Lecture 15: The Lower Respiratory Tract Flashcards

1
Q

What are the 5 components of the LRT?

A
  1. larynx
  2. trachea
  3. bronchi
  4. bronchioles
  5. alveoli
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What are the 3 functions of the LRT?

A
  1. conducts air to and from the site of gas exchange
  2. completes cleaning, warming, and humidifying of air
  3. provides a barrier between the air and the blood, and a large area for gas exchange
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Where is the larynx located?

A

from the hyoid bone to the trachea

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What passes through the larynx?

A

Air only

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is the purpose of the cartilage surrounding the larynx?

A

To protect it and to maintain an open airway

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Name 5 cartilages of surrounding the larynx?

A

Thyroid cartilage, laryngeal prominence, cricoid cartilage, tracheal cartilage, epiglottis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is the function of the thyroid cartilage/laryngeal prominence?

A

It is a big protective layer to make sure the airway stays open

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Describe the cricoid cartilage

A

It is a complete ring of cartilage

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is the purpose of the epiglottis?

A

It prevents food from entering the airway

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Where is the epiglottis?

A

Above the larynx

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Is the glottis/voice box part of the larynx?

A

YES

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Describe the glottis

A

There are folds of tissue attached to cartilages. When air passes over them, there is movement and this produces sound.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What are the two folds of the glottis?

A

vocal folds

vesibular folds

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Describe the vocal folds

A
  • true vocal cords

- used to produce everyday sound such as speaking and singing

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

How does the vocal folds produce sound?

A

Because they are such as thin membrane, when air passes over them it produces sound

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

How does testosterone affect the vocal folds?

A

testosterone affects the cartilage and the muscle, resulting in longer, thicker folds which results in a deeper tone

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What is the role of the vestibular/”false” vocal cords?

A

These can close over to make sure foreign objects don’t damage the other vocal cords, or go further down the airway
They also produce very deep sounds

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Where is the trachea located?

A

anterior to the oesophagus, sitting between the larynx and the primary bronchi

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What is the role of the trachea?

A

Keep the airway open so that air can get to the lungs

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

How can the trachea keep the airways open?

A

There are C-shaped (incomplete) rings of cartilage which hold it open.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Where is the trachealis muscle and what is its role?

A

It is on the posterior aspect of the trachea which spasms when foreign objects enter the trachea which stimulates a cough and this forces the objects out of the trachea

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What sort of epithelium lines the trachea?

A

respiratory epithelia: pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium with goblet cells

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Where is the mucociliary escalator?

A

in the trachea

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

What is the purpose of the mucociliary escalator?

A

It removes debris to the pharynx to be swallowed and digested

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

How does the mucociliary escalator work?

A

mucus from goblet cells coat the surfaces of the epithelium so the debris becomes trapped then the cilia move the mucus to the pharynx

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

How many lungs do you have?

A

2

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

How many lobes does the lung on the right have?

A

3

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

How many lobes does the lung on the left have?

A

2

29
Q

What are the three lobes of the right lung called?

A

superior lobe
middle lobe
inferior lobe

30
Q

What are the two lobes of the left lung called?

A

superior lobe

inferior lobe

31
Q

Why does the left long only have two lobes?

A

Because the heart sits to the left so it takes up space

32
Q

Where is the apex of a lung?

A

just beneath the clavicles

33
Q

Where is the base of the lung?

A

it sits on the diaphragm

34
Q

What is the hilum of the lung?

A

The part of the lung where blood vessels, nerves and lymphatics go in and out.

35
Q

Where do the bronchi enter the lungs?

A

in the hilum

36
Q

Where is the costal surface of the lungs?

A

right up against the ribs

37
Q

How do we get to the lungs from the trachea?

A

the bronchial tree

38
Q

Where are the primary bronchi?

A

When the trachea spilts into two and they enter the lungs through the hilum

39
Q

Where are the secondary bronchi?

A

Branching off the primary bronchi, heading into each of the lobes

40
Q

How many secondary bronchi are in the left lung and why?

A

2 because there are 2 lobes

41
Q

How many secondary bronchi are on the right bronchi and why?

A

3 because there are 3 lobes

42
Q

What is the other name for the secondary bronchi?

A

lobar bronchi

43
Q

Where are the tertiary bronchi?

A

Branching off the secondary bronchi

44
Q

What branches off bronchi?

A

Bronchioles

45
Q

As the branching happens, the diameter of the bronchioles gets

A

Smaller

46
Q

At the end of the bronchial tree, there is the _______. What does this signify?

A

terminal bronchioles

This signifies the end of the conducting region and the start of the respiratory region

47
Q

Describe the cartilage of the primary bronchi and state why

A

There are complete rings of cartilage because there is no trachealis muscle

48
Q

Describe the muscle of the primary bronchi and state why

A

There is a complete ring of smooth muscle to allow for dilation

49
Q

As there is more branches, the vessels get smaller which means there is less of a need for

A

cartilaginous support

50
Q

Describe the cartilage of the secondary and tertiary bronchi

A

There are individual bits of cartilage that aren’t a full ring. These are called cartilage plates. They give some support

51
Q

What is the epithelium in the primary bronchi?

A

respiratory epithelium: pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium with goblet cells

52
Q

What is the epithelium in the secondary and tertiary bronchi? Why is this needed?

A

respiratory epithelium: pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium with goblet cells but the columnar cells reduce in height because the vessels have a smaller diameter. There are also less goblet cells

53
Q

What is the epithelium in the bronchioles?

A

Cubiodal epithelium with no goblet cells

54
Q

Why are there no goblet cells in the bronchioles?

A

Because they are such as small diameter that any mucous would block up the airway

55
Q

Describe the cartilage and smooth muscle of the bronchioles

A

There is no cartilage but there is smooth muscle

56
Q

What is the purpose of the smooth muscle in the bronchioles?

A

for bronchoconstriction/dilation

57
Q

Each terminal bronchiole supplies a

A

pulmonary lobule

58
Q

Pulmonary lobules contain many

A

alveoli

59
Q

What are alveoli?

A

air sacs

60
Q

What is the epithelium of the alveoli? Why is this needed?

A

Simple squamous epithelium on a thin basement membrane is needed so that there is as little distance as possible for gas exchange

61
Q

External surface of the alveoli are covered in a fine network of

A

pulmonary capillaries

62
Q

The simple squamous epithelium of the alveoli is made of

A

pneumocytes (lung epithelial cells)

63
Q

What are the two types of pneumocytes?

A
  1. type | squamous

2. type || cuboidal

64
Q

What is type | squamous pneumocytes needed for?

A

It forms the respiratory membrane/blood-air barrier with capillary wall and shared basement membrane

65
Q

Where are type || cuboidal pneumocytes and what are they needed for?

A

they are scattered amongst type | squamous and they secrete surfactant

66
Q

What is the surfactant secreted by the type || cuboidal pneumocytes and what is their purpose?

A

It is a complex lipoprotein that reduces surface tension of the alveolar fluid to make sure the sac stays open so air can go in there

67
Q

Apart from type | squamous and type || cuboidal pneumocytes, what is the other types of cell in the alveoli and what is its role?

A

Roaming macrophages that remove debris

68
Q

Where is the respiratory membrane/blood-air barrier?

A

Where the capillary meets the alveolar wall/cell layer

69
Q

The respiratory membrane/blood-air barrier is made up of what three layers?

A
  1. type | squamous pneumocytes forming the alveolar wall/cell layer
  2. fused basement membrane
  3. capillary endothelium