range is fatal
Maintaining pH requires alteration of CO2 in blood
CO2 acts like ACID
hypoventilation - higher CO2, more acidic
hyperventilation - lower CO2, less acidic
Control of respirations
typically involuntary and mediated by the respiratory centre in the brain stem
breathing patterns change in response to varying levels of CO2 and O2 in blood
Stimulus to breathe
Normal stimulus to breathe is an increase in CO2 - hypercapnia
decrease in O2 also increases respirations - hypoxemia
Thoracic cavity
increase during inspiration
decrease during expiration
Thoracic Cage
Suprasternal notch
hollow u-shaped depression just above the sternum between clavicles
Sternum
Manubriosternal angle (angle of Louis)
Costal angel
should be 90 degrees or less