HUBS192 Lecture 14 - Respiratory System I: An Overview & the Upper Respiratory Tract Flashcards
what is the role of the respiratory system?
connected organs and structures that function to conduct warm, clean, moist air into close proximity with blood of the circulatory system for gas exchange
what is 3 things are required for the optimal condition of air?
air needs to be
1) warm
2) clean
3) moist
what are the 5 things required for respiratory system to be effective?
1) a surface for gas exchange
2) a path for air to flow to reach the gas exchange surface in optimal condition
3) ability to draw breath in and out
4) produce sound (eg voice)
5) olfaction (sense of smell)
what is olfaction?
another way of saying sense of smell
what is the relationship between a surface for gas exchange and blood and air?
blood and air close together, but always sepertaed
what are the main components the respiratory system is divided into?
1) URT (upper respiratory tract)
2) LRT (lower respiratory tract)
3) thoracic cavity
4) joints
5) respiratory muscles
what does the URT consist of?
- nose
- nasal cavity
- paranasal sinuses
- pharynx (nasopharynx, oropharynx, laryngopharynx)
what does the LRT consist of?
- larynx
- trachea
- bronchus
- bronchioles: respiratory bronchioles
what is location of the URT?
from your chin upwards
what is the location of the LRT?
from your chin downwards deep into the lungs
what does the conducting region consist of?
nasal cavity to bronchioles
what is the function of the conducting region?
ensures that the air is
- warm
- clean
- moist
what does the respiratory region consist of?
alveoli
what is the function of the respiratory region?
site of gas exchange
what is the secondary passage for air?
oral cavity
what is the function of the oral cavity?
passage for air and food
what is the primary passage for air?
nasal cavity
what is the function of the nasal cavity?
olfaction (sense of smell)
what is the whole of the respiratory tract lined with?
tract lined with mucosa
what is mucosa? (in terms of epithelium)
a mucous membrane which is a layer of epithelium attached via a basement membrane to the lamina propria (CT)
what is the function of the lamina propria?
supporting layer for the epithelial cells
what is the relationship between epithelium and function?
epithelium changes along length of tract to reflect function
what is the type of epithelium in most of the conduction region?
respiratory epithelium
what is the type of epithelium in the area where air & food travel?
stratified squamous epithelium
what is the type of epithelium in the respiratory region (alveoli)?
simple squamous epithelium
what is the type of epithelium in the olfaction region?
olfactory mucosa epithelium
what is respiratory epithelium?
pseudo stratified ciliated columnar epithelium with goblet cells
what is the main epithelium in the respiratory system and why?
respiratory epithelium aka pseudostratifed ciliated columnar epithelium (with goblet cells) is the main epithelium because it is associated with the conductor region which is located from the nasal cavity to the bronchioles, thus essentially the whole respiratory system
where is respiratory epithelium aka pseudo stratified ciliated columnar epithelium (with goblet cells) found in?
- nasal cavity
- part of pharynx
- larynx
- trachea
- bronchi
what are the 5 components of pseudo stratified ciliated columnar epithelium (with goblet cells)?
1) ciliated cell
2) goblet cell
3) basal cell
4) basement membrane
5) lamina propria
what do goblet cells produce?
produce mucus
what is the function of mucus?
- traps debris
- moistens air
what is the function of ciliated cells?
undergo a patterned movement that pushes mucus towards pharynx to be swallowed and digested by stomach acid
what are the 2 crucial components of the respiratory system?
1) cilia
2) mucus
what are the 3 different parts of the pharynx?
1) nasopharynx
2) oropharynx
3) laryngopharynx
what is the functions of the URT?
- conducting passage (not only air)
- prepares air for respiratory membrane (gas exchange) by preparing it in the 3 optimal conditions : warm, clean and moist
what are the paranasal sinuses?
resonating chambers for speech (sound of your voice)
how is the shape of the nose determined?
shaped by cartilage
what meant by a patent airway and how is this maintained?
keeping the airway clear or unobstructed maintained by cartilage
what is the structural feature of cartilage in the nose?
soft and flexible
what is the proper name for nostrils?
external/anterior nares
what is the function of the external/anterior nares?
the open entrance way to the nasal cavity
what nares are located further back in the cavity, external nares or anterior nares?
anterior nares
what is the vestibule area of the nose?
the area where you can stick your finger into your nose
what is the vestibule area of the nose composed of?
lined with skin (hardened layer of the stratified squamous epithelium) with sebaceous glands, sweat glands, hair follicles and vibrissae
what are vibrissae?
your nose hairs
what is the function of vibrissae?
first line of defence against debris in the air by filtering inhaled air
what is the bridge of the nose composed of?
2 nasal bones
what is the roof of the nasal cavity formed by?
ethmoid and sphenoid bones
what is the floor of the nasal cavity formed by?
hard and soft palates
what is the present on the lateral walls of the URT?
conchae
what opens into the nasal pharynx?
interior/posterior nares open into nasal pharynx
what is the anterior nasal septum in the midline composed of?
composed of cartilage
what is the posterior (internal) nasal septum in the midline composed of?
composed of bone
what are the URT conchae?
3 projections of bone (superior, middle and inferior conchae) that are covered in respiratory epithelium aka pseudo stratified ciliated columnar epithelium (with goblet cells)
what are the 3 URT conchae?
1) superior conchae
2) middle conchae
3) inferior conchae
what is the function of the URT conchae?
produce mucus to trap debris to get rid of the debris and swirl the inspired air (turbulent air)
why is it essential that the conchae make the inspired air turbulent?
because in the big open space where air is inhaled only the air touching the surfaces of wall will be warmed, cleaned and moistened, therefore the air in middle will be dirty, cold and dry (not under optimal conditions)
-therefore the projections provide a larger surface area and are the reason for the air to be in contact with the wall
-more time for warming and humidifying of air
-longer and better
olfactory detection
what is the olfactory mucosa area and where is it located?
sit on the roof (superior part ) of the nasal cavity that contains smell (olfactory) receptors
how does the process of olfactory occur in terms of the components?
olfactory dendrites that detect the smell and pass it up to the olfactory receptor cells, up to the olfactory nerve fibres and up to the brain (detecting a sense of smell)
where does the epithelium in the nasal mucosa sit?
epithelium sits on the lamina propria (CT layer)
what does the lamina propria contain a large amount of?
large amount of blood vessels (plexus of thin walled veins)
-easy to damage because of thin layer
what is the function of blood vessels in the lamina propria?
helps to warm incoming air via radiation
what happens when air temperature drops in terms of blood vessels?
vascular plexus dilates = greater heat transfer
what is a sinus?
cavity within a bone (normally filled with air)
what is a paranasal?
surrounding the nose
what are the paranasal sinuses?
cavity within a bone that surrounds the nose lined with respiratory mucosa
where are the paranasal sinuses found?
found within frontal, sphenoid, ethmoid and maxillary bones
where does the paranasal sinuses drain into?
drains into the pharynx
what are 3 functions of the paranasal sinuses?
1) lighten skull
2) increased surface area to clean, warm, moisten air
3) sound resonance
what are blocked sinuses?
infected mucus that can block drainage
what is the pharynx?
muscular funnel shaped tube shared by the respiratory and digestive system
what is the pharynx commonly called?
commonly called the throat
what are the 3 regions of the pharynx?
1) nasopharynx
2) oropharynx
3) laryngopharynx
what is the region of the pharynx that is ONLY an air passage and is not involved in the digestive system?
nasopharynx is an air passage only
what is the oropharynx?
region of the pharynx posterior to the mouth or oral cavity from the soft plate to the hyoid bone where both air and food pass through
what is the laryngopharynx?
the region of pharynx that sits posterior to the larynx located from the hyoid bone to the larynx/beginning of the oesophagus (ends at the level where respiratory and digestive tracts diverge) where air and food passes through
where is the nasopharynx located?
posterior to the nasal cavity from the posterior nares to the soft palate
what is the function of the soft palate and the uvula?
soft palate and uvula block the nasopharynx during swallowing to prevent food entering the nasal cavity
what is the uvula?
dangly bit at the back of the throat
where does the auditory tube drain from?
drains from the auditory tube from the middle ear
what are the pharyngeal tonsils (adenoids) and where are they located?
lymphoid tissue located on the posterior wall of the nasal cavity
what is the epithelium found in the oropharynx and why?
stratified squamous epithelium to protect against abrasion
what are the 2 sets of tonsils?
1) palatine tonsils
2) lingual tonsils
where does the laryngopharynx end?
ends at the level where respiratory and digestive tracts diverge
what has the ‘right of way’ during swallowing, food or air?
food has the ‘right of way’ during swallowing
