Lecture 14: Respiratory System Flashcards
Clinical divisions of respiratory tract
- Upper
- Lower
Functional divisions of respiratory tract
- Conducting (respiratory epithelium)
- Respiratory (alveolar epithelium)
Nasal cavity
-Divided into 3 regions (meatuses) by inf., middle, superior conchae (turbinates)
-Conduct + condition air and contains olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs)
-Mid. meatus = larynx, upper meatus backwater region
Nasal conditioning of air
Nasal cavity slows, warms, and humidifies incoming air through the meatuses.
Olfactory epithelium
Part of upper concha, contains OSNs, sustentacular (support) cells, microvillar cells, Bowman’s small olfactory glands
Olfactory sensory neurons
OSNs are part of CNS and regenerate via basal progenitor cells. Blood-olfactory barrier is extension of BBB. Loss of regeneration leads to olfactory metaplasia, presbyosmia. Olfactory receptors embed in mucus layer w/ ciliated surface.
Respiratory epithelium cells
Psueodstratified, ciliated conducting airways.
-Ciliated cells
-Mucous cells
-Brush (tuft) cells
-Small granule (neuroendocrine) cells
-Basal cells
-In distal bronchioles: club cells, ionocytes
Mucociliary escalator
Cilia in respiratory epithelium pushes mucus up towards the throat to clear microbes, debris.
Brush cells
Rare; have microvillous border and may play some immune function
Basal cells
Resident SCs of respiratory epithelium
Ciliated cells
Most numerous cell of respiratory epithelium. Contains many ACE2 receptors (COVID-19 path.)
Conducting portion of respiratory tract
Nose -> trachea -> bronchi -> bronchiole -> terminal bronchiole
Respiratory portion of respiratory tract
Respiratory bronchiole -> alveolar duct -> alveolar sac -> alveolus
Trachea
-Contains submucosal glands and Bronchial Assoc. Lymphoid Tissue (BALTs)
-No muscularis mucosae
-C-shaped hyaline cartilage rings; incomplete ring allows contraction/dilation
-Trachealis muscle (contract/dilate)
Bronchus
Plate-shaped hyaline cartilage. Divided into extra and intrapulmonary regions; first branching of airway.
Bronchioles
Smallest branches of conducting airways. Contains club cells and ionocytes
Club cells
Form modified epithelium of bronchioles. Secretory protein + surfactant-LIKE substance for epithelial production/airway patency. Non-ciliated domed apical aspect.
Ionocytes
Small subset of club cells; express Cl- transporter gene to thin airway mucus. LoF -> cystic fibrosis