Anatomy of Respiratory Tract Flashcards
What is included in the lower respiratory tract?
Trachea and below
What is included in the upper respiratory tract?
The respiratory system lying outside the thorax
Includes nasal cavity, pharynx and larynx
Functions of the nasal cavity?
Warms and humidifies air
Traps particulate matter and pathogens
Smell
Drains and clears paranasal sinuses and lacrimal ducts
Name the three regions of the nasal cavity and where are they?
Vestibule - area surrounding external opening to nasal cavity
Olfactory region - located at apex of nasal cavity
Respiratory region - further back?
What are the olfactory and respiratory regions lined with?
Olfactory - olfactory cells and olfactory receptors
Respiratory region - ciliated pseudostratified epithelium and mucus-secreting goblet cells
Function of conchae?
Create pathways for air to flow
Increase SA of nasal cavity
Make airflow turbulent and slower
What is the pharynx?
A muscular tube connecting the nasal cavities to larynx and oesophagus
Name the three parts of the pharynx and their epithelium
Nasopharynx - pseudostratified columnar
Oropharynx - stratified squamous
Laryngopharynx - stratified squamous
What connects the nasopharynx and the middle ear cavity? What does it allow?
Eustachian tube
Allows pressure in the middle ear cavity to be equalised to atmospheric pressure
What is contained in the non-olfactory region of the pharynx?
Mucous glands venous sinuses in the lamina propria.
What happens in the non-olfactory region?
Venous plexuses swell every 20-30 mins to alternate airflow - prevents one side from over-drying
Arterial flow warms air
What is in the olfactory region?
Olfactory cells and Bowman’s glands.
No goblet cells and therefore no mucus
What are Bowman’s glands?
Serous glands which flush odourants from epithelial surfaces
What two structures is the larynx between?
Links the pharynx and trachea
What is the cartilaginous skeleton of the larynx made up of?
Epiglottis
Thyroid cartilage
Cricoid cartilage
Paired arytenoid cartilage
What is the cartilage skeleton of the larynx linked together by?
Ligaments and muscle
What is the glottis?
The vocal cords together with the aperture between them
When are the cords abducted?
Respiration