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The respiratory tract can also be divided into a conducting zone and a respiratory zone, based on the distinction of transporting gases or exchanging them. The conducting zone includes structures outside of the lungs – the nose , pharynx , larynx , and trachea , and structures inside the lungs – the bronchi, bronchioles, and terminal ...
However, transmural pressure across the wall of the blood vessels increases down this zone due to gravity. Consequently the vessels wall are more stretched so the caliber of the vessels increases causing an increase in flow due to lower resistance. Zone 4 can be seen at the lung bases at low lung volumes or in pulmonary edema.
The conducting zone of the respiratory tract ends at the terminal bronchioles when they branch into the respiratory bronchioles. This marks the beginning of the terminal respiratory unit called the acinus which includes the respiratory bronchioles, the alveolar ducts, alveolar sacs, and alveoli. [27] An acinus measures up to 10 mm in diameter. [28]
The primary purpose of the respiratory system is the equalizing of the partial pressures of the respiratory gases in the alveolar air with those in the pulmonary capillary blood (Fig. 11). This process occurs by simple diffusion , [ 22 ] across a very thin membrane (known as the blood–air barrier ), which forms the walls of the pulmonary ...
Pulmonary embolism is blood clots occurring in the lungs. Restricted blood flow in the pulmonary circulation results in alveoli ventilated but not perfused, thus, increasing the V/Q ratio and decreasing gas exchange. It can cause hypoxemia(low oxygen level) and damage part of the lung, which may be treated with anticoagulants.
The pharynx (pl.: pharynges) is the part of the throat behind the mouth and nasal cavity, and above the esophagus and trachea (the tubes going down to the stomach and the lungs respectively). It is found in vertebrates and invertebrates, though its structure varies across species. The pharynx carries food to the esophagus and air to the larynx.
Exchange of gases in the lung occurs by ventilation and perfusion. [1] Ventilation refers to the in-and-out movement of air of the lungs and perfusion is the circulation of blood in the pulmonary capillaries. [1] In mammals, physiological respiration involves respiratory cycles of inhaled and exhaled breaths.
In healthy lungs where the alveolar dead space is small, Fowler's method accurately measures the anatomic dead space using a single breath nitrogen washout technique. [ 4 ] [ 5 ] The normal value for dead space volume (in mL) is approximately the lean mass of the body (in pounds), and averages about a third of the resting tidal volume (450-500 mL).