Respiratory Anatomy Flashcards
right lung lobes
3 - superior, middle, inferior
left lung lobes
2 - superior, inferior
pleurae
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)
visceral pleura
covers lungs
parietal pleura
covers thoracic cavity (ribcage, diaphragm, mediastinum)
nasal cavities
made up of bone and cartilage
highly vascularized to warm up the air
vestibule
most external part of nasal cavity (just inside nostrils)
lined w/stratified squamous epithelium (facial skin)
contain short thick hairs (“vibrissae”) as screening device
multiple nasal conchae
folds w/in nasal cavities
increase the surface area of cavities so can better warm & humidify incoming air
pharynx
where air & food passages cross - danger of aspiration
parts of pharynx
- nasopharynx
- oropharynx
- laryngopharynx
nasopharynx
connection btwn nasal cavity & pharynx (usually above soft palate)
connected to middle ear via eustachian tubes
oropharynx
area caudal to mouth, anterior to epiglottis
laryngopharynx
where pharynx / larynx / esophagus meet
superior & posterior to larynx
hard & soft palates
separate the nasal cavities from the mouth. soft palate rises when swallow to cover entrance to nasal cavities
larynx
voice box, contains vocal folds & glottis
attached to trachea, has single & paired cartilages
lined with typical respiratory epithelium (except vocal folds)
vocal folds
bands of connective tissue that vibrate and make sound when air is expelled from larynx via the glottis
glottis
opening into the larynx
single cartilages of larynx
- epiglottis
- cricoid cartilage
- thyroid cartilage (“adam’s apple”)
paired cartilages of larynx
smaller than single cartilages
1. arytenoid cartilage
2 corniculate cartilage
3. cuniform cartilage
trachea
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
epiglottis
flap that moves inferiorly to close off trachea when swallow to prevent food/liquid from entering lungs
main bronchi
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
lobar bronchi
secondary bronchi that branch off of main bronchi. 3 in right lung, 2 in left
bronchioles
interface between the conducting and respiratory portions of the system
terminal bronchioles
smallest airway conducting bronchioles
respiratory bronchioles
transition zone: space for air conduction and gas exchange
alveolar ducs & sacs, alveoli all extend from ends of respiratory bronchioles
alveoli
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
