Anatomy of respiratory system (NASOPHARYNX + LARYNX)

Question 1

Nasopharynx location

Answer 1

Between soft palette + base of skull

Question 2

Nasopharynx function

Answer 2

Conditioning inspired air + propagating it into pharynx

Question 3

Nasopharynx epithelium

Answer 3

ciliated + pseudostratified columnar epithelium with goblet cells

Question 4

Larynx location

Answer 4

Anterior neck

Question 5

Larynx function

Answer 5

Phonation (producing vocal sounds)

Cough reflex + protection of lower respiratory tract

Question 6

Components of larynx

Answer 6

Primarily cartilaginous (held together by ligaments + membranes)
Laryngeal muscles = move components of larynx for phonation + breathing

Question 7

What suspends the larynx?

Answer 7

hyoid bone (Spanning c3-c6)

Question 8

What is the larynx covered by?

Answer 8

Covered anteriorly by infrahyoid muscles + laterally by lobes of hyoid glands

Question 9

What is the larynx anterior to?

Answer 9

Oesophagus

Question 10

3 sections of larynx?

Answer 10

Supraglottis
Glottis
Subglottis

Question 11

Supraglottis

Answer 11

Supraglottis = inf surface of epiglottis → vestibular folds (false vocal chords)

Question 12

Glottis

Answer 12

contains vocal chords + 1cm bellow them

Question 13

Subglottis

Answer 13

inf border of glottis → inf border of cricoid cartilage

Question 14

Rima Glottidis?

Answer 14

(opening between vocal chords) = altered in size by muscles of phonation

Question 15

Inf larynx surface lining (and any exceptions)

Answer 15

Inferior surface of larynx lined by pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium
EXCEPT FOR FREE VOCAL CHORDS (lined with stratified squamous epithelium)

Question 16

Describe supply via SUPERIOR LARYNGEAL ARTERY (to larynx)

Answer 16

External carotid artery → superior thyroid artery → superior laryngeal artery
Follows internal branch of sup laryngeal nerve into the larynx
Drains into internal jugular vein (via superior thyroid vein)

Question 17

Describe supply via INFERIOR LARYNGEAL ARTERY (to larynx)

Answer 17

Thyrocervical Trunk → Inferior thyroid artery → inferior laryngeal artery
Drains into left brachiocephalic vein (via inferior thyroid vein)

Question 18

Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Innervation (larynx)

Answer 18

(BRANCH OF VAGUS NERVE)
Sensory innervation= to infraglottis
Motor innervation = to internal muscle of larynx (but not cricothyroid)

Question 19

Superior Laryngeal Nerve Innervation (larynx)

Answer 19

(BRANCH OF VAGUS NERVE)
Internal branch = sensory innervation to supraglottis
External branch = motor innervation cricothyroid muscle