histology of the respiratory system

Question 1

what are the 4 layers of the respiratory system?

Answer 1

mucosa (epithelium and supporting lamina propria), submucosa, cartilage and/or muscle layer and adventitia

Question 2

what fills the gaps between the rings of cartilage in trachea?

Answer 2

trachealis muscle and fibroelastic tissue

Question 3

in the respiratory epithelium, what are the cells described as?

Answer 3

pseudostratified ciliated columnar cells

although it may look like the basal and columnar cells are more than one layer (stratified), they are all attached to the same membrane

Question 4

what does the lamina propria contain?

Answer 4

areolar connective tissue (elastin and capillaries, and also immune cells)

Question 5

where does the respiratory epithelium stretch from?

Answer 5

nose/trachea to terminal bronchioles

Question 6

describe mucosa?

Answer 6

ciliated pseudostratified columnar epithelium with goblet cells

contains lamina propria underneath which contains elastin and blood vessels

Question 7

describe submucosa (the serous and mucous glands and their function)?

Answer 7

mixed sero-mucous glands

serous glands release watery secretions to humidify the inspired air

mucus, with mucus from goblet cells trap particles from the air and transport them up by the cilia on epithelium through ducts