Histology Flashcards
What are the 2 main portions of the respiratory system?
Respiratory Portion
Conducting Portion
Which part is the conducting portion?
Mouth–>terminal bronchioles
Which part is the respiratory portion?
respiratory bronchioles–>alveoli
What is the pathway of air from mouth to alveoli?
Mouth Nasal Cavity Pharynx Larynx Trachea Lobar Bronchi Segmental Bronchi Bronchioles Terminal Bronchioles Respiratory Bronchioles Alveolar Ducts Alveolar Sacs Alveoli
What are the main tissues that are found in the conducting system?
cartilage, elastic, collagen, smooth muscle fibers
As the diameter of the airways gets smaller, what happens to the elastic fiber concentration?
Diameter decreases
Elastic fiber concentration increases
Where are the elastic fibers in the airway? What direction do they run?
They are found in the lamina propria.
They run longitudinally.
Where are the smooth muscle fibers in the airway? What direction do they mainly run?
They are in the muscle section of the airway
They mainly run circularly.
When this contracts, the lumen actually opens.
Where is the general respiratory epithelium found? What are the 6 cell types that make it up?
Nasal Cavity-->Respiratory Bronchioles Ciliated Columnar Cells Columnar Cells Mucous Goblet Cells Brush Cells Diffuse Endocrine or Small Granule Cells Basal Cells or Immature Cells
Describe the ciliated columnar cells of the general respiratory epithelium.
these are the most predominant cell types in the epithelium.
continues until respiratory portion of the airway.
**the cilia beat bad stuff towards the mouth
**also called pseudo stratified ciliated epithelium
Describe the columnar cells of the general respiratory epithelium.
- *these don’t have cilia
* *they secrete serous fluid
Describe the mucous goblet cells of the general respiratory epithelium.
Their population decreases as you go down toward the terminal bronchiole. After the terminal bronchiole, they aren’t there anymore.
- *synthesizes mucinogen
- *the mucinogen is hydrated & turns into mucous.
- *they trap & remove bacteria & particles
Describe the brush cells of the general respiratory epithelium.
**there are no cilia, but there are many microvilli
2 Flavors
1. acts like mucous goblet cells & releases mucinogen…this one doesn’t have nerve endings
2. has nerve endings on basal surface…sensory receptor for gas volume & O2/CO2 conc’n
intraepithelial receptor for the trigeminal nerve & the sneeze reflex
Describe the diffuse endocrine or small granule cells of the respiratory epithelium.
- *these cells have the smallest granules
- *they control the serous & mucous secretions.
- *they also control the vessel diameter
- *considered an endocrine cell of the respiratory system
Describe the basal cells or immature cells of the general respiratory epithelium.
rest on the basement membrane & don’t reach the surface…
these are considered stem cells…
they extend from the nasal cavity to the respiratory bronchioles…
these cells make everything appear pseudo stratified…
What is metaplasia?
the transformation of adult cells from one form to another abnormal form…
**this can happen in response to disease, or a physical or chemical event…
What is the metaplasia that occurs in a smoker’s lung?
There are more mucous goblet cells b/c of pollutants.
There are fewer cilia b/c of CO.
What is the metaplasia that occurs w/ breathing in of second hand smoke?
An increase in the amount of mucous goblet cells b/c of the pollutants.
What leads to the smoker’s cough?
the increase in mucous goblet cells & the decrease in cilia
What is the function of the conducting portion of the respiratory system?
provides a conduit to transfer air
conditions the air (cleans, moistens, & warms)
What is the vestibule of the nasal cavity?
the anterior portion of the nasal cavity
What does it mean that the nasal cavity is corrugated on its lateral surface?
There are 3 concha. Superior, middle, inferior
What is important about the area b/w the middle & inferior conches?
In this area is the openings to the maxillary sinus.
**when you have a sinus infection, there is discharge from this opening.
What is underneath the respiratory epithelium/nasal cavity mucosa?
the superficial venous plexus.
this is a good site for legal & illegal drug delivery.
Aside from your nasal cavity, what is another site of a superficial venous plexus?
underneath the tongue.
What are the 2 types of mucosa of the nasal cavity? What is their function?
Olfactory & respiratory mucosa
air is filtered, warmed, humidified by the nasal mucosa
What are the vibrissae in the nasal cavity?
these are short, thick hairs that humidify the air & remove dust particles from the air.
What is a more general term for the superior, middle, & inferior concha?
Nasal fossa (depressions in the bone)
What is the function of the nasal cavity?
it filters, warms & humidifies air
What is significant about the plasma cells located in the lamina propria of the nasal cavity?
These plasma cells secrete IgA & IgE.
Which are our friends: IgA or IgE?
IgA are our friends.
IgE is our friend when we deal w/ parasites.
Otherwise, IgE is binding to the receptors on mast cells & basophils & causing the release of their inflammation mediators.
What is the function of swell bodies in the nasal cavity?
They are located in the superficial venous plexus.
They close off the passageway at a rate of every 30 minutes. They alternate whether the left or right passage is occluded. This keeps the nostrils from getting dried out & gives them a chance to rest.
When do you feel the alternating opening of nasal airways during a cold–the thing that swell bodies cause?
Only when you are starting to recover from your cold…
Which concha is associated w/ a cranial nerve?
The superior concha is associated w/ Cranial Nerve I: the olfactory nerve, which sits on top of it.
Where is the olfactory epithelium located in the nasal cavity?
on the roof of the nasal cavity & on the superior nasal concha
Which 4 cell types make up the olfactory epithelium?
- olfactory cells
- sustentacular cells/supporting cells
- basal cells
- brush cells
Describe the olfactory cells.
They are bipolar neurons.
Near the basilar surface there is the axon.
Near the apical surface is a dendrite that becomes an olfactory vesicle & terminates as 6-20 nonmotile modified cilia. (participate in the smelling)
Synthesize odor receptor molecule on cilia.
Triggers impulse when bound to odor binding protein to the bulb of the bipolar neuron.
Explain the olfactory cell’s role in smelling.
The modified cilia on the apical surface of the bipolar neuron produce an odor binding protein. The odor dissolved in the serous fluid binds an odor-binding protein that is produced by the Bowman’s glands.
When these things all bind together the threshold is reached to send an impulse along the bipolar neuron to the olfactory bulb.
Where are the nuclei for the sustentacular cells?
near the apical surface
Where are the nuclei of the basal cells located? What is their function?
near the basolateral surface.
they are the stem cells–help w/ regeneration.
What is the location of the bipolar neurons’ nuclei?
In the middle! B/w the basal cells & the sustentacular cells.
Where are the axons of the olfactory cells located?
They pierce through the cribriform plate of the ethmoid bone into the olfactory bulb.
Where are the brush cells located? What is their function?
They are either before or @ the olfactory epithelium. They are responsible for the sneeze reflex.
What are 2 cool functions of the olfactory epithelium?
spatio-temporal patterning
olfactory adaptation.
What’s the deal w/ the Bowman’s glands?
They are located in the nasal cavity.
They are located in the lamina propria.
They secrete odor binding protein
They secrete serous fluid that cleans the surface of the nasal cavity & dissolves the odors.
What are the paranasal sinuses? What is their function? What are they lined w/?
They are air-filled spaces in the cranium. It makes it less heavy. They are lined w/ respiratory epithelium.
What are the different paranasal sinuses?
frontal sinus maxillary sinus anterior ethmoid sinuses posterior ethmoid sinuses sphenoid sinus
What 2 main structures does the larynx connect?
the trachea & the pharynx
The larynx has a relatively small/large amount of elastic cartilage & a relatively small/large amount of hyaline cartilage.
Small amount of elastic cartilage
Large amount of hyaline cartilage
What are the 2 main functions of the larynx?
phonation via vocal cords
prevents entry of food into the respiratory system
What are the 2 main structures of the larynx?
epiglottis
vocal cords–false & true
How does the epiglottis keep food from entering the respiratory system?
When you swallow the epiglottis swings down & covers the larynx. this directs the food into the esophagus.
Describe the tissues of the epiglottis.
It has an elastic cartilage core.
It has a lingual side w/ stratified squamous epithelium
It has a laryngeal side w/ respiratory epithelium.
What is the first set of vocal cords you run into going down from the epiglottis?
the false vocal cords