2.2 The Respiratory Tract Histology

Question 1

What is the definition of Histology?

Answer 1

study of the cellular anatomy of a tissue or organ that can be viewed through a microscope

Question 2

What is the typical respiratory epithelium composed of?

Answer 2

ciliated, pseudo stratified, columnar cells

Question 3

What are cilia?

Answer 3

hair like projections

Question 4

What is the apical side?

Answer 4

top of the cells

Question 5

Where are the cilia of respiratory cells normally located?

Answer 5

apical side

Question 6

What does it mean to be pseudostratified?

Answer 6

appear to be layered but all of them attached to the basement membrane

Question 7

What does it mean to be a columnar cell?

Answer 7

taller than you are wide

Question 8

What are goblet cells?

Answer 8

mucus producing cells

Question 9

What type of cells are found at the entrance to the respiratory system?

Answer 9

stratified squamous

Question 10

What does stratified mean?

Answer 10

layered

Question 11

What is a squamous cell?

Answer 11

flattened

Question 12

What types of cells are found in the smaller bronchioles?

Answer 12

simple squamous

Question 13

What does the structure of the simple squamous cells in the bronchioles allow for?

Answer 13

exchange of gasses

Question 14

What is the primary function of cells in the alveoli?

Answer 14

allow efficient exchange of gases between air and blood

Question 15

What is surfactant?

Answer 15

lipoprotein that covers the luminal surface

Question 16

What is the purpose of surfactant?

Answer 16

keep the alveoli from sticking to each other during exhalation; breaks up water molecules on the surface of the alveoli

Question 17

What is the reason many preemies have respiratory issues?

Answer 17

they have not yet developed surfactant

Question 18

What are the three major cell types of the alveoli?

Answer 18

1. alveolar cells
2. type II alveolar cells
3. macrophages

Question 19

What are type I alveolar cells?

Answer 19

they form the thin, simple, squamous epithelium of the alveoli in junction with capillaries

Question 20

What are the most abundant cell type on alveoli?

Answer 20

macrophage