15. Anatomy of the Respiratory Tract Flashcards
What are the structural features of the Upper respiratory tract
Nose and paranasal sinuses
Pharynx
Larynx
What are the structural features of the lower respiratory tract
Trachea
Bronchi
Bronchioles
Alveoli
State the function of the upper respiratory tractWarms and moistens and filters the air
Warms and moistens and filters the inhaled air to protect the lower respiratory tract
Olfaction (smell)
Production and resonation of sound
State the functions of the nose
- Warms and moistens and filters air
- Contains receptors for smell
What are the names of the hairs at the entrance of the nose?
What do they do?
Vibrissae
They trap large dust particles
What are the concahe?
What do they do?
Conchae are shelf like projections that create turbulence, allows more time to warm and moisten the air.
What are Respiratory Mucosa?
What do they do?
- Pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium with goblet cells that produce mucous to trap particles.
- Cilia waft the trapped particles to pharynx where they can be swallowed.
- Respiratory defence system
List the 6 functional adaptations of the nose
- Conchae
- Vibrassae
- Mucosa
- Rich capillary network
- Olfactory mucosa
- Paranasal sinuses
What is the role of the pharynx
Pharynx forms a communal passageway for respiratory and GI systems.
State the 3 regions of the pharynx from highest to lowest.
Nasopharynx
Oropharynx
Laryngopharynx
State the main functions of the larynx
Maintains an open airway
Prevents food and drink entering the lower respiratory tract
Sound production
Coughing and defacaetion.
What is Olfactory mucosa?
Located in the upper aspect of the nose
Contains receptors for smell.
What are Paranasal sinuses?
- Air filled spaces in bones around the nose (unsure still)
- Lighten the skull and resonate sound
- Secretions for the sinuses drain into nasal cavity
What is the Glottis?
- The space between the vocal cords
- Usually open to allow air flow
- Closed during swallowing to prevent aspiration
- Air vibrated over the vocal cords to produce sound
Name the 10 structures in the lower respiratory tract.
- Trachea
- Primary bronchi
- Secondary bronchi
- Tertiary bronchi
- Bronchioles
- Terminal bronchioles
- Respiratory bronchioles
- Alveolar ducts
- Alveolar sacs
- Alveoli
Function of Pseudostratified Ciliated Columnar Epithelium with Goblet Cells in the Trachea.
- Goblet cells produce mucus = mucus layer in the lumen
- Particles inhales get trapped in the mucus layer of the nasopharynx or by secretions of the pharynx
- Cilia waft the particles back to the pharynx = swallowed + ingested
What is the Lamina Propria?
- Underlying layer of areolar that supports the respiratory epithelium.
- Contains bundles of smooth muscles cells
What happens to the series of tubes as you go further down the Bronchial Tree?
- Smaller in diameter
- Amount of cartilage decreases
- Amount of smooth muscle increases
- Height of epithelial cells decrease
Name the properties of the Primary Bronchi.
- supply each lung
- 2-3cm long
- right is wider and more vertical than left
- C-shaped cartilages
- Pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium with goblet cells
Name the properties of the Secondary Bronchi.
- supply lobes of the lung (3 on right, 2 on left)
- plates of cartilage
- Pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium with goblet cells
Name the properties of the Tertiary Bronchi.
- supply segments of the lung (10 on right, 8 on left)
- plates of cartilage
Describe the structure and properties of the Bronchioles.
- No cartilage
- Simple columnar epithelium with cilia
- Few goblet cells (mucus secreting)
- Smooth muscle therefore can constrict and dilate
- Each gives rise to 50-80 terminal bronchioles
- Controlled by the autonomic nervous system
- Controls airway resistance
Describe the structure and properties of the Terminal Bronchioles.
- Simple columnar epithelium with cilia
- No goblet cells or mucous glands
- Clara cells – produce surfactant
- Each gives rise to 2 or more respiratory bronchioles
Describe the structure and properties of the Respiratory Bronchioles.
- Simple cuboidal epithelia
- No cilia
- Clara cells – produce surfactant
- Alveoli extend from the lumen \ gas exchange occurs here
Describe the Structure of the Alveoli.
- Alveolar cell layer consists mainly of simple squamous epithelium.
- Wall of alveolus is mainly formed of type I alveolar cells (pneumocytes type I).
○ At the sites of gas diffusion.
○ Unusually thin - Large Type II alveolar cells (pneumocytes type II)
- Air crosses respiratory membrane to get into the capillary from the alveoli.
Function of Large Type II alveolar cells (pneumocytes type II).
Large Type II alveolar cells (pneumocytes type II) secrete surfactant containing phospholipids and proteins, which reduces surfaces tension so alveoli can easily expand.
Describe the structure and function of the Respiratory Membrane.
Made up of:
- Epithelium of Type I cell (Simple Squamous)
- Basement membrane of Type I cell
- Basement Membrane of Capillary
- Endothelium of capillary
If fluid builds up between basement membranes the it causes fluid hypertension
