Anatomy of Breathing Flashcards
define the upper and lower respiratory tract
upper respiratory tract; nasal cavity oral cavity pharynx (back of throat/nose, epiglottis) larynx (vocal cords)
level C6 vertebra;
larynx becomes trachea
pharynx becomes oesophagus
lower respiratory tract; trachea right and left main bronchus lobar bronchi (one per lung lobe) segmental bronchi (one for each 10 bronchopulmonary segments) bronchioles alveoli
understand and define, the lung lobes
the area of lung that each of the lobar bronchi supply with air is a lung lobe;
right lung - upper, middle, lower
left - upper, lower
describe the bronchopulmonary segments
the area of lung lobe that each one of the segmental bronchi supply with air is a bronchopulmoanry segment;
each lung has 10 bronchopulmonary segments
each bronchopulmonary segment is distinct;
has its own air supply (lobar or segmental bronchus), blood supply, lympatic drainage and nerve supply
each segment is full of bronchioles and alveoli
define respiratory epithelium and mucociliary escalator
lines the inside of the bronchial tree (except the distal bronchioles and alveoli)
consists of;
goblet cells - mucous glands secrete mucous onto epithelial surface
cilia (eyelashes) beat to sweep the mucous (plus any foreign bodies stuck in the mucous) superiorly, towards the pharynx to be swallowed –> mucociliary escalator
beating of cilia can be interfered with - cooling/drying of mucosa, toxins in cigarette smoke
describe the arrangement of hyaline cartilage and smooth muscle within the walls of the respiratory tree
hyaline cartilage supports walls of trachea and bronchi
assist with maintain potency of airways (keeping tubular structure open)
amount of cartilage gradually reduces distally in respiratory tree - walls of distal bronchioles and alveoli do not contain cartilage
bronchioles contain smooth muscle allowing them to constrict and dilate
alveoli must have neither cartilage nor smooth muscle in their walls to allow for diffusion of gases
state and explain the main requirements for adequate diffusion of respiratory gases at the level of the alveolar wall
sufficient functioning lung tissue
sufficient oxygen in air we breathe
no carbon dioxide in air we breathe
minimal thickness of wall of alveoli to facilitate gaseous diffusion
minimal tissue fluid in the tissue spaces around the alveolar capillaries to facilitate gaseous diffusion
summaries main dangers to air moving freely through the upper and lower respiratory tracts
the respiratory tract may become narrow;
the bronchioles may constrict (e.g. asthma)
swelling of mucosa lining the inside of respiratory tree and over production of mucous
growing tumour may externally compress the tract at any point
foreign bodies being inhaled into respiratory tract;
may partially or completely stop breathing
explain how potency of upper respiratory is maintained
2 nasal cavities (covered in mucous) in skull separated from each other by internal wall;
nasal septum -
bony (posterior) part of nasal septum, ethmoid bone (superiorly) and vomer (inferiorly)
cartilaginous (anterior)
each nasal cavity has;
relatively featureless medial wall
interestingly featured lateral wall
a floor (formed by palate)
a roof (formed by midline part of floor of anterior cranial fossa)
skeleton of larynx consists of cartilages;
epiglottis - elastic strutter, ensures food goes down oesophagus
thyroid cartilage
cricoid cartilage
2 arytenoid cartilage (posteriorly)
functions of larynx;
cartilages maintain patency
helps prevent entry of foreign bodies into lower respiratory tract
produces sound
trachea is the inferioir continuation of larynx
describe basic anatomy of rima glottidis and vocal cord (ligaments)
rima glottidis (vocal ligaments); found in larynx air moves through here the narrowest part of larynx large foreign bodies tend to block the upper respiratory tract at rim glottidis
*refer to PP
be aware of the function of the vocal cord and cough relief in protecting lower respiratory tract
airway protection;
vocal cord can approximate in midline, closing the rima glottitids and preventing foreign bodies being inhaled into trachea
cough reflex is then stimulated to expel foreign body via the pharynx and oral cavity
voice production;
phonation (producing sound) - expire air across vocal cords, cords vibrate to produce sound
articulation (producing speech) - sound is modified in nose or mouth to produce vowels and consonants
the Heimlich manoeuvre frocks air through the rima glottidis to expel foreign body out of upper respiratory tract
describe the basic anatomy of how the air breathed in is normally warmed, humidified and cleaned
air coming in and out of lungs must be warm, moist and clean
if not there would be cooling and drying out of the respiratory tract (damages mucociliary escalator and predisposes to infection) and breathing in infected foreign bodies or bacteria/virsues (causing infection)
how this is done;
the conchae greatly increase the surface area of the lateral walls of the nasal cavities
the conchae produce turbulent flow brining the air into contact with walls
the respiratory mucosa lining the walls of the nasal cavities has a very good arterial blood supply - providing warmth
the respiratory mucosa produces mucous - providing moisture
the sticky mucous traps potentially infected particles - cleaning the air
the cilia of the mucosa waft the mucous to the pharynx to be swelled (into gastric acid)
the tonsils (lymphatic system) are located within the mucosa lining the pharynx they proceed white blood cells in the defence against infection
describe the basic anatomy of the chest wall
main danger of lungs is penetrating injuries
the chest wall is made up of;
skin
superficial fascia - adipose tissue
deep fascia - thin, tough layer (white membrane) surrounding muscle
skeletal muscle
diaphragm (internal chest wall)
parietal pleura (membrane associated with pleural cavity)
describe the thoracic skeleton
12 pairs of ribs;
true ribs 1-7 - attach via costal cartilage to sternum
false ribs 8-10 - attach via costal cartilage above to sternum (costal margin)
floating ribs 11-12- no attachment to sternum
intercostal spaces - spaces in-between ribs
costal margin
clavicle scapula, 12 thoracic vertebrae
sternum
describe the sternum
jugular notch - sight of trachea sternoclavicular joint sternocostal articulation with costal cartilage of rib 1 manubrium sternal angle - level of rib 2 body xiphoid process
describe the joints of the thoracic skeleton
limited movement at all of these joints
the head of the rib (posteriorly) articulates with the body of the vertebra of the same number and body of superior vertebra)
neck of rib
rib tubercle articulates with transverse prices of the vertebra of the same number
body/shaft of rib
rib angle (most lateral) is where the shaft subtly changes direction
costal groove
rib articulates with sternum via costal cartilage
sternocostal joints - synovial joints, transition between cartilage and sternum
costochondral joints (junctions) - transition between bone and cartilage
costovertebral joints - collectio of artilcation between ribs and vertebra
