Health Sciences 3701A/B Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Calcification, Vocal Folds, Exhalation

• School: Western University
• Department: Health Sciences
• Course: Health Sciences 3701A/B
• Professor: Aleksandra Zecevic

Document Summary

Inhalation =flattening or contraction of diaphragm and contraction of ribcage muscles causing ribs to move upward and forward. Internal = exchange in the body cells of oxygen from the blood and carbon diozide from the tissues. Calcification of the laryngeal and tracheal cartilage occurs resulting in a stiffening of those structures. Actual number of alveoli doesn"t changes but their structure is altered. Presbylaryngis refers to aging changes in voice pitch caused by thinning or aging of the vocal cords. Skeletal changes such as calcification of the costal (rib) cartilges, osteoporosis and weakened respiratory muscles all affect respiratory function. Muscles responsible for inhalation and exhalation lose strength and endurance and there is an increased stiffness of the chest wall. Lungs decrease in size and decrease in weight the alveoli and alveolar ducts become enlarged leading to decrease efficiency of oxygen co2 exchange causing icreased level of. Overall less o2 is delivered to body cells and that leads to lessened reserve capacity.