Anatomy and Physiology 242 Unit III Objectives Respiratory System
1. Know the functions of the respiratory system.
2. Be able to identify the parts of the process of ventilation and what happens during each part.
3. What is the difference between internal and external respiration?
4. Be able to identify, describe and tell the difference between the parts of the respiratory systemnasal cavity, pharynx, larynx, primary bronchi, bronchioles, terminal and respiratory bronchioles,
alveoli, alveolar ducts, alveolar sacs. Know each of their functions. Know the difference between
conducting & respiratory zones.
5. Name the cell types of the alveolus and what they are responsible for. What is the physiological
necessity for surfactant?
6. Know the following gas laws and the formulas that go with them and know what their significance
to respiration. Dalton’s Law of Partial Pressures, Boyle’s Law. Know their significance to respiration
7. What does conditioning air mean and what does it entail? Where does it occur?
8. What is the difference between quiet inspiration and expiration and forced inspiration and
expiration? What muscles are used in each?
9. Explain inspiration and expiration in terms of a closed box with one opening.
10. How is intrapulmonary pressure different from intrapleural and intraalveolar pressures? How are
they maintained? What is the physiological significance of each? What are the values of each during
breathing, at rest, etc.?
11. What is compliance? What factors increase and/or decrease it?
12. Explain the effect of surface tension on the alveoli in the lung. How is this compensated for by the
body?
13. Know the following respiratory volumes and capacities and how to calculate each: TV, IRV, ERV,
RV, IC, FRC, VC, TLC.
14. How are total pulmonary ventilation and alveolar ventilation related and how are they different?
Know how to calculate each. What is the significance of anatomical dead space and what is it? Why
is alveolar ventilation rate a better indicator of effective ventilation?
15. Know the difference between hypo- and hyper- ventilation. Know how the partial pressures of O2
and CO2 change with each.
16. Name factors that affect pulmonary gas exchange. Which of these is the most important & why?
18. Know the composition of the respiratory membrane, where it is located and why it is efficient at
gas exchange.
19. Explain partial pressures and diffusion of gases at the alveoli and at the tissues.
20. Explain the HbO2 dissociation curve in some detail. What determines the amount of O2 that will
bind to Hb? What factors determine where and how O2 will the loaded or detached? What are the
effects of pH, temperature, and BPG on the dissociation curve-be able to explain. In which direction
will they shift the curve and why?
21. Define hypo- and hyper- capnia. Know what causes each and how the body brings the body back
to homeostasis if either occurs.
22. How are O2 and CO2 transported in blood? Which is the most and least important transport
mechanism for each?
23. Know where the respiratory centers are located-medullary rhythmicity center, apneustic center
and pneumotaxic centers. Be able to explain their functions and how together they determine the rate
and depth of respiration.
24. What are respiratory reflexes? Give examples of PCO2, pH and PO2 which will cause a respiratory
reflex.
25. What and where are central and peripheral chemoreceptors. What stimulates them? How are they
important to respiration?
26. Explain the Bohr effect.
27. Explain the Chloride shift.
28. What is the Hering-Breuer Inflation Reflex? When would it be used?