Anatomy Flashcards
What is the nasal cavity divided by into two compartments?
Cartilaginous septum
What structure forms the lateral wall of the nasal cavity?
Conchea
What is the function of conchae?
It warms, filters and moistens the inspired air
What structure is found between Conchae?
The meatuses
What is the function of meatuses?
To create a pathway for the inspired air to flow through the nasal cavity.
Which meatus is more significant and why?
Middle meatus - the most significant space in the nasal cavity considering the drainage of paranasal sinuses.
Where is the olfactory epithelium found and what do they contain?
Within the nasal cavity containing olfactory receptor cells, which have specalised cilia extensions.
How many paranasal sinuses are there?
Four
What is the function of sinuses?
- Reduced weight of the skull
- Allow voice to resonate
- Produce mucus
Name the sinuses
- Frontal
- Sphenoid
- Ethmoid
- Maxillary
Where are the sinuses located and where are their openings?
- Frontal
- located in the superior to your eyes
- opening in the semilunar hiatus in the middle meatus - Sphenoid
- located behind the nose between the eyes
- opening in the spheno-ethmoid recess - Ethmoid
- located between nose and eyes
- opening in multiple regions:
- semilunar hiatus (Anterior)
- ethmoid bulla (middle)
- superior meatus (posterior) - Maxillary
- located inferior to the eyes
- opening in the semilunar hiatus in the middle meatus
What do all sinuses drain into?
Superior and middle meatuses
What are sinus infections?
Buildup of fluid in the sinuses creating and environment fir bacteria to grow and divide.
What is the main cause of sinus infection?
Viruses
Which sinus is prone to infections and why?
Maxillary sinus is prone to infection due to poor communication with the nasal cavity
How does maxillary infection cause toothaches?
The roots of the teeth are located on the floor of the maxillary sinus (separated by a THIN sheet), therefore infection of the sinus can irritate the roots resulting in toothaches.
Where is the opening of Nasolacromial duct located?
Below the inferior conchae
What is the function of Nasolacromial duct?
It connects the nasal cavity to the eye and drains excess tears from the lacrimal duct.
What will happen if Nasolacromial duct is blocked?
Tears will spill over the eye-lid and eyes stream.
Where is the auditory tube located?
On the lateral wall of the nasal cavity.
What is pharynx?
It is a muscular tube situated behind the nose, mouth and larynx.
Functions of Pharynx include….?
Respiratory and digestive
How many parts of pharynx are there?
There are three parts:
- Behind the nose (nasopharynx)
- Behind the mouth (oropharynx)
- Behind the larynx (laryngopharynx)
Describe the structures that form the boundaries of each part of the larynx.
- Nasopharynx
- Conchae to soft palate - Oropharynx
- Soft palate to the tip of the epiglottis - Laryngopharynx
- Epiglottis to cricoid cartilage
Which structure separates the oropharynx and laryngopharynx?
The epiglottis
What are tonsils?
Specalised reticular connective tissue containing large number of lymphocytes
What are the functions of tonsils?
- Filters lymph to trap and kill pathogenic bacteria
- Produce antibodies
What are the two types of tonsils?
Palatine and Pharyngeal
What is the location of each type of tonsil?
- Palatine
- Posterior, inferior part of the oral cavity
- Pharyngeal
- Posterior, superior wall of nasopharynx
What is Larynx?
The entrance to the lower respiratory system, connecting the laryngopharynx to the trachea.
What three cells are found in the larynx?
- Ciliated cells
- Goblet cells
- Basal cells
Describe the structure of the larynx
- It is composed of multiple cartilages which articulate with each other at tiny joints.
- The cartilages of the larynx move at these joints due to the action of several small laryngeal muscles.
What is the the muscles of larynx are supplied by?
The recurrent laryngeal nerve
What are the functions of the larynx?
- Respiration
- Allows the passage of air through the trachea. It can open wider depending on if it is quiet or forced inspiration. - Phonation
- Vibration of closed vocal folds allow them to produce sounds which are then modified by the upper airways and oral cavity to assist in speech production. - Effort clouser
- Actively trying to keep the air inside the thoracic cavity to stabilise the trunk and increase the intra-abdominal pressure. - Swallowing
- It closes the larynx when the epiglottis comes over it - moving it up and down which opens the oseophagus posteriorly to prevent food from going into the lungs.
What is Aspiration Pneumonia?
A lung infection that occurs when food, saliva, liquids, or vomit is breathed into the lungs, instead of being swallowed into the oesophagus and stomach.
What are symptoms of Aspiration Pneumonia?
- Chest pain
- Coughing up sputum
- Fatigue
- Fever
- SOB
- Wheezing
How is aspiration pneumonia treated?
With antibiotics
What structure forms the anterior boundary of the inlet to the larynx?
The epiglottis
What are aryepiglottic folds?
Two folds of mucous membrane, extending from the sides of the epiglottis downwards and backwards.
Describe the action of Larynx during swallowing
The epiglottis extends superiorly and during swallowing will move to cover the laryngeal inlet to prevent the food /drink passing into the trachea.
Describe the action of aryepiglottic folds during swallowing
They move towards the midline.
Name two mucosal folds that stretch across the cavity of the larynx inferior to the aryepiglottic folds.
- Vestibule folds (upper pair)
- Vocal folds (lower pair)
Is it possible to breath and swallow at the same time? Explain your answer
No because swallowing mechanism closes off parts of respiratory tract required for breathing.