PhysiologyLesson 5 of 5 in the course Routes of drug administration

Inhalation Mechanics, Uses, and Pulmonary Hyperinflation

5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 4 fill-in sentences · English

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Summary

Inhalation, also called inspiration, is the movement of air or other gases into the lungs. It supports vital gas exchange, but inhaled substances can also be used for medical purposes or enter the lungs accidentally. This lesson explains how inhalation works, how it is used, and what hyperinflation means.

Inhalation is a phase of the breathing cycle in which air enters the lungs. Breathing is usually autonomic, meaning it occurs without conscious effort, although people can consciously control or briefly interrupt it within limits. Oxygen from inhaled air enters the lungs and can then be absorbed into the bloodstream.

All flashcards

What is inhalation?
Inhalation, or inspiration, is the movement of air or other gases into the lungs.
What role does the diaphragm play in inhalation?
The diaphragm contracts, helping expand the chest and lower lung pressure so air flows inward.
What are alveoli?
Alveoli are microscopic air sacs at the ends of the respiratory airways. Oxygen can pass from the lungs into the bloodstream there.
What is hyperinflation?
Hyperinflation, or hyperaeration, is an abnormal increase in lung volume with increased alveolar filling. X-rays may show increased radiolucency, reduced lung markings, and a depressed diaphragm.
Name two medical uses of inhalation.
Inhalation can be used diagnostically, such as in pulmonary function testing, and therapeutically, such as to deliver asthma medicines or anaesthetic gases.

Quiz questions

  1. Which is a diagnostic use of inhalation?Answer: Using a known gas during pulmonary function testing.
  2. How does oxygen from inhaled air reach the rest of the body?Answer: It enters the lungs and can then be absorbed into the bloodstream.
  3. Which sequence best describes the basic mechanism of inhalation?Answer: Respiratory muscles contract, chest volume increases, lung pressure falls, and air flows inward.
  4. Why does air flow into the lungs when lung pressure falls below atmospheric pressure?Answer: The pressure difference drives airflow from the atmosphere toward the lower-pressure lungs.
  5. Which circumstance can cause lung hyperinflation?Answer: Partial obstruction of a large airway, such as by a mucus plug.

Based on the Wikipedia article Inhalation, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

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