OVERVIEW AND UPPER RESPIRATORY TRACT Flashcards
what is the basic role of the respiratory system?
connect organs and structures that function to conduct air in optimal condition into close proximity with blood of the circulatory system for gas exchange
what is the optimal condition of air?
clean, warm and moist
what does respiratory system need in order to serve its function?
- surface for gas exchange
- path for air to flow
- ability to draw breath in and out
what are the 2 extra features of the respiratory system?
sound production and olfaction
what are the 2 tracts in respiratory?
upper and lower
what are the components in upper respiratory tract?
- nose
- nasal cavity
- paranasal sinuses
- pharynx (nasopharynx, oropharynx and laryngopharynx)
what are the components in lower respiratory tract?
- larynx
- trachea
- bronchus
- bronchioles
- alveoli
what are the 3 crucial parts in respiratory tract?
- thoracic cavity
- joints
- respiratory muscles
what are the 4 components of the respiratory system? and what are their overall function?
- nasal cavity: olfaction
- oral cavity: passage for air and food
- conducting zone from nose to bronchioles: ensure optimal air condition
- respiratory zone from bronchioles to alveoli: site of gas exchange
describe the epithelia tract of the respiratory system?
- tract lined with mucosa which is a layer with: epithelia and lamina propria attached together via basement membrane
- lamina propria is a layer of connective tissue and may contain glands
- below the mucosa is the submucosal layer: more conenctive tissue and may contain many glands depends on the region
describe the change in epithelium of tract to reflect function of each part?
- conducting region: respiratory epithelium
- where air and food travel: stratified squamous
- site of gas exchange: simple squamous
- olfaction: olfactory mucosa
what is respiratory epithelium?
pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium with goblet cells
where can you fine respiratory epithelium?
nasal cavity, part of pharynx, larynx, trachea and bronchi
what does goblet cells do?
produce mucus to trap debris and moisten air (clean and moist air)
why does respiratory epithelium is ciliated?
- to capture mucus and then produce a pattern movement to push mucus towards pharynx
- mucus being sent towards pharynx to be swallowed and digested by stomach acid
why does runny nose happen on a cold day?
cilia stop beating –> mucus’ dribble’ out of nose instead move to pharynx
why do we cough up mucus when we are unwell?
unwell –> body produces more mucus and coughing assist the silia to push the mucus
why do smokers cough?
cigarette smoke paralyse and destroy cilia
what is the function of the upper respiratory tract?
- conducting passage
- prepare optimal condition of air for respiratory membrane
- resonating chambers for speech at paranasal sinuses
- sensory receptor - olfaction
why is nose made up of cartilages?
- soft and flexible
- maintain patent airway
what is nostrils also called?
external nares
nose has a structure of a ____1____ lined with _____2_____, has _____3_____ and _____4_____ glands as well as ______5_______
the _______5.1________ filter inhaled air
1: vestibule
2: skin
3: sebaceous
4: sweat
5: hair
5.1: vibrissae (hair)
describe the bone structure of the nose?
- nasal septum in midline with cartilage anteriorly and bone posteriorly
- internal nares open into nasal pharynx
- roof of cavity formed by ethmoid and sphenoid bones
- floor of cavity formed by hard and soft palates
- on lateral wall their is a special structure called conchae
describe structure of conchae?
- lies on the lateral wall of nose
- has 3 projections: superior, middle and inferior conchae (turbinates)
- covered by respiratory epithelium
what is the function of conchae?
- swirl inspired air
- stick the particle to mucosa
- warming and humidifying of air
- olfactory detection
what is the main type of nasal epithelium?
respiratory epithelium
where is the specialised area of olfactory epithelium in nasal epithelium?
roof of nasal cavity, area which contains smell receptors
____1______ is the epithelium sits on lamina propria, it is a ____2____-walled _____3_______.
the _____1_____ helps warm incoming air because when air temperature drops, ____3_____ _____4_____ for greater heat transfer
1: nasal mucosa
2: thin
3: vascular plexus
4: dilate
where is the origin of nose bleed
damage nasal mucosa
what does paranasal mean? what does sinus mean?
- paranasal: surrounding the nose
- sinus: cavity within a bone
where can we find the paranasal sinuses?
within frontal, sphenoid, ethmoid and maxillary bones
what lines the paranasal sinuses?
respiratory mucosa
where does paranasal sinus drain to?
pharynx
functions of the paranasal sinuses?
- lighten skull
- increase SA to clean, warm and moisten air
- sound resonance
- sinuses blocked by infected mucus
what is pharynx also known as?
the throat
describe the structure of pharynx?
- muscular funnel-shaped tube share by respiratory and digestive system
- has 3 regions (from superior to inferior): nasopharynx, oropharynx and laryngopharynx
TRUE/FALSE: nasopharynx is lined with respiratory mucosa and is an air-food passage
FALSE: even though nasopharynx is indeed lined with respiratory mucosa but it is an air passage only
where is the specific location of nasopharynx?
- posterior to nasal cavity
- internal nares to soft palate
which structures block the nasopharynx during swallowing to prevent food from entering nasal cavity?
soft palate and uvula
what can we also find in the nasopharynx structure that is related to the ears?
auditory tubes
what is the structure on the posterior wall of nasopharynx?
pharyngeal tonsils (adenoids)
while nasopharynx is an air passage only, both ____1____ and ______2_____ are air and food passage
1: oropharynx
2: laryngopharynx
what lines the oropharynx?
stratified squamous epithelium
why is stratified squamous lined the oropharynx?
for protection against abrasioin
what is the location of oropharynx?
- posterior to oral cavity
- from soft palate to hyoid bone
what are the 2 special structures that you can find in the oropharynx?
palatine and lingual tonsils
normally at people with tonsil stones, it is suggested to cut 1 of the tonsils, which one is being cut?
palatine
what lines the laryngopharynx?
stratified squamous epithelium
where can you find oropharynx?
- from hyoid bone to opening of larynx/beginning of esophagus
- ends at level where respiratory and digestive tracts diverge
where in the URT would you find stratified squamous epithelium?
nasal vestibule, oropharynx and laryngopharynx
what are the different types of epithelia found in the URT?
- vestibule of the nose: skin
- nasal cavity: olfactory mucosa
- nasal vestibule, oropharynx and laryngopharynx: stratified squamous epithelium
- nasal cavity and nasopharynx: respiratory epithelium
