Drive - upper respiratory tract Flashcards
What is the most superior portion of the upper respiratory tract?
nose
What is the function of the nose? (as part of the upper respiratory tract)
(4)
To warm the inspired air
Humidify the air
Filter inspired air of pathogens (via cilia)
Defence function (particulates swallowed)
What do the turbinate’s/conchae create?
The superior, middle and inferior meatus
What occurs in the superior meatus? (3)
Olfactory nerve penetrates
Sphenoid sinus drains
Has olfactory epithelium
What occurs in the middle meatus?
Sinuses (majority) drain here
What occurs in the inferior meatus?
The nasolacrimal duct drains here
What are the paranasal sinuses?
Pneumatised areas of the frontal, maxillary, ethmoid and sphenoid bones.
They come in PAIRS
What does pneumatised mean?
A bone that is hole or contains many air cells
Where are the frontal sinuses located?
In the frontal bone over the orbit
What is the innervation of the frontal sinus from?
The ophthalmic branch of the trigeminal cranial nerve (CN 5)
Where are the maxillary sinuses located?
Within the body of the maxilla
They are pyramidal in shape
What is the innervation of the maxillary sinuses from?
The maxillary branch of the trigeminal cranial nerve (CN 5)
Where are the ethmoid sinuses located?
Between the eyes.
What is the innervation of the ethmoid sinuses from?
The ophthalmic AND maxillary branch of the trigeminal cranial nerve (CN 5)
Where are the sphenoid sinuses located?
Medial to the cavernous sinus and inferior to the optic canal
What is the innervation of the sphenoid sinuses from?
The ophthalmic branch of the trigeminal cranial nerve (CN 5)
What are the 3 parts of the pharynx comprised of?
Nasopharynx
Oropharynx
Laryngopharynx
What is the histological structure of the pharynx
A fibromuscular tube lined with squamous and columnar ciliated epithelium
Where does the pharynx start and end?
From the skull base to C6
What is the function of the larynx?
To prevent liquids and food from entering the lungs
What is the structure of the larynx? (3)
Rigid
3 paired cartilages
3 unpaired cartilages
Multiple muscles
What is used to change vocal chords?
Arytenoid cartilages rotating on the cricoid cartilage
What is the larynx innervated by?
The vagus cranial nerve (CN 10), specifically the superior and recurrent laryngeal nerves)
What is the purpose of the superior laryngeal nerve?
To provide internal sensation and external motor innervation to the cricothyroid muscle
What is the purpose of the recurrent laryngeal nerve?
To provide motor innervation to all the muscles of the larynx (EXCEPT cricothyroid)
