Lower Respiratory Tract Anatomy Flashcards
functional vs anatomical
what does the lower respiratory tract extend from
- trachea to bronchi and the lungs
what does the respiratory portion of the respiratory tract consist of
Respiratory bronchioles
Alveolar ducts
Alveolar sacs
Alveoli
conducting portion
where is the most sensitive area of the trachea and larynx for triggering a cough reflex
the mucous membrane of the carina
trachea
what muscle completes the trachea ring posteriorly?
trachealis muscle
what is the incomplete ring in the trachea made of
hyaline cartilage
where does the trachea start
cricoid cartilage
where is the trachea palpable
at the suprasternal notch
Trachea: what vertebral level does it start and end?
Start: C6
end: T4/T5 (at sternal angle)
bronchial tree
what 3 things are main, lobar and segmental bronchi made up of?
made up of:
- hyaline cartilage
- smooth muscle
- elastic fibres
how many divisions take place between the trachea and respiratory bronchioles?
between 25-33 divisions
broncho-pulmonary BP segments
outline the clinical significance of BP segments and why
- each BP segment can be removed without affecting adjacent segments
- this is because venous and lymphatic vessels of the BP segments pass through the intervening septae (space) separating each segment
outline the superior BP lobe segments in the right lung
1) apical
2) posterior
3) anterior
outline the superior BP lobe segments in the left lung
- Superior lingular (4)
- inferior lingular (5).
outline the middle BP lobe segments in the right lung
- Medial
- lateral
the left lung has middle BP lobe segments. True OR False?
false, it has a lingula instead
outline the 5 inferior BP lobe segments of the right lung
- Apical basal
- medial basal
- anterior basal
- lateral basal
- posterior basal
features of the lungs
how many lobes and fissures does the right and left lung have respectively?
right lung:
- 3 lobes
- 2 fissures
left lung:
- 2 lobes
- 1 fissure
why can fluid/ secretions collect in the apical basal and posterior basal lobe segments in patients in the supine position?
as they are the lowest lobe segments, fluid/secretions can collect due to gravity
relations on the medial surface of lungs
how can you know you are looking at a left or right lung based on impressions on the medial surface
- right has more veins and left has more arteries
- left lung has a more prominent cardiac impression than right
blood supply, nerve supply and lympathic drainage
what somatic nerves supply:
- the upper respiratory tract
- chest wall
- diaphragm
URT:
- cranial nerves
chest wall:
- intercostal nerves
diaphragm:
- phrenic nerve
where is parasympathetic innervation of the lungs derived from?
the vagus nerve
what 3 things does parasympathetic innervation in the lung do?
- stimulates secretion from the bronchial glands
- contraction the bronchial smooth muscle
- vasodilates the pulmonary vessels
where is sympathetic lung innervation derived from
derived from sympathetic trunks
what 2 things does sympathetic innervation of lung tissue do
- stimulate relaxation of bronchial smooth muscle
- vasoconstrict pulmonary vessels
what does visceral afferent nerve innervation in the lungs do
conducts pain impulses to the sensory ganglion of the vagus nerve
what do each of the superficial and deep plexuses of lung lymphatic vessels help to drain and where do they both drain into
superficial:
- drains lung parenchyma
deep:
- drains lung root
both drain into the tracheobronchial lymph nodes
diaphragm
what are the right and left crura
- the parts of the diaphragm that arise from L1-L3 vertebrae
what are the three openings in the diaphragm?
- caval hiatus
- oesophageal hiatus
- aortic hiatus
where does majority of the arterial supply come from to the diaphragm
inferior phrenic arteries
muscles of respiration: intercostal muscles
state what the interceostal muscles are:
- innervated by
- supplied by
- drained by
innervated by:
- intercostal nerves
supplied by:
- intercostal arteries
drained by:
- intercostal veins
pleura
what does the pleura do
protects the lungs from friction against chest wall
what are the 2 main types of pleura and what do they cover
visceral pleura:
- covers the lungs
parietal pleura:
- covers internal surfaces of thoracic cage
what are the 4 types of parietal pleura and where do they cover
- costal pleura: thoracic cage
- medistinal pleura: mediastinum
- apical pleura: cervical region
- diaphragmatic pleura: diaphragm
which parts of the pleura do these nerves innervate:
- phrenic nerve
- intercostal nerves
phrenic:
- mediastinal pleura
- diaphragmatic pleura
intercostal:
- apical pleura
- costal pleura
where does the visceral pleura receive autonomic innervation
the pulmonary plexus
where is the blood supply of these pleurae derived from:
- parietal pleura
- visceral pleura
parietal:
- intercostal arteries
Visceral:
- bronchial arteries
pneumothorax and pleural effusion
what is tension pneumothorax
where air that continues to enter into the pleural cavity can’t escape, usually due to tramatic pneumothorax
what can tension pneumothorax cause to the trachea
It causes the trachea deviate to the contralateral side, forming a valve that prevents air entering the unaffected lung
what is pleural effusion
any kind of fluid collection in the pleural cavity due to infection/inflammation in the lungs/pleura
what are the 3 types of pleural effusion and use a phrase to outline them
- haemothorax: presence of blood in pleural cavity
- chylothorax: presence of chyle (lymph) in the pleural cavity
- empyema: collection of pus in pleural cavity caused by microbes like bacteria
why drain pleural effusion from the bottom of the lung and not the top?
because the fluid will be at the bottom of the pleual due to gravity.
