12. Respiratory System Flashcards
What are the two main regions of the respiratory system?
Upper respiratory tract and Lower respiratory tract.
What are the primary functions of the respiratory tracts?
- Facilitate transport of air to the alveoli, allowing for gaseous exchange to occur.
- Inhalation of oxygen.
- Exhalation of carbon dioxide.
What are the secondary functions of the respiratory tract?
- Prevent foreign material from entering the airway.
- Moisten air to improve gaseous exchange.
What is the Upper Respiratory Tract?
Mouth/Nose to Larynx
What are the components of upper respiratory tract?
Nostrils
Nasal Cavity
Nasopharynx
Oral Cavity
Oropharynx
Laryngopharynx
Larynx
What are the tonsils and where are they located?
Lymphatic tissue masses.
Located in the posterior aspect of the nasopharynx and oropharynx.
What is the function of the tonsils?
!st line of immune defence against ingested or inhaled pathogens.
What are the pharyngeal tonsils (adenoids) and where are they located?
Collection of lymphoid nodules.
On the posterior aspect of the nasal cavity.
What are the tubal tonsils and where are they located?
Paired regions of lymphoid tissue.
Around entrance to Eustacian tubes in wall of the nasopharynx on each side.
What are the palatine tonsils and where are they located?
Paired regions of lymphoid tissue.
On each side of the soft palate.
What are the lingual tonsils and where are they located?
Collection of lymphoid nodules.
On posterior aspect of tongue.
Where is the larynx located + comprise of?
Connects pharynx with trachea
Cartilaginous with connecting ligaments
- Epiglottis - guards entrance to airway
- Thyroid cartilage - Adams apple.
- vocal cords
- Cricoid cartilage rings
- Smaller cartilages anchor vocal cords.
What are the main functions of the larynx?
Prevent food/drink from entering the trachea.
Enable speech.
What is the Lower respiratory tract?
The trachea to the alveoli.
What are the main components of the lower respiratory tract?
Thoracic cage
Trachea
Bronchial tree
Mediastinum
Lungs
Diaphragm
Where is the mediastinum located?
Lies centrally between lung lobes.
From thoracic inlet level with the 1st rib superiorly, diaphragm inferiorly.
From sternum anteriorly to thoracic vertebrae posteriorly.
What does the mediastinum contain?
Trachea
heart
Oesophagus
Thoracic portion of the great vessels
Explain the macroscopic anatomy of the trachea.
Tube shaped
10-13cm long
15-29 D shaped cartilage rings, anterolaterally supported by ligaments with smooth muscle and fibrous tissue closing the D posteriorly
C6-T4
Explain the anatomy of the bronchial tree.
1 trachea
2 main bronchi
5 secondary bronchi supplying individual lobes
Multiple tertiary bronchi
Bronchioles (no cartilaginous rings)
Terminate at Alveoli
Lungs
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Lungs
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Explain the mechanism of breathing.
What is the diaphragm?
A dome shaped fibro-muscular partition which divides thoracic from abdominal cavity
What are the three opening in the diaphragm which allow passage of important structures?
- Venal caval orifice (T8)
- Oesophageal hiatus (T10)
- Aortic hiatus (T12)
What is the function of the diaphragm?
Draw air in to and out of lungs, assisted by intercostal muscles.
