Bronchi, Pleura, lungs and diaphragm

Question 1

Where does the trachea begin and end?

Answer 1

From C6 to T4/5

Question 2

What is the carina?

Answer 2

A hook at the lowest ring of the trachea

Question 3

What are the segments of the bronchial tree?

Answer 3

• Primary bronchi (left and right) = at T4/5, left is wider and more vertical than the left
• Lobar bronchi (secondary) = within lungs, supply lobes
• Segmental bronchi (tertiary) = Supply bronchopulmonary segments

Question 4

How many bronchopulmonary segments are in each lung?

Answer 4

10 (functionally independent regions)

Question 5

How are the lungs structured within the thorax?

Answer 5

• Separated by the heart and mediastinum
• Lies freely in the pleural cavity
• attached to the heart via pulmonary vessels
• attached to the trachea at the lung root (hilum)

Question 6

(Surface anatomy) where is the apex of the lungs?

Answer 6

Rises 3-4cm above the first costal cartilage

Question 7

What are the cartilaginous structures found at the top of the airway?

Answer 7

Thyroid cartilage
(Median cricothyroid ligament = connection)
Cricoid cartilage

Question 8

What is the significance of the median cricothyroid ligament?

Answer 8

Emergency situations = A cricothyroidotomy can be done if the patient’s airway has been obstructed

Question 9

Where do the vessels, nerves and bronchi from the mediastinum have to pass through to get to the lungs?

Answer 9

Roots of the lungs

Question 10

Describe the base of the lungs

Answer 10

-Concave
-Rests of the convex surface of the diaphragm
3 edges = Anterior, Posterior, Inferior
3 surfaces = Costal, Medial (mediastinal), Inferior (diaphragmatic)

Question 11

What does the diaphragm separate?

Answer 11

The right lung from the right lobe of the liver

Left lung from the left liver lobe, stomach and spleen

Question 12

Outline the mediastinal surface of the lungs

Answer 12

Posterior = in contact with thoracic vertebrae

Anterior = Concave, accommodates the heart (cardiac impression is larger on left than on the right)

Above and behind the cardiac impression = Vessels, bronchi and nerves leave and enter the mediastinum via the hilum of the lungs

Question 13

Describe the structure of the left lung

Answer 13

2 Lobes = superior and inferior (separated by the oblique fissure)

Superior contains the most anterior part of the lungs

Question 14

Describe the structure of the right lungs

Answer 14

3 Lobes = superior, middle and inferior (First the horizontal fissure and then the oblique, separating the inferior lobe from the others)

Right lung is slightly larger than the left

Question 15

What is found above and behind the cardiac impression on the mediastinal surface of the lung?

Answer 15

The hilum of the lung where the vessels, bronchi and nerves enter the lung from the mediastinum

Question 16

Describe the arrangement of the vessels and bronchi in the hilum of the lung.

Answer 16

The pulmonary artery is superior to the pulmonary veins. Bronchus is generally superior.

=The left bronchus divides into lobar bronchi within the lung.

=The right bronchus may divide into lobar bronchi in the hilum (before entering the lung).

Question 17

What is the pleura?

Answer 17

A thin layer of flattened cells supported by connective tissue

Lines the pleural cavity and convers the exterior of the lungs

Question 18

Outline the structure of the pleura

Answer 18

2 LAYERS
Visceral pleura = covers the surface and lines the fissures between the lobes
Parietal pleura = Lines the inner surface of the chest walls

Both continuous around the hilum of he lungs

Question 19

Complications with the pleura?

Answer 19

Collapse pleural cavity = moist surface allows the lungs to glide and they expand and collapse

Question 20

Describe the formation of the pleura

Answer 20

Pleural cavities inside chest wall
Lined by parietal pleura
Lung buds grow into them
Within covering of visceral pleura

Question 21

What is the pulmonary ligament?

Answer 21

The inferior fold of the pleura

Question 22

What is the costo-diaphragmatic recess of pleura?

Answer 22

An area free of lung except at maximum inspiration

Question 23

How can the capacity of the thoracic cavity change?

Answer 23

Movements of the diaphragm and ribs

Question 24

What is attached to the margin of the diaphragm?

Answer 24

Costal margin (lower border of the rib cage
Xiphoid process
Ends of ribs 11 and 12
lumbar vertebrae

Question 25

Why are high abdominal organs covered?

Answer 25

The dome of the diaphragm bulges within the ribcage = structures are covered by the diaphragm, pleura and lung