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