Lung/Thorax Flashcards
Parts of the lung
Apex Base Lobes Surfaces Borders
Lobes of the lungs
Right: superior, middle, inferior. Divided by oblique and horizontal fissure.
Left: Superior, inferior. Divided by oblique.
Surfaces of the lung
Mediastinal surface
Daiphragmatic surface
Costal surface
Borders of the lung
Anterior border
Inferior border
posterior border
Lung root
Collection of structures that suspends lung from mediastinum.
Contains: bronchus, pulmonary artery, two pulmonary veins, bronchial vessels, pulmonary nerve plexus, lymphatics
Structures leave/enter through hilum
Bronchial tree
Tracheal bifurcation at level of sternal angle T4/T5 (carina)
Right main bronchus: shorter, wider, more vertical. 3 lobar bronchi. Segmental bronchi for each bronchopulmonary segment.
Left main bronchus: inferior to arch of aorta, anterior to descending aorta/oesophagus. 2 lobar bronchi.
Sternal angle (Angle of Lois)
T4/5 2nd rib articulation Aortic arch Azygous vein Ligamentum arteriosus Bifurcation of pulmonary trunk Bifurcation of trachea L recurrent laryngeal nerve
Blood supply to the lung
Deoxygenated: Pulmonary arteries Oxygenated: Trachea: inferior thyroid artery Bronchi, lung roots, visceral pleura, lung parenchyma: bronchial arteries (branches of descending aorta. Left bronchial: directly of aorta. Right: 3rd posterior intercostal artery)
Venous drainage from the lung
Oxygenated drainage: Pulmonary veins (two for each lung)
Deoxygenated:
Trachea: brachiocephalic/ azygos/hemiazygos veins
Right bronchial vein (drains into azygos vein)
Left bronchial vein (hemiazygos vein)
Nerve supply to the lung
Pulmonary plexuses
Parasympathetic: vagus nerve. Stimulates secretion of bronchial glands, contraction of bronchial smooth muscle and vasodilation of pulmonary vessels.
Sympathetic: derived from sympathetic trunk: Stimulate relaxation of bronchial smooth muscle, vasoconstriction of pulmonary vessels.
Visceral afferent: pain impulses to sensory ganglion of vagus
Trachea: recurrent laryngeal nerve
Lymphatic drainage of lung
Superficial (sub pleural): drains lung parenchyma
Deep: drains structures of lung root
Trachea structure
C-shaped cartilaginous rings
Lined with ciliated pseudo stratified columnar epithelium, interspersed with goblet cells. (forms functional mucociliary escalator)
Bronchi structure
Main: Cartilage rings completely encircle wall
Smaller lobar/segmental: crescent shaped cartilage
Bronchioles structure
No cartilage/mucus secreting goblet cells
Club cells produce surfactant lipoprotein.
Conducting bronchioles –>
terminal bronchioles –>
respiratory bronchioles –> alveoli
Alveoli structure
Thin wall of simple squamous epithelium
Muscles of inspiration
Inspiratory muscles: diaphragm, external intercostal muscles
Accessory muscles: scalene, sternocleidomastoid, pec major/minor, serratus anterior. lat doors
Muscles of expiration
Passive expiration requires only relaxation
Forced expiration: anterolateral abdominal wall, internal intercostal, innermost intercostal
Pressure changes in inspiration/expiration
Boyle’s law: volume of gas is inversely proportional to pressure (when temp constant)
Inspiration: volume of thorax increases, pressure decreases, air enters down pressure gradient
Expiration: volume of thorax decreases, pressure increases, air exits down pressure gradient
Determinants of airway resistance
Ohm’s law: flow = pressure gradient/resistance
Poiseuille’s law: resistance = resistance is inversely proportional to radius to power of 4.
Airway diameter
Determinants of airway resistance
Ohm’s law: flow = pressure gradient/resistance
Poiseuille’s law: resistance = resistance is inversely proportional to radius to power of 4.
Airway diameter
Control of airway diameter
Autonomic control:
Sympathetic: B2 relax bronchial smooth muscle
Parasympathetic: muscarinic (M3) constrict bronchial smooth muscle
Pressure: Large amount of elastic tissue in lung to allow expansion. Low intrathoracic pressure (inspiration) means pressure on airways reduced and airways expand. Inverse is true. Forced expiration can lead to pressure increases that collapse airways.
Surfactant and lung function
Produced by Type II alveolar cells
Hydrophilic & hydrophobic component
Disrupt hydrogen bonds between water molecules on surface overcoming surface tension.