lecture 14 Flashcards
whats the role of respiratory tract
Connected organs and structures that function to conduct clean, warm & moist air into close proximity with the blood of the circulatory system for gas exchange.
what 3 qualities of air are needed in the respiratory tract
clean, warm and moist
what are the main components of the respiratory system
upper respiratory tract, lower respiratory tract and the thoracic cavity, joints and respiratory muscles
what makes mucosa
- epithelia
- attached via a basement
membrane - to the lamina propria
- connective tissue
- may contain glands
whats below the mucosa and whats its make up
- Below this is usually a
submucosal layer - More connective tissue
- depending on region, may
contain many glands
full name of respiratory epithelium
Pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium (with goblet cells)
where is respiratory epithelium found
Found in nasal cavity, part of pharynx, larynx, trachea and bronchi
explain the respiratory epithelium
Pseudostratified means falsely stratified. The epithelial cells have a layered appearance however they all extend down and touch the basement membrane.
Columnar as the cells are that shape.
what do the goblet cells do in the respiratory mucosa
Goblet cells produce mucus
* Traps debris, moistens air
what do the ciliated cells do in respiratory mucosa
- Ciliated cells
- Patterned movement pushes mucus towards pharynx
- Swallowed and digested by stomach acid
what are the 3 components of the upper respiratory tract
Nose & Nasal cavity
Paranasal sinuses
Pharynx
what are the 3 parts of pharynx
Nasopharynx
Oropharynx
Laryngopharynx
functions of URT
Conducting passage (not only air)
- Prepares air for respiratory
membrane (gas exchange)
- Warm
- Clean
- Moist
- Paranasal sinuses - resonating
chambers for speech
- Olfaction – sensory receptors
whats the science name for nostrils
External nares
whats the vestibule and describe function
the part just inside the nose which leads to the nasal cavity, has sebaceous and sweat
glands, hair follicles also Vibrissae (hairs) filter inhaled air
what makes up the nose
Cartilages, two nasal bones, nostrils and vestibules
describe nose cartilages and their function
Soft, flexible
* Maintain patent (unobstructed) airway
whats the joint of the nasal bones
hyaline cartilage
what makes the boundaries of the nasal cavity
Roof of cavity formed by ethmoid (green) & sphenoid (purple) bones
* Floor of cavity formed by hard and soft palates
* Conchae on lateral walls
describe the structure and make-up of the choncae
Three projections
* Superior, middle and inferior conchae (turbinates)
* Covered by respiratory epithelium
what do the choncae do
These are covered in respiratory epithelium. They swirl air inside the cavity making the particles stick to the mucosa of the conchae, but swirling also gives more time for warming and humidifying air, also gives time for olfactory detection.
whats nasal epithelium
its mostly in the Nasal cavity and its Mostly respiratory epithelium
* Plus, specialized area of olfactory epithelium
* Area on roof of nasal cavity, contains smell (olfactory) receptors
wheres the vascular plexus and what does it do?
In the nasal cavity there is also a thin walled vascular plexus. This helps to warm incoming air.
When the air temperature is low the plexus dilates and greater heat transfer occurs. When these damage is a nose bleed.
what does paranasal mean
surrounding the bone
what are the paranasal sinuses lined with and where do they drain
- Lined with respiratory mucosa
- Drain into pharynx
what do the paranasal sinuses do. what makes blocked sinuses
Lighten skull
* Increased surface area to clean, warm, moisten air
* Sound resonance
* Infected mucus can block drainage = blocked sinuses
describe placment and structure of nasopharynx
Posterior to the nasal cavity
* From internal nares to soft palate.
it also has the pharyngeal tonsils in this area
what do the soft palate and the uvula do in the nasopharynx
Soft palate and uvula block the nasopharynx
during swallowing to prevent food from entering
the nasal cavity
what else drains into the nasopharynx, what does this mean
Auditory tubes drain here from the middle ear. this means throat infections can too cause infections of the middle ear.
what epithelium is in each part of the pharynx and why
oropharynx and laryngopharynx Stratified squamous epithelium = protection
against abrasion from food passing through.
nasopharynx has respiratory mucosa as its an air passage only
where is the oropharynx
Posterior to oral cavity
* From soft palate to hyoid bone
what tonsils do we find in the oropharynx
palatine tonsils, lingual tonsils
where do we find the laryngopharynx
From hyoid bone to opening of larynx/beginning of esophagus. Ends at level where respiratory
and digestive tracts diverge
