System Structure: Respiratory - Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination Mblex

1. What is external respiration?

   Gas exchange between alveoli and pulmonary capillary blood. Diffusion gradients allow oxygen to enter blood and carbon dioxide to exit into alveoli.

2. What is the visceral pleura?

   Pleural layer directly covering the lung surface. This layer adheres to the lungs, facilitating smooth sliding against the parietal layer during breathing.

3. What is internal respiration?

   Gas exchange between systemic capillaries and body tissues. It delivers oxygen to cells and removes carbon dioxide via diffusion at tissue level.

4. Identify the main structural feature that keeps the trachea open.

   C-shaped rings of hyaline cartilage. These rings provide rigid support to prevent collapse while allowing flexibility for swallowing.

5. What are goblet cells responsible for in the respiratory tract?

   Mucus secretion. Produced mucus traps dust, pathogens, and debris to protect the respiratory epithelium.

6. What structure is the primary site of gas exchange in the lungs?

   Alveoli. Their thin walls and proximity to capillaries enable efficient diffusion of gases between air and blood.

7. Which bronchus is more vertical and more likely to receive aspirated objects?

   Right main (primary) bronchus. Its shorter, wider, and more vertical angle increases the risk of foreign body aspiration.

8. What is the carina, and why is it clinically important?

   Tracheal bifurcation ridge; highly sensitive cough reflex trigger. Located at the trachea's lower end, it triggers coughing to expel foreign objects from the airways.

9. What is surfactant, and what is its main function in alveoli?

   Type II cell secretion that reduces surface tension and prevents collapse. By lowering alveolar surface tension, it stabilizes air sacs and eases lung inflation.

10. Identify the correct order of airflow from nose to gas exchange site.

    Nasal cavity → pharynx → larynx → trachea → bronchi → bronchioles → alveoli. Air follows this pathway through the conducting zone to reach the respiratory zone for gas exchange.

11. Which structure prevents food from entering the trachea during swallowing?

    Epiglottis. It acts as a flap that closes over the glottis to direct food into the esophagus during deglutition.

12. Which muscles are commonly recruited for forced inspiration?

    External intercostals plus accessory muscles (SCM, scalenes). They elevate the rib cage to further increase thoracic volume beyond quiet breathing levels.

13. What is the diaphragm's primary role in respiration?

    Primary inspiratory muscle that increases thoracic volume. Contraction lowers the thoracic floor, expanding volume and creating negative pressure for air inflow.

14. During quiet inspiration, what happens to the diaphragm?

    It contracts and flattens (descends). Descent increases vertical thoracic dimension, reducing pressure to draw air into the lungs.

15. Which structure is the shared passageway for both respiratory and digestive systems?

    Pharynx. It connects the nasal/oral cavities to both larynx and esophagus, serving dual roles in pathways.

16. What is the primary function of the respiratory system?

    Gas exchange: deliver $O_2$ to blood and remove $CO_2$. This process maintains blood oxygen levels for cellular metabolism and eliminates carbon dioxide as a metabolic waste product.

17. What is pulmonary ventilation, in one concise definition?

    Movement of air into and out of the lungs (breathing). It encompasses inspiration and expiration to facilitate gas exchange with the external environment.

18. During quiet expiration, what is the primary mechanism of air leaving the lungs?

    Passive recoil of lungs and thoracic cage. Elastic properties cause natural return to resting position, increasing pressure to expel air.

19. What is the function of the vocal folds in the larynx?

    Sound production (phonation). Vibration of these folds by exhaled air generates sound waves for speech and vocalization.

20. What is the parietal pleura?

    Pleural layer lining the thoracic wall and diaphragm. It forms the outer boundary of the pleural cavity, anchoring to thoracic structures for stability.

21. Which muscles are primarily used for forced expiration?

    Internal intercostals and abdominal muscles. These muscles actively decrease thoracic volume, forcing additional air out during exertion.

22. What is found in the pleural cavity under normal conditions?

    A thin film of serous (pleural) fluid. The fluid lubricates pleural surfaces, reducing friction and aiding lung expansion during inspiration.

23. Which cells in the airway help move mucus upward toward the pharynx?

    Ciliated epithelial cells. Cilia on these cells propel trapped particles and mucus out of the airways to maintain cleanliness.

24. What type of epithelium lines most of the trachea?

    Pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium. This tissue type provides protection, mucus clearance, and efficient airflow in the upper respiratory tract.

25. What is the pleura, in one phrase?

    Double-layered serous membrane around the lungs. It reduces friction during lung movement and maintains negative pressure for expansion.

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