Lower Respiratory Tract, Lungs, & Pleura

Question 1

Which organ starts immediately below the cricoid cartilage of the larynx?

Answer 1

• the trachea

Question 2

What muscle lies on the posterior of the trachea?

Answer 2

• the trachealis muscle

- (note that it is fused with the esophagus)

Question 3

What do we call an abnormal connection between the trachea and the esophagus?

Answer 3

• a trachea-esophageal fistula

Question 4

What is the bifurication of the trachea into the left and right bronchi called?

Answer 4

• the carina

Question 5

Which arteries supply the trachea?

Answer 5

• the inferior thyroid arteries which enter via the posterior side (through the trachealis)

Question 6

The right main bronchus divides into which major branches?

Answer 6

• the right upper lobe bronchus, the right middle lobe bronchus, and the right lower lobe bronchus

Question 7

The left main bronchus divides into which major branches?

Answer 7

• the left upper lobe bronchus and the left lower lobe bronchus

Question 8

What is the region between the lungs called? What does it contain

Answer 8

• the mediastinum

- contains the heart, the great vessels, the azygous vein system, the trachea, the esophagus, and the thymus

Question 9

The _______ pleura lines the lung, while the _______ is applied firmly to the chest wall and mediastinum.

Answer 9

• visceral pleura covers the lungs

- parietal pleura lines the chest wall and mediastinum

Question 10

Which of the pleura (visceral or parietal) is sensitive to pain?

Answer 10

• only the parietal pleura because it is innervated by the intercostal nerves
• the visceral pleura has no sensory nerve supply

Question 11

What attaches each lung to the heart and the trachea?

Answer 11

• the hilum and the pulmonary ligament

- (hilum is above the pulmonary ligament)

Question 12

What is the lingula (or lingular segment) of the left upper lobe?

Answer 12

• a tongue-like projection at the bottom of the upper lobe that extends around the pericardium
• (it is basically the left lung’s middle lobe)

Question 13

Where do the bronchial arteries branch off from?

Answer 13

• directly from the descending aorta

Question 14

Where do the bronchial veins drain into?

Answer 14

• the azygous and hemiazygous veins

Question 15

The lower lobes of the lung are ______ to the upper lobes.

Answer 15

• posterior

- you can’t really see the lower lobes from an anterior view

Question 16

What path does fluid drained from the lungs take?

Answer 16

• lymphatics drain into the hilar lymph nodes –> bronchial nodes –> tracheobronchial nodes –> mediastinal nodes

Question 17

Which nerve innervates the diaphragm? What else does it innervate?

Answer 17

• the phrenic nerve

- it also innervates the pericardium

Question 18

At what vertebral level does the trachea bifuricate? What else is found at this level?

Answer 18

• T4
• the 2nd rib is found here
• the sternal angle of Louis exists here
• the ascending aorta becomes the aortic arch here