Respiratory Anatomy Study Guide

Question 1

4 processes of gas exchange

Answer 1

pulmonary ventilation
external respiration
transportation of respiratory gasses
internal respiration

Question 2

pulmonary ventilation

Answer 2

breathing - inspiration + expiration
- air moving in and out of the lungs

Question 3

external respiration

Answer 3

• o2 diffuses from the lungs into the blood
• co2 diffuses from the blood into the lungs

Question 4

transportation of respiratory gasses

Answer 4

completed by the cardiovascular system - the blood is the vehicle

Question 5

function of the upper respiratory tract

Answer 5

conducting zone - warms, humidifies, and filters air as it passes through

Question 6

function of lower respiratory tract

Answer 6

receive air and absorb oxygen, release co2

Question 7

nose function

Answer 7

airway, moistens + warms entering air, filters air, serves as resonating chamber for speech, houses olfactory receptors

Question 8

pharynx

Answer 8

passageway for food and air

Question 9

larynx

Answer 9

airway, routes air + food into proper channels, produces sound/vocalization - houses vocal folds

Question 10

trachea

Answer 10

windpipe

Question 11

bronchi and bronchioles

Answer 11

distribute air to alveoli for gas exchange

Question 12

bones that make up external nose

Answer 12

nasal, frontal, maxillary bones, hyaline cartilage

Question 13

bones framing nasal cavity

Answer 13

roof formed by ethmoid and sphenoid bones, floor formed by hard + soft palates
(divided by nasal septum)

Question 14

components of mucus

Answer 14

Lysozyme (eats up bacteria) and defensins

Question 15

nasal chonchae

Answer 15

covered in mucosa, increase mucosal surface area and turbulence for enhanced warming/filtering

Question 16

nasal sinuses

Answer 16

located in frontal, sphenoid, ethmoid, maxillary bones, forming ring around nasal cavity
- lighten skull
- give resonance to voice
- produce mucus/warm + moisten air

Question 17

3 divisions of the pharynx in order from superior to inferior

Answer 17

nasopharynx
oropharynx
laryngopharnx

Question 18

epithelial lining in nasopharynx

Answer 18

pseudostratified, columnar epithelium

Question 19

epithelial lining of oropharynx

Answer 19

more protective, stratified, squamous epithelium

Question 20

epithelial lining of laryngopharynx

Answer 20

stratified, squamous epithelium

Question 21

protection of the nasopharynx during swallowing

Answer 21

soft palate and uvula close during swallowing

Question 22

protection of the larynx during swallowing

Answer 22

epiglottis covers the laryngeal inlet during swallowing

Question 23

thyroid cartilage

Answer 23

large, shield shape
- has laryngeal prominence (adam’s apple)
- grows larger from secretion of sex hormones during puberty (causing it to be bigger in males)

Question 24

cricoid cartilage

Answer 24

ring shaped
- three small, paired cartilages form posterior and lateral walls (arytenoid, cuneiform, corniculate)

Question 25

cartilage that makes up most of the larynx

Answer 25

hyaline

Question 26

cartilage that makes up the epiglottis

Answer 26

elastic cartilage

Question 27

vocal folds

Answer 27

true vocal cords
- vibrate to produce sound as air rushes up
- lack blood vessels and appear pearly white

Question 28

vestibular folds

Answer 28

false vocal cords
- superior to vocal folds
- play no part in sound production
- assist in closing glottis during swallowing

Question 29

glottis

Answer 29

opening between vocal folds

Question 30

aspect of speech most addressed in speech therapy

Answer 30

• Enunciation: determined by the activity of the muscles of the pharynx, tongue, soft palate, and lips

Question 31

aspect of speech determined by length/tension of vocal cords

Answer 31

vocal pitch
- as larynx grows, vocal cords get thicker + longer - voice deepens

Question 32

valsalva maneuver

Answer 32

vocal folds act as a sphincter to prevent air passage (like during defecation)

Question 33

significance of trachea’s cartilaginous rings being c-shaped

Answer 33

trachea is flexible enough to move inferiorly + stretch during inspiration and recoil during exhalation, so the cartilage rings prevent collapse

Question 34

trachealis

Answer 34

smooth muscle that connects the posterior surface of the tracheal rings - allows the esophagus to expand when food is swallowed

Question 35

carina

Answer 35

projects posteriorly from the inner surface of the last tracheal cartilage, marks the point where the trachea branches into the two main bronchi

Question 36

what enters the medial hilum of each lung

Answer 36

• main bronchi
• blood vessels
• lymphatic vessels
• nerves

Question 37

divisions of the bronchial tree in order

Answer 37

• trachea
• main bronchi (2)
• secondary/lobar bronchi (2 on the left, 3 on the right)
• segmental/tertiary bronchi
• bronchioles
• terminal bronchioles
• respiratory bronchioles
• alveolar ducts
• alveolar sacs
• alveoli

Question 38

type I alveolar cells

Answer 38

single layer of squamous epithelial cells that make up alveolar walls

Question 39

type II alveolar cells

Answer 39

scattered, cuboidal cells that secrete surfactant and antimicrobial proteins

Question 40

surface tension

Answer 40

wants to draw the alveoli inwards and collapse it

Question 41

surfactant

Answer 41

fluid that contains a detergent-like substance; coats the gas-exposed alveolar surfaces, preventing collapse

Question 42

alveolar pores

Answer 42

openings that connect adjacent alveoli
- equalize air pressure throughout the lung
- allow for re-routing in the event of collapsed/diseased alveoli

Question 43

pleurisy

Answer 43

inflammation of the pleurae - causes increased friction
- results from pneumonia
- stabbing pain with breath
- as it progresses, extra fluid is produced - friction and pain are reduced, but pressure is exerted on lungs
- pleural effusion: fluid accumulation in the pleural cavity, can sometimes be drained