CH. 20: Respiratory System Flashcards
What is the function of the respiratory system?
The air passageway moves air between the external environment and the alveoli of the lungs
The site of gas exchange enables oxygen and carbon dioxide to diffuse across the barrier between alveoli and pulmonary capillaries
Detects odor by olfactory receptors in the nasal cavity
Sound production is where vocal cords of the larynx vibrate as air is passed between them
What is the structural organization of the respiratory system?
Upper Respiratory Tract
-Nose
-Nasal Cavity
-Pharynx
Lower Respiratory Tract
-Larynx
-Trachea
-Bronchi
-Bronchioles
-Alveoli
What is the functional organization of the respiratory system?
Conducting Zone - nose to terminal bronchioles
Respiratory Zone - respiratory bronchioles, alveolar ducts, alveoli
What is the mucosal lining?
The lining of the respiratory tract is layered by:
-epithelium
-basement membrane
-lamina propria
Gets progressively thinner the deeper the structure
(pseudostratified ciliated columnar -> simple columnar -> simple cuboidal -> simple squamous) EXCEPT in the pharynx and larynx
What are the mucus and its components?
The secretion produced by and covering the mucosa produced by goblet cells and lamina propia (mucous and serous glands)
Composition:
-Mucin (sticky mucus protein)
-Lysozyme (antibacterial enzyme)
-Defensins (antimicrobial proteins)
-IgA (antibodies)
What are the nose and nostrils?
Nose
-Main conducting passageway for inhaled air formed by the bone, hyaline cartilage, dense irregular CT, and converted with skin externally
Nostrils (Nares)
-Open into the inferior surface of the nose leading into the nasal cavity
What is the nasal cavity anatomy?
It is the internal space formed by the nose (anterior) and skull (superior & posterior)
Composition:
-Floor (hard palate)
-Roof (composed of bones of the skull and nose cartilage)
-Nasal Septum
-Nasal Conchae
-Nasal Meatus
What is the nasal septum?
It divides the nose into two chambers and is formed by nasal septal cartilage and bone (vomer and ethmoid)
What is the nasal conchae?
These are the lateral walls where it is three paired projections (superior, middle, and inferior) referred to as the turbinate bones
It produce turbulence in the inhaled air
What is the nasal meatus?
Partitions formed by conchae and is immediately inferior to their corresponding conchae
What is the nasal cavity function?
-Warms the air to body temperature
-Cleanses the air
-Humidifies
It is enhanced by conchae due to turbulence
What is the pharynx and the components?
It is the throat that is posterior to the nasal cavity, oral cavity, and larynx
It conducts air and food along its entire length
Lateral walls are composed of skeletal muscle that aids in swallowing and propelling food down the esophagus
3 Regions:
-Nasopharynx
-Oropharynx
-Laryngopharynx
What is the nasopharynx?
The superior-most region of the pharynx is lined with pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium
Posterior to the nasal cavity
Lateral walls house the openings to the auditory tubes to equalize pressure in the middle ear
The posterior wall houses the pharyngeal tonsil (adenoids)
What is the oropharynx?
It is the middle region of the pharynx and is lined with non-keratinized stratified squamous epithelium
Posterior to the oral cavity
Lateral walls house the palatine tonsils
Lingual tonsils located at the base of the tongue
What is the laryngopharynx?
It is the inferior region of the pharynx and is lined with non-keratinized stratified squamous epithelium
Posterior to the larynx
Serves as common passageway for food and air with oropharynx
What is the larynx and its components?
It is the voice box that is continuous with the laryngopharynx (superior) and trachea (inferior)
Composed of cartilage and supported by muscle and ligaments
What is the function of the larynx?
Passageway for air
Prevents ingested materials from entering the respiratory tract by the EPIGLOTTIS closing over the laryngeal inlet (opening) and glottis closes during swallowing
Produces sound for speech via the glottis where the vibration of the vocal folds is caused by air passing between them through the RIMA GLOTTIDIS
Assists in increasing pressure in abdominal cavity by sneezing and cough reflex
What are the trachea and its components?
The windpipe that extends through the mediastinum from the larynx to the main bronchi
Lateral and anterior walls consist of C-shaped rings of TRACHEAL CARTILAGE and ANULAR LIGAMENTS
The posterior wall consists of TRACHEALIS MUSCLE allowing for distention during food swallowing and contraction during coughing
What are the components of the wall of trachea?
It is mucosa consists of pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium with goblet cells & lamina propria
Acts as a MUCOCILIARY ESCALATOR that traps particles to sweep them to the pharynx to be swallowed
What are the components of the bronchial tree?
-Main bronchi (primary bronchi)
-Lobar bronchi (secondary bronchi)
-Segmental bronchi (tertiary bronchi)
-6 to 9 more levels
-Terminal bronchioles
-Respiratory bronchioles
What is the main bronchi?
Trachea splits into two branches at the level of the manubrium and body of the sternum
Right bronchus is shorter
What are the lobar bronchi?
Extend to teach lobe of the lung from the main bronchi
Right lung has 3 lobes, so it has 3 bronchi
Left lung has 2 lobes, so it has 2 bronchi
What are the segmental bronchi?
Extend from the lobar bronchi serving the bronchopulmonary segment
Right lung has 10 segmental bronchi
Left lung has 9-10 segmental bronchi
What is the difference between the terminal and respiratory bronchioles?
Terminal bronchioles are the last segment of the conducting zone
Respiratory bronchioles are the first segment of the respiratory zone
What are bronchi?
They are incomplete rings (hyaline cartilage) that ensure that bronchi remain open
The extent of cartilage decreases in size and number as the bronchi branch increases
What are bronchioles?
They lack cartilage, are small in diameter, and have a proportionally thicker layer of smooth muscle to regulate the flow of air
What are the components of the respiratory zone?
-Respiratory bronchioles
-Alveolar ducts
-Alveolar sacs
-Alveoli
What are alveolar ducts?
It leads in alveolar sacs
What are alveolar sacs?
A cluster of interconnected alveoli
What are alveoli?
Small sac-like structures for gas exchange
1 to 4 sacs * 106 per lung
Interconnected with other alveoli by alveolar pores to provide collateral ventilation
Capillaries surround each alveolus
The interalveolar septum contains elastic fibers
What is the difference between type I and type II alveolar cells?
Type I:
-Most abundant (95%) and flattened cells that forms the thin barrier through which gas exchange occurs
Type II:
-Secrete pulmonary surfactant that opposes alveolar collapse
What are alveolar macrophages?
Engulf pathogens and dust and reside within the alveolus
What are the components of the respiratory membrane?
It is a thin barrier where gases diffuse between the alveoli and the capillaries providing a vast amount of surface area
Consists of:
-alveolar epithelium and basement membrane
-capillary endothelium and basement membrane
What is a pulmonary surfactant?
Secreted by type II alveolar cells
Composed of like-charged lipids & proteins
Lowers alveolar surface tension by:
-Increasing pulmonary compliance
-Reduces lung recoil ability
-Decreases surface tension to a greater degree in smaller alveoli
-Equilibirates pressure between alveoli of varying size
What is the structure of the lungs?
Paired structures where:
-Costal surface lies adjacent to the ribs
-Mediastinal surface lies against the mediastinum
-Diaphragmatic surface is the base that rests on the diaphragm muscle
Lobes are organized with bronchopulmonary segments:
-Is an autonomous unit with a CT capsule
-Possess own segmental bronchus, pulmonary artery & vein, and lymph vessels
Segments are organized into lobules and are supplied by:
-Terminal bronchiole
-Arteriole
-Venule
-Lymph vessel
What is the structural difference between the right and left lungs?
Right Lung:
-Slightly larger and has 3 lobes
Left Lung:
-Accommodates the heart and has 2 lobes
What is the pleura?
Outer lung surfaces and adjacent internal thoracic wall are lined with a double-walled serous membrane:
-Visceral pleura = lung surface
-Parietal pleura = thoracic wall, diaphragm, & mediastinum
Composed of simple squamous epithelium