Basic Airway Anatomy Flashcards
the upper airway extends from the ___ to the ___
nose to the glottis
upper airway functions
humidification and filtration
olfaction
deglutition (swallowing)
phonation
reduction in intrathoracic pressure draws air through the ___
nose
what are the 3 nasal turbinates?
superior, middle, and inferior nasal turbinates
what do the turbinates do?
warm, humidify, filter
where does the blood supply come from to the nose?
the opthalmic, maxillary, and facial arteries
why do we use the oral cavity for intubation?
easy access and less trauma when used
what is the mouth opening dependent on?
the temporomandibular joint
what structures does the oral cavity consist of?
buccal mucosa, lips, tongue, hard and soft palate, teeth, and salivary glands
relaxation of the ___ muscle allows the tongue to fall in to the ____
genioglossus muscle; oropharynx
relaxation of the ____ muscle results in obstruction of the soft palate in the ____ segment of the upper airway
tensor palatine muscle; velopharyngeal segment
what does the pharynx do structurally?
connect the oral and nasal cavities with the larynx and esophagus
what are the 3 subcategories of the pharynx?
nasopharynx, oropharynx, and hypopharynx
contraction of the ____ muscles helps maintain airway patency
pharyngeal dilator mucles
functions of the larynx
airway protection, ventilation, phonation
how many cartilages are there?
9
there are unpaired and paired
which cartilage is the only fully circular ring and at what cervical level is it located?
cricoid cartilage at C6
which cartilage is the largest?
thyroid cartilage (aka adam’s apple)
vocal cord movement is impacted by which 3 sets of paired cartilages?
arytenoid, corniculate, and cuneiform
which paired cartilage controls vocal cord movement?
arytenoid
vocal cord opening/going away
abduction
vocal cord closure
adduction
what structures are near the larynx
carotid arteries and jugular veins, vagus nerve, superior and inferior thyroid arteries, superior and recurrent laryngeal nerves
what is included in the lower airway
trachea, bronchi, lower divisions
which side are you more likely to have an endobronchial intubation?
right mainstem bronchus
3 big neural pathways
trigeminal nerve (CN V) glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX) vagus nerve (CN X)
what are the 3 divisions of the trigeminal nerve?
ophthalmic (V1)
maxillary (V2)
mandibular (V3)
which nerve provides sensory innervation to the face?
trigeminal nerve
which nerve provides sensory innervation to the posterior 1/3 of the tongue, oropharynx, vallecula, and anterior epiglottis?
glossopharyngeal nerve
internal branch of the superior laryngeal nerve
sensory innervation to posterior epiglottis to vocal cord folds
external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve
motor innervation below the vocal cords
if you have injury to the superior laryngeal nerve and the external branch what happens?
the patient will have hoarseness but not usually lose motor function
which processes can affect the adductors resulting in cord closure?
patent ductus, atrial enlargement, aortic arch aneurysm
