Respiratory/cardiovascular histology

Question 1

What are the three main changes upon progression down the respiratory tree?

Answer 1

Decrease in cartilage
Increase in smooth muscle
Pseudo-stratified columnar epithelia with goblet cells –> columnar epithelia

Question 2

What cells line the mucosal layer of the trachea?

Answer 2

Pseudo-stratefied columnar epithelium with goblet cells

Question 3

How is cartilage identified on a histological slide?

Answer 3

By white, round lacunae containing chondrocytes

Question 4

What is the function of the seromucus glands? Where are they found?

Answer 4

Submucosal layer of trachea

They secrete serous fluid to humidify air

Question 5

Where is the lamina propria of the trachea found?

Answer 5

Inbetween mucosal and submucosal layers

Question 6

What is the function of Basal cells? Where are they found?

Answer 6

Found in trachea and main bronchi

Function to renew damaged cells

Question 7

What is the function of serous cells?

Where are they found?

Answer 7

Wall of secondary bronchus to terminal bronchioles

Function to produce antibacterial secretions

Question 8

What is the function of surfactant?

What cells produce surfactant?

Answer 8

Dual functions; increases surface tension to hold airways open as well as deactivating primed immune cells. Surfactant essentially assumes the function of providing airway rigidity

Produced by club cells and T2AC

Question 9

What is another name for club cells?

Answer 9

Clara cells

Question 10

What is the function of airway macrophages?

Answer 10

Function to phagocytose/clear debris quietly OR mount an immune response to invading pathogens

Question 11

What dictates the activity of airway macrophages?

Answer 11

Surfactant dampens their immune reactivity to pathogens

Damage to alveolar epithelium activates them