Study Guide
Lungs and Respiratory System
Overview:
- Oxygenation:
o Perfusion is necessary to deliver oxygenated blood and remove metabolic wastes
o Intracranial regulation supports oxygenation
o Adequate oxygenation needed to support intracranial function
o Metabolism, motion, tissue integrity, sleep, and nutrition all require oxygenation
for optimal function
Terms:
- Apnea: Absence of breathing
- Eupnea: Normal breathing
- Orthopnea: Only able to breath comfortable in upright position (such as sitting in char),
unable to breath laying down
- Dyspnea: Subjective sensation related by patient as to breathing difficulty
- Paroxysmal Nocturnal Dyspnea: Attacks of severe shortness of breath that wakes a
person from sleep, such that they have to sit up to catch their breath – common in
patient’s with congestive heart failure
- Hyperpnea: Increased depth of breathing
- Bradypnea: Decreased breathing rate
- Tachypnea: Increased breathing rate
- Hypoventilation: Decreased rate or depth, or some combination of both
- Hyperventilation: Increased rate or depth, or some combination of both
- Hypoxia: Low oxygen in tissue
- Hypoxemia: Low oxygen in blood
A&P:
The Respiratory system supplies oxygen to cells and removes CO2 by processes of ventilation
and diffusion.
- Ventilation: Process of moving gases in and out of lungs by inspiration and expiration
- Diffusion: Process by which oxygen and carbon dioxide move from areas of high
concentration to low concentration
o After inspiration, concentration of O2 is higher in alveoli than in pulmonary
capillaries
o Oxygen diffuses across alveolar-capillary membrane and is carried by
erythrocytes to cells
o Oxygen diffuses into cells, and carbon dioxide diffuses from cells into capillaries,
where it is carried by erythrocytes to alveoli
o Carbon dioxide diffuses from pulmonary capillaries to alveoli and is exhaled
, - Cardiovascular system provides transportation of oxygen and carbon dioxide between
alveoli cells
Structures in the Thorax: Mediastinum
- Mediastinum: Middle of Chest
o Heart
o Arch of Aorta
o Superior Vena Cava
o Lower Esophagus
o Lower Part of Trachea
- Right and Left Pleural Cavities: Contain Lungs
o Lined with two types of serous membranes:
Parietal Pleura
Visceral Pleura
o Chest wall and diaphragm are protected by parietal pleura, and lungs are
protected by visceral pleura
o Small amount of fluid lubricates between pleura (pleural space) to reduce friction
as lungs move during inspiration and expiration
The Lungs:
- Right lobe has three lobes and left as two
- Each lung extends anteriorly about 1.5 inches above first rib into base of neck in adults
- Posteriorly, lungs’ apices rise to level T1 (first thoracic vertebrae); lower borders expand
down to T12 and, on expiration, rise to T9
External Thorax:
- Thoracic cage protects most of respiratory system and consists of:
o 12 thoracic vertebrae
o 12 pairs of ribs
o Sternum
- Ribs connect to thoracic vertebrae posteriorly:
o First seven ribs also connected to sternum by costal cartilages
o Costal cartilages of eighth to tenth ribs are connected immediately superior to
ribs
o Eleventh and twelfth ribs are unattached anteriorly, thus named “floating ribs”
Tips of 11th ribs are located in lateral thorax
Tips of 12th ribs are located in posterior thorax
- Sternum is about 7 inches long and has three components:
o Manubrium (Top)
o Body
o Xiphoid process (Bottom Tip)
- Manubrium and body articulate with first seven ribs; manubrium also supports clavicle
- Intercostal space (ICS) is the area between ribs
- ICS named according to rib immediately above it
o Ex: 1st ICS is located between 1st and 2nd ribs
Lungs and Respiratory System
Overview:
- Oxygenation:
o Perfusion is necessary to deliver oxygenated blood and remove metabolic wastes
o Intracranial regulation supports oxygenation
o Adequate oxygenation needed to support intracranial function
o Metabolism, motion, tissue integrity, sleep, and nutrition all require oxygenation
for optimal function
Terms:
- Apnea: Absence of breathing
- Eupnea: Normal breathing
- Orthopnea: Only able to breath comfortable in upright position (such as sitting in char),
unable to breath laying down
- Dyspnea: Subjective sensation related by patient as to breathing difficulty
- Paroxysmal Nocturnal Dyspnea: Attacks of severe shortness of breath that wakes a
person from sleep, such that they have to sit up to catch their breath – common in
patient’s with congestive heart failure
- Hyperpnea: Increased depth of breathing
- Bradypnea: Decreased breathing rate
- Tachypnea: Increased breathing rate
- Hypoventilation: Decreased rate or depth, or some combination of both
- Hyperventilation: Increased rate or depth, or some combination of both
- Hypoxia: Low oxygen in tissue
- Hypoxemia: Low oxygen in blood
A&P:
The Respiratory system supplies oxygen to cells and removes CO2 by processes of ventilation
and diffusion.
- Ventilation: Process of moving gases in and out of lungs by inspiration and expiration
- Diffusion: Process by which oxygen and carbon dioxide move from areas of high
concentration to low concentration
o After inspiration, concentration of O2 is higher in alveoli than in pulmonary
capillaries
o Oxygen diffuses across alveolar-capillary membrane and is carried by
erythrocytes to cells
o Oxygen diffuses into cells, and carbon dioxide diffuses from cells into capillaries,
where it is carried by erythrocytes to alveoli
o Carbon dioxide diffuses from pulmonary capillaries to alveoli and is exhaled
, - Cardiovascular system provides transportation of oxygen and carbon dioxide between
alveoli cells
Structures in the Thorax: Mediastinum
- Mediastinum: Middle of Chest
o Heart
o Arch of Aorta
o Superior Vena Cava
o Lower Esophagus
o Lower Part of Trachea
- Right and Left Pleural Cavities: Contain Lungs
o Lined with two types of serous membranes:
Parietal Pleura
Visceral Pleura
o Chest wall and diaphragm are protected by parietal pleura, and lungs are
protected by visceral pleura
o Small amount of fluid lubricates between pleura (pleural space) to reduce friction
as lungs move during inspiration and expiration
The Lungs:
- Right lobe has three lobes and left as two
- Each lung extends anteriorly about 1.5 inches above first rib into base of neck in adults
- Posteriorly, lungs’ apices rise to level T1 (first thoracic vertebrae); lower borders expand
down to T12 and, on expiration, rise to T9
External Thorax:
- Thoracic cage protects most of respiratory system and consists of:
o 12 thoracic vertebrae
o 12 pairs of ribs
o Sternum
- Ribs connect to thoracic vertebrae posteriorly:
o First seven ribs also connected to sternum by costal cartilages
o Costal cartilages of eighth to tenth ribs are connected immediately superior to
ribs
o Eleventh and twelfth ribs are unattached anteriorly, thus named “floating ribs”
Tips of 11th ribs are located in lateral thorax
Tips of 12th ribs are located in posterior thorax
- Sternum is about 7 inches long and has three components:
o Manubrium (Top)
o Body
o Xiphoid process (Bottom Tip)
- Manubrium and body articulate with first seven ribs; manubrium also supports clavicle
- Intercostal space (ICS) is the area between ribs
- ICS named according to rib immediately above it
o Ex: 1st ICS is located between 1st and 2nd ribs
