Respiratory Anatomy

Question 1

right lung lobes

Answer 1

3 - superior, middle, inferior

Question 2

left lung lobes

Answer 2

2 - superior, inferior

Question 3

pleurae

Answer 3

membranes that cover surfaces surrounding lungs & lungs themselves. reduce friction, provide negative pressure necessary for lung inflation

space between the 2 pleurae creates a negative pressure environment in the lungs (pressure inside < atmospheric pressure)

Question 4

visceral pleura

Answer 4

covers lungs

Question 5

parietal pleura

Answer 5

covers thoracic cavity (ribcage, diaphragm, mediastinum)

Question 6

nasal cavities

Answer 6

made up of bone and cartilage

highly vascularized to warm up the air

Question 7

vestibule

Answer 7

most external part of nasal cavity (just inside nostrils)
lined w/stratified squamous epithelium (facial skin)
contain short thick hairs (“vibrissae”) as screening device

Question 8

multiple nasal conchae

Answer 8

folds w/in nasal cavities

increase the surface area of cavities so can better warm & humidify incoming air

Question 9

pharynx

Answer 9

where air & food passages cross - danger of aspiration

Question 10

parts of pharynx

Answer 10

1. nasopharynx
2. oropharynx
3. laryngopharynx

Question 11

nasopharynx

Answer 11

connection btwn nasal cavity & pharynx (usually above soft palate)
connected to middle ear via eustachian tubes

Question 12

oropharynx

Answer 12

area caudal to mouth, anterior to epiglottis

Question 13

laryngopharynx

Answer 13

where pharynx / larynx / esophagus meet

superior & posterior to larynx

Question 14

hard & soft palates

Answer 14

separate the nasal cavities from the mouth. soft palate rises when swallow to cover entrance to nasal cavities

Question 15

larynx

Answer 15

voice box, contains vocal folds & glottis
attached to trachea, has single & paired cartilages
lined with typical respiratory epithelium (except vocal folds)

Question 16

vocal folds

Answer 16

bands of connective tissue that vibrate and make sound when air is expelled from larynx via the glottis

Question 17

glottis

Answer 17

opening into the larynx

Question 18

single cartilages of larynx

Answer 18

1. epiglottis
2. cricoid cartilage
3. thyroid cartilage (“adam’s apple”)

Question 19

paired cartilages of larynx

Answer 19

smaller than single cartilages
1. arytenoid cartilage
2 corniculate cartilage
3. cuniform cartilage

Question 20

trachea

Answer 20

wind pipe
held open by c-shaped cartilagenous rings
posterior = “open” region bridged by ligament & trachealis smooth muscle
contains cilia
lined w/ typical respiratory epithelium
divides into two main bronchi

Question 21

epiglottis

Answer 21

flap that moves inferiorly to close off trachea when swallow to prevent food/liquid from entering lungs

Question 22

main bronchi

Answer 22

two tubes, each enter right or left lung and then branch into bronchioles
resemble trachea’s structure but no cartilagenous rings to allow for branching
transition from a single airway passage into a large surface area for gas exchange to occur
lined w/respiratory epithelium

Question 23

lobar bronchi

Answer 23

secondary bronchi that branch off of main bronchi. 3 in right lung, 2 in left

Question 24

bronchioles

Answer 24

interface between the conducting and respiratory portions of the system

Question 25

terminal bronchioles

Answer 25

smallest airway conducting bronchioles

Question 26

respiratory bronchioles

Answer 26

transition zone: space for air conduction and gas exchange

alveolar ducs & sacs, alveoli all extend from ends of respiratory bronchioles

Question 27

alveoli

Answer 27

tiny air pockets where gas exchange occurs (oxygen from lungs –> blood, CO2 from blood –> lungs to be exhaled)
location of blood-air barrier
lungs contain millions of alveoli