Lungs and tracheobronchial tree Flashcards
What are the lungs?
A pair of air-filled organs located in the thoracic cavity.
What separates the lungs in the thoracic cavity?
The central mediastinum.
What structures are contained within the mediastinum?
- Heart
- Thoracic parts of the great vessels
- Thoracic parts of the trachea
- Esophagus
- Thymus
- Other structures.
What is the pleura?
A membrane covering each lung.
What are the two types of pleura?
- Visceral pleura
- Parietal pleura.
What is the pleural cavity?
The space between the visceral and parietal pleura, normally filled with a thin film of fluid.
What is the pulmonary hilum?
The medial part of each lung where the root of the lung passes through.
What makes up the root of the lungs?
- Main bronchus
- Arteries
- Veins.
What are the characteristics of the lungs?
- Light
- Soft
- Spongy.
What are the three surfaces of the lungs?
- Costal
- Mediastinal
- Diaphragmatic.
What are the three borders of the lungs?
- Anterior
- Inferior
- Posterior.
How is the right lung different from the left lung?
The right lung is larger, heavier, shorter, and wider.
What divides the right lung into lobes?
The horizontal fissure and the oblique fissure.
How many lobes does the left lung have?
Two lobes: superior and inferior.
What is the cardiac notch?
A deep impression on the anterior border of the left lung caused by the heart’s deviation.
What is the lingula?
A tongue-like process extending below the cardiac notch on the left lung.
What characterizes the costal surface of the lungs?
Large, smooth, and convex, related to the costal pleura.
What is the diaphragmatic surface of the lung?
The concave surface that forms the base of the lung, resting on the diaphragm.
What is the mediastinal surface of the lung related to?
The middle mediastinum containing the pericardium and heart.
What is the hilum of the lung?
The doorway through which the roots of the lungs enter and exit.
What is the pulmonary ligament?
A structure formed by the continuity between parietal and visceral pleura extending between the lung and mediastinum.
What are the two main bronchi?
The right main bronchus and the left main bronchus.
How does the right main bronchus compare to the left?
Wider, shorter, and more vertical than the left main bronchus.
How many secondary lobar bronchi are in the right lung?
Three: right superior, middle, and inferior lobar bronchi.
How many tertiary segmental bronchi are in the lungs?
10 bronchopulmonary segments for the right lung, and 8 to 10 for the left lung.
What is the role of the pulmonary alveolus?
The basic structural unit of gas exchange.
What are the two types of circulation in the lungs?
- Functional circulation
- Nutritive circulation.
What is the function of the pulmonary arteries?
Carry low-oxygen blood to the lungs.
What do the pulmonary veins do?
Carry oxygen-rich blood from the lungs to the left atrium of the heart.
What supplies the lungs with oxygenated blood?
Bronchial circulation.
What are the two lymphatic plexuses in the lungs?
- Superficial (subpleural) plexus
- Deep lymphatic plexus.
What do the superficial lymphatic plexus drain?
The visceral pleura and lung tissue.
Where does lymph from both plexuses drain?
To the superior and inferior tracheobronchial lymph nodes.
True or False: The right bronchial vein drains into the accessory hemi-azygos vein.
False.
Azygos vein.
What is the primary drainage pathway for the right lung?
The right lung drains primarily through the consecutive nodes on the right side.
How does the superior left lobe of the lung drain?
The superior left lobe drains primarily through corresponding nodes on the left.
Where do the lymphatics from the lower lobe of the left lung primarily drain?
They drain to the right superior tracheobronchial nodes.
What are the major conduits for lymph drainage from the tracheobronchial lymph nodes?
The right and left bronchomediastinal lymph trunks.
Where do the bronchomediastinal lymph trunks end?
At the venous angles, which are the junctions of the subclavian and internal jugular veins.
What is the drainage pathway for lymph from the parietal pleura?
Lymph from the parietal pleura drains into the lymph nodes of the thoracic wall.
Which lymph nodes do some lymphatics from the cervical parietal pleura drain into?
Axillary lymph nodes.
From where do the nerves of the lungs and visceral pleura originate?
The pulmonary plexuses.
anterior and posterior to the root of the lungs, close to the carina
What types of fibers are contained in the pulmonary plexuses?
Parasympathetic, sympathetic, and visceral afferent fibers.
What type of fibers do the parasympathetic fibers in the pulmonary plexus originate from?
Presynaptic fibers from the vagus nerve.
What is the effect of parasympathetic fibers on bronchial smooth muscle?
Causes bronchoconstriction.
What happens to the pulmonary vessels under parasympathetic activation?
Vasodilation occurs through inhibition.
What are the effects of sympathetic fibers during the fight or flight mode?
Causes bronchodilation and vasoconstriction.
What type of fibers are responsible for reflexive control in the pulmonary plexus?
Reflexive fibers.
Which fibers respond to painful stimuli in the pulmonary plexus?
Nociceptive fibers.
What nerves supply the costal pleura and peripheral part of the diaphragmatic pleura?
Intercostal nerves.
Which nerves supply the central part of the diaphragmatic pleura and the mediastinal pleura?
Phrenic nerves.
What are the main anatomical features of the lungs?
Apex, base, costal surface, mediastinal surface, diaphragmatic surface, anterior border, inferior border, posterior border.
How many lobes does the right lung have?
Three lobes.
How many lobes does the left lung have?
Two lobes.
What divides the right lung into lobes?
Horizontal fissure and oblique fissure.
What anatomical feature is present on the left lung due to the cardiac notch?
Lingula.
What does the tracheobronchial tree begin with?
The trachea.
How many bronchopulmonary segments can the right lung be divided into?
10 bronchopulmonary segments.
How many bronchopulmonary segments can the left lung be divided into?
8-10 bronchopulmonary segments.
What is the functional circulation of the lungs supplied by?
Right and left pulmonary arteries.
What do the pulmonary veins carry back to the heart?
Oxygen-rich blood.
What ensures the nutritive circulation of the lungs?
Two left bronchial arteries and a single right bronchial artery.
What is responsible for venous drainage in the lungs?
Right and left bronchial veins.
What are the two types of lymphatic plexuses in the lungs?
Superficial and deep lymphatic plexuses.
What types of fibers do the nerves of the pulmonary plexuses contain?
Parasympathetic, sympathetic, and afferent fibers.
