lecture 15

Question 1

what are the components of the lower respiratory tract

Answer 1

Larynx, trachea, Bronchi, Bronchioles Alveoli

Question 2

functions of the LRT

Answer 2

• Conducts air to/from the site of gas exchange
• Completes cleaning, warming and humidifying
  of air
• Provides a barrier between the air and blood, and a large surface area for gas exchange

Question 3

where do we find the larynx and whats its boundaries

Answer 3

Anterior to esophagus
From the hyoid bone to the trachea.

Question 4

the larynx is a passage for air only how do we get around this

Answer 4

Cartilages protect and maintain an open airway (patent)
* Epiglottis closes over the airway when swallowing

Question 5

what cartilages do we find around the larynx

Answer 5

Thyroid cartilage, Cricoid cartilage, eppiglottis

Question 6

whats laryngeal prominence and where do we find it

Answer 6

The middle of the thyroid cartilage is the Laryngeal prominence. This cartilage for men grows thicker and more pointed in puberty giving the adams apple to teenage boys.

Question 7

where do we find cricoid cartilage

Answer 7

Cricoid cartilage is a solid ring around the whole tube and its just above the trachea.

Question 8

where do we find the eppiglottis and whats it do

Answer 8

On top of the trachea is the eppiglottis, the epiglottis functions to protect the glottis. Epiglottis is made of cartilage, when swallowing this closes to seal the trachea so no food gets into the airway.

Question 9

whats the glottis colloquially

Answer 9

the voice box

Question 10

what are the vocal folds and vestibular folds attached to

Answer 10

cartilages

Question 11

vocal folds, location, function,

Answer 11

they are lower in the glottis than the vestibular folds, This is the “true vocal cord” as air passing pass these cause vibrations which is sound waves. These are the normal vocal cord as these are the ones used for normal phonation.

Question 12

what does testosterone do to the vocal folds

Answer 12

Testosterone affects cartilage and muscle, resulting in longer, thicker folds = deeper voice

Question 13

describe vestibular fold location and function

Answer 13

’False’ vocal cords, Superior to vocal folds, Prevent foreign object entry to glottis
Can produce very deep sounds

Question 14

location and function of the trachea

Answer 14

Anterior to esophagus, Between the larynx and primary bronchi.
maintain patent airway, clean warm and humidify

Question 15

structure of the trachea

Answer 15

It can achieve this by a band of smooth muscle called the trachealis. This trachealis connects the two ends of the c-shaped cartilage rings. This band has mainly elastin fibres in lamina propria and submucosa. also has respiratory epithelium lining

Question 16

what causes coughing and why we do it

Answer 16

Coughing is another mechanism of removing debris from the respiratiory tract. As it coughs out all debris that were on the mucosal layers.
the trachealis muscles contract to produce coughing

Question 17

how many lobes in each lung and why

Answer 17

3 lobes in the right, 2 in the left because of the heart position

Question 18

whats the hilum

Answer 18

the point in the lungs where the bronchi and blood vessels enter the lungs

Question 19

whats the path of the bronchial tree

Answer 19

trachea, primary bronchi, secondary lobar bronchi, tertiary segmental bronchi, bronchioles and terminal bronchioles

Question 20

describe epithelium and structure of the primary bronchi

Answer 20

it has respiratory epithelium and complete Cartilage and smooth muscle rings complete

Question 21

describe the epithelium and structure of the secondary and tertiary bronchi

Answer 21

the cartilage rings becomes cartilage plates the respiratory epithelium starts to decrease in height and goblet number starts to reduce

Question 22

whats the make up of the respiratory zone of the lungs

Answer 22

Pulmonary lobules made of many alveoli (air sacs) arranged like bunches of grapes, surrounded by dense capillary network

Question 23

whats the epithelium of the alveoli

Answer 23

Alveolar walls very thin: simple squamous epithelium on a thin basement membrane

Question 24

what are the two types of cells in the alveoli

Answer 24

type 1 and type 2 pneumocytes

Question 25

describe the type one pneumocyte

Answer 25

Type I squamous
* Forms the respiratory membrane/blood-air barrier with capillary wall and shared basement membrane

Question 26

describe the type 2 pneumocyte

Answer 26

Type II cuboidal
* Scattered amongst Type I
* Secrete surfactant, a complex lipoprotein (phospholipid) that reduces the surface tension of the alveolar fluid

Question 27

what makes the respiratory membrane

Answer 27

the alveolar cell layer of type one pneumocytes covered in surfactant, a fused basement membrane then the capillary endothelium