Respiratory System 1 - Upper Respiratory Tract Flashcards
How can the respiratory tract be structurally classified?
Can be structurally classified into the upper respiratory tract and the lower respiratory tract.
List the parts of both the upper and lower respiratory tract?
Upper:
Nose, nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses, pharynx & larynx.
Lower:
Trachea, bronchi & progressively smaller airways within the lungs.
How can the respiratory tract be functionally classified?
Can be functionally classified into a conductive portion & a respiratory portion.
Explain the role of the conductive portion of the respiratory tract & list what parts of the body are included?
Consists of the respiratory passageways which transmit air into and out of the lungs.
–> It includes the nose, nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses, pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi and the progressively smaller airways within the lungs up to and including the terminal bronchioles.
Explain the role of the respiratory portion of the respiratory tract & list what parts of the body are included in both?
Is where gas exchange occurs between the air in the lungs and the blood.
–> It includes the respiratory bronchioles, alveolar ducts and alveolar sacs, all of which contain alveoli.
Describe the basic functions of the respiratory system?
- Respiration:
–> Includes pulmonary ventilation (aka breathing), external respiration, transport of respiratory gases & internal respiration. - Gas conditioning
- Sound production
- Olfaction:
–> The superior part of the nasal cavity is lined with olfactory epithelium. - Defence:
–> The structure of the nose & respiratory epithelium lining the conductive portion trap any foreign substances.
What type of membrane are respiratory and olfactory epithelium part of?
These are part of the mucous membrane lining the respiratory tract.
What does the mucous membrane (or mucosa) compose of?
Composed of an epithelial layer and an underlying layer of areolar connective tissue called the lamina propria.
What type of epithelium is respiratory epithelium?
Pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium
What is the function of goblet cells & cilia within respiratory epithelium?
Goblet cells:
Produces mucous that traps any foreign substances that are inhaled.
Cilia:
Help to move the mucous and any trapped substances towards the pharynx, so that it can either be coughed up and spat out or swallowed.
What type of cells are contained within olfactory epithelium?
Olfactory receptor cells
Supporting cells
Basal cells
What type of neuron are olfactory receptor cells in olfactory epithelium?
Bipolar neurons that detect odorant molecules.
What is the function of receptor cells, supporting cells & basal cells in olfactory epithelium?
Receptor cells:
Detects dissolved odorant molecules which are trapped by a layer of mucous covering the surface of the olfactory epithelium.
Supporting cells:
Provide support and nourishment to the olfactory receptor cells.
Basal cells:
Are stem cells that regenerate to replace the olfactory receptor cells.
Label the histology image of respiratory epithelium?
Label the parts of an olfactory epithelium?
Label the mucous membrane?
Name the 3 parts of the nose & identify what they are formed by?
Bridge of nose:
Formed by the paired nasal bones.
Dorsum nasi:
Formed by several paired elastic cartilages.
Apex of nose:
Formed by elastic cartilage.
Label the parts of the nose?
What are the main functions of the nasal cavity?
- Conditioning (I.e. warming, humidifying and filtering) of inhaled.
- Olfaction.
- Contributes to sound production.
Label the lateral & medial wall of the nasal cavity?
What is the function of the nasal conchae & the meatuses?
Both help to create turbulence of the inhaled air to prolong the time it spends in the nasal cavity so that it can be sufficiently warmed and humidified.
What does the vestibule of the nasal cavity contain & how does it relate to its function?
It is lined with skin containing sebaceous glands, sweat glands and coarse hairs called vibrissae that help to trap large particles.
What type of epithelium lines the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses?
Respiratory epithelium
What are the main functions of the paranasal sinuses?
- Warm and humidify inhaled air.
- Act as resonance chambers to contribute to sound production.
- Decrease the weight of the skull.
Name and identify the 4 pairs of paranasal sinuses?
Frontal sinus
Ethmoidal sinus
Sphenoidal sinus
Maxillary sinus
*Note: The paranasal sinuses are named according to the bones in which they are found.
Why do you usually get a running nose when you cry?
What canal opens underneath the inferior nasal concha?
When you cry, your lacrimal glands produce tears that drain into the nasal cavity through the nasolacrimal ducts. This excess fluid in the nasal cavity leads to a runny nose.
The nasolacrimal duct, which carries tears from the lacrimal sac into the nasal cavity.
Describe the location of the pharynx?
–> Located immediately anterior to the cervical spine.
–> It begins posterior to the nasal cavity.
–> Ends as it continues with the oesophagus.
What type of muscles are pharyngeal muscles & what are their function?
–> Skeletal muscles.
–> Involved in swallowing.
Label the 3 parts of the pharynx?
What do the different parts of the pharynx transmit?
Nasopharynx = air only.
Oropharynx & Laryngopharynx = both air and ingested materials.
What types of epithelium is found within each part of the pharynx?
Nasopharynx = respiratory epithelium.
Oropharynx & Laryngopharynx = stratified squamous non-keratinised epithelium.
What are located on the posterior and lateral walls of the nasopharynx & what are their function?
Posterior wall = pharyngeal tonsil
Function = acts as a first line of defence against any foreign substances that may be inhaled.
Lateral wall = Eustachian tubes or pharyngotympanic tubes (openings of the right and left auditory tubes).
Function = function to equalise air pressure between the middle ear cavity and the external environment.
What tonsil is located in the oropharyngeal mucosa on either side of the opening into the oral cavity?
There are two tonsils called the palatine tonsils (more commonly referred to as “the tonsils”).
Label the parts of the nasopharynx?
Label the parts of the oropharynx?
Label the parts of the laryngopharynx?
Identify the location of the larynx?
Located immediately anterior to the laryngopharynx and superior to the trachea.
List the main functions of the larynx?
- Serves as a passageway for air.
- Is the main structure responsible for sound production, as it contains the vocal cords.
- Prevents ingested materials from entering the trachea.
- Assists in increasing intra-abdominal pressure during the Valsalva maneuver.
- Plays a role in the sneeze and cough reflexes.
List the single and paired cartilages of the larynx?
Single cartilages (3 in total):
Thyroid cartilage, cricoid cartilage and epiglottis.
Paired cartilages (6 in total):
Arytenoid, corniculate and cuneiform cartilages.
What cartilage are the different parts of the larynx made of?
Hyaline cartilage:
Thyroid, cricoid and arytenoid cartilages.
Elastic cartilage:
Epiglottis, corniculate and cuneiform cartilages.
Label the parts of the larynx?
What types of folds can be found in the larynx?
Vocal folds
Vestibular folds
Label the folds of the larynx?
What are vestibular folds formed by & what is the general function of these folds?
Formed by bands of elastic connective tissue called vestibular ligaments.
Function:
Protect the vocal cords.
What is the ‘rima vestibuli?’
The space in between the two vestibular folds.
What are vocal folds formed by & what is the general function of these folds?
Formed by bands of elastic connective tissue called vocal ligaments.
Function:
Sound production.
What is the rima glottidis?
The space in between the two vocal folds.
Label the parts of the nasal cavity?
Label the cartilages of the larynx?
Label the superior view of the larynx?
