Respiratory anatomy; lungs and pleura Flashcards
What are the three main components of the thoracic cavity?
Right pleural cavity (contains the right lung)
Left pleural cavity (contains the left lung)
Mediastinal cavity (contains the heart and great vessels)
What four components make up the upper respiratory tract?
- Paranasal sinuses
- Nose
- Pharynx
- Larynx
These are bony projections within the nasal cavity, or sliding pieces of bones on the lateral walls of the nasal cavity
Nasal turbinates
What is the function of the nasal turbinates? (2)
Decreases turbulence of air coming in to the respiratory tract, and warms the incoming air to body temperature
Which parts of the nasal cavity have a particularly rich blood supply?
Vestibular area and inferior turbinate
What type of epithelium lines the sinuses and upper respiratory tract?
Pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium
The posterior nares leads to the opening of the _________
pharynx
What surface modifications are present in the vestibule (just inside the nasal cavity?)
Vibrissae (hairs) and glands
Name the four pairs of paranasal sinuses
Frontal, maxillary, ethmoid, ad sphenoid
What are the three functions of the paranasal sinuses?
- Air passageway
- Warms, moistens, and filters the air
- Provides resonance for the voice
Name the three subdivisions of the pharynx
- Naso pharynx
- Oropharynx
- Laryngopharynx
This is the common passageway for the respiratory and digestive tracts, lined with mucous membrane. Extends from the base of the skull to the esophagus.
Pharynx
This part of the upper respiratory tractl lies between the root of the tongue and the upper part of the trachea
Larynx
The larynx lies anterior to which three cervical bodies?
C3-C6
What are the three main functions of the larynx?
- Serves as an air passageway
- VOICE PRODUCTION
- Protects airway against entrance of solids or liquids
What part of the upper respiratory tract contains the true vocal cords?
The larynx
What is the lower respiratory tract comprised of? (4)
- Trachea
- Bronchial tree
- The lungs (lobes and segments)
- Alveoli
The trachea extends from the inferior aspect of the __________ to the __________.
larynx, carina (or principle bronchi)
What type of cartilage make up the C-shaped rings of the trachea?
Hyaline cartilage
How many tracheal rings do we have?
About 15-20
The posterior surface of the trachea is a layer of smooth muscle called the ________
trachealis
What type of epithelium lines the trachea?
Pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium
The trachea divides into the right and left principle bronchi at the level of the __________, which is also the same level as the ______ _________.
carina, sternal angle
What is the most common site of foreign body inhalation?
Right main/principle bronchus
Which principle bronchus is straighter and more in line with the trachea?
The right main/principle bronchus
What are the two functional subdivisions of the respiratory tract?
The conducting zone and the respiratory zone
This subdivision of the respiratory tract consists of the passageways for air. They run from the nasal cavity to the terminal bronchioles.
Conducting zone
This subdivision of the respiratory tract is the site of gaseous exchange. Involves respiratory bronchioles, alveolar ducts, alveolar sacs, and alveoli.
Respiratory zone
Name some of the components of the “respiratory zone” of the respiratory tract.
- Respiratory bronchioles
- Alveolar ducts
- Alveolar sacs
- Alveoli
What is the main site of gas exchange in the lungs?
The alveoli
What are the three factors facilitating change in the diameters of the thoracic cavity?
- Joints of the sternum
- Joints at the vertebrae
- Obliquity of the ribs
Which rib articulates with the manubriosternal joint/sternal angle?
The second rib
The slight movement of the sternal angle on inspiration causes which ribs to lift up and out?
Ribs 2-7
Which movement increases the transverse diameter of the ribcage? This type of movement is known as what?
Ribs 2-7 rotating on their axes around anterior and posterior attachments, increases the transverse diameter of the ribcage.
This type of movement is called “bucket handle movements”
What movement within the ribcage increases the anterioposterior diameter of the ribcage? What is the term for this type of movement?
The movement at the sternal angle carries ribs 2-6 up and down, gliding at constotransverse/ costovertebral joints, causing abduction of ribs and increases the anterioposterior diameter of the ribcage.
This type of movement is also known as the pump-handle movement.
Which movement increases the vertical diameter of the thoracic cavity?
The contraction of the diaphragm
What causes air to be sucked into the lungs?
The fall in intrathoracic pressure after the diaphragm contracts downwards, expanding the volume of the chest cavity
On inspiration, the diaphragm moves _______ and the abdominal muscles ________.
down, relax
On expiration, the diaphragm relaxes and moves _______, while the amdominal muscles ________.
up, contract
Where is diaphragmatic referred pain felt?
At the tip of the shoulder
What are the two main functions of the diaphragm muscle?
- Separates the thoracic cavity from the abdominal cavity
- Undergoes contraction and relaxation, altering the volume of the thoracic cavity and producing inspiration and expiration
Name the three sites of attachment of the diaphragm muscle
- Lumbar vertebrae & acruate ligaments
- Costal cartilages of ribs 7-10 (attaching directly to ribs 11-12)
- Xiphoid process of the sternum
What is the nerve supply to the diaphragm?
The phrenic nerve, stemming from C3, C4, and C5
What vessels supply blood to the diaphragm?
- Internal thoracic arteries (musculophrenic and pericardiophrenic)
- Superior phrenic artery (branch of the thoaracic aorta)
- Inferior phrenic artery (branch of abdominal aorta)
Lung activity is controlled by which branch of the nervous system?
Autonomic (contains both sympathetic and parasympathetic fibres)
Involuntary respiration is controlled by respiratory centres in the _________
brainstem