Prac 7 CVRS - Respiratory Tract Flashcards
How can the tract be divided
The tract can be divided into
1 conducting airways where the air is filtered, warmed and humidified and
2 alveolar sacs where gaseous exchange takes place.
Most of the conducting airways are lined by a
ciliated respiratory epithelium
air sacs are lined
by a thin squamous epithelium composed mainly of Type I pneumocytes.
The conducting airways are lined by a respiratory epithelium. This includes
This includes the nose, nasopharynx, larynx. trachea, bronchi and bronchioles. No significant gaseous exchange takes place in these parts of the tract.
What does the resp epithelium consist of
The epithelium consists of a simple or pseudo-stratified columnar ciliated epithelium punctuated by mucus-secreting goblet cells.
It also contains non-ciliated (basal and intermediate cells) that probably represent a stem cell population important for the renewal of the epithelium. Also present are neuro-endocrine cells that are particularly numerous in the smaller bronchi. These play and important part in monitoring the inspired air for allergens and other potentially harmful elements.
Purpose of neuroendocrine cells in resp epithelium
These play and important part in monitoring the inspired air for allergens and other potentially harmful elements.
The underlying connective tissue often contains
a rich plexus of thin-walled blood vessels that help to warm the incoming air and additional sero-mucous (mixed) glands that secrete via ducts adding to the protective mucous layer that covers the surface.
rich plexus of thin-walled blood vessels help to
warm the incoming air
sero-mucous (mixed) glands do what
secrete via ducts adding to the protective mucous layer that covers the surface.
protective mucous layer does what
This mucus prevents dehydration of the epithelium and traps particulate matter that is removed from the system by the beating of the cilia. The cilia beat towards the throat and contaminated mucous is swallowed or expectorated.
The cilia beat towards
the throat and contaminated mucous is swallowed or expectorated.
Except at its opening (covered by hairy skin), the nose is lined by
simple ciliated respiratory epithelium.
Three bony projections extend from the lateral walls of nose (concha) and these too are covered by
respiratory epithelium.
what epithelium lines the nasal sinuses
respiratory epithelium.
what lies deep to the epithelium in the nose
A rich plexus of thin-walled arterioles and venules
source of many nose bleeds. Purpose of these
A rich plexus of thin-walled arterioles and venules lie deep to the epithelium (swell bodies).
They help to warm and humidify the inspired air.
A small area of epithelium about the size of a 1 pence piece is adapted for the detection of odours. It is located
in the roof of the nose below the cribriform plate.
Unmyelinated olfactory nerves pass
from the epithelium through holes in the cribriform plate to the olfactory bulbs of the brain.
he columnar pseudostratified epithelium of the olfactory mucosa consists of
basal and sustentacular (supporting) cells
Embedded within the olfactory basal and sustentacular (supporting) cells
are bipolar neurones whose dendritic processes reach the surface of the epithelium.
Deep to the epithelium are serous glands whose ducts open
on to the epithelial surface to produce a watery secretion
The watery secretion that serous glands produce acts as
solvent for odorous substances. They also irrigate the surface and help to refresh the epithelium.
Olfactory epithelium is
The epithelium is a pseudostratified columnar epithelium.
Immotile stereocilia protrude from the surface of
olfactory epithelium
Most of the cells in olfactory epithelium are supporting cells but between them
sensory cells capable of detecting odours
The basal cells contain
pigment granules
The larynx is lined by
respiratory epithelium
The larynx is lined by a respiratory epithelium except for
the vocal folds that are covered by a stratified squamous epithelium
why are the vocal folds are covered by a stratified squamous epithelium
This type of epithelium is more robust, is accustomed to wear and can withstand the vibrations of the folds.
what do the vocal chords contain and whats it called
The folds contain the free upper margin of a cone of elastic tissue (conus elasticus)
what This cone is tensioned by
the voluntary (skeletal) muscle fibres of the vocalis muscle.
Further manipulation of the folds is undertaken by
the extrinsic muscles of the larynx including the crico-thyroid muscle.
The larynx contains several plates of
hyaline cartilage and a complex arrangment of striated muscles embedded in fibrous connective tissue.
The trachea is lined by
seudo-stratified cilated epithelium (respiratory epithelium).
It is held open by
12-15 incomplete (‘C’ shaped) rings of hyaline cartilage.