Respiratory System Flashcards
Mucous Membranes Lines which cavities?
that connect to the outside of the body:
• Gastrointestinal tract
• Respiratory tract
• Urinary bladder
• Uterus
What does Serosa/mesothelium line?
Lines closed body cavities
Borders cavities containing small amount of fluid
what does Parietal membrane line?
the pleural cavity.
what does Visceral pleura cover?
the lungs.
What are the FUNCTIONAL zones of the respiratory system?
Conducting Zone
Respiratory zone
What is included in the Conducting Zone?
Nose, nasal cavity, pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, bronchioles and terminal bronchioles
What is included in the Respiratory zone?
Respiratory bronchioles, alveolar ducts, alveolar sacs and alveoli
what are The nasal cavities?
are paired chambers separated by bony and cartilaginous septum.
The chambers are divided into what three regions?
Vestibule
Respiratory region
Olfactory region
what characteristics do the nasal and sinus submucosa have?
is highly vascular and contains both mucous and serous glands.
what is the Vestibule of the Nasal Cavity?
Forms a part of the external nose and communicates with the external environment.
Characterics of the Vestibule of the Nasal Cavity?
Stratified squamous epithelium.
Contains vibrissae (stiff hairs) and sebaceous glands.
Most of the nasal and paranasal sinus cavities are lined by which epithelium?
a pseudostratified columnar epithelium bearing numerous cilia and goblet cells.
This mucosa is seen throughout most of the conducting part of the respiratory tract.
What is the function of Respiratory Region - Conchae
Conchae divide each nasal cavity into separate air chambers.
Why it is important to divide each nasal cavity into separate air chambers?
They increase the surface area and cause turbulence in air flow.
By increasing surface area, the conchae increases the efficiency with which the inspired air is warmed and filtered.
Where is the Olfactory Mucosa located?
in the roof of the nasal cavity, and extends a short way down the septum and lateral wall.
What is the Olfactory Mucosa?
Pseudostratified columnar epithelium.
Surface area of approximately 10 cm2 in humans.
Pathologies of the Nasal Passages; Name some Inflammatory ones?
Rhinitis
Nasal polyps.
Pathologies of the Nasal Passages; Name an Infective one
Sinusitis.
Pathologies of the Nasal Passages; Name some Benign Tumours?
Papilloma; Haemangioma; Angiofibroma.
Pathologies of the Nasal Passages; Name some Malignant Tumours?
Squamous cell carcinoma;
Transitional cell carcinoma;
Adenocarcinoma;
Plasmacytoma;
Olfactory neuroblastoma.
Tumours of the nasal passages and sinuses are uncommon
Where is the Pharynx located?
Connects the nasal and oral cavities to the larynx and oesophagus
what is the function of the pharynx?
Passageway for air and food
the pharynx is Divided regionally into what?
the nasopharynx, oropharynx and laryngopharynx.
what does Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) form from>
the Waldeyer’s ring in the nasopharynx.
What does The laryngeal region comprises of?
the epiglottis, true and false vocal cords
What are the functions of the Larynx? x3
- Prevent inspired air entering the oesophagus.
- Prevent ingested food and fluid entering the trachea.
- Permit the production of complex sounds.
Epiglottis Anterior surface
What is the function of stratified squamous epithelium?
Provide protection to underlying tissue
Why does the epiglottis need protection?
Abrasions from movement and food
What are the true vocal cords responsible for?
the production of sound
What do The false vocal cords do?
saccules and ventricles modify the nature of the sound produced by the vibrating true cords.
How is sound produced?
The constant rush of air and vibration of these cords induces an epithelial reaction early in life transforms the epithelium from respiratory mucosa into non-keratinized stratified squamous epithelium.
Pathologies of the Pharynx / Larynx; Name some Infective, Inflammation ones?
Pharyngitis (sore throat)
Laryngitis;
Epiglottitis;
Tonsillitis.
Pathologies of the Pharynx / Larynx; Name some Benign Tumours?
Polyps
Squamous papilloma.
Pathologies of the Pharynx / Larynx; Name some Malignant Tumours?
Squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx is strongly associated with cigarette smoking.
Laryngeal cancer often presents with persistent hoarseness of voice.
What is Trachea Formed of?
four layers and is lined with respiratory mucosa
What is the trachea braced with?
15-20 C-shaped hyaline cartilage rings
What does the trachea Bifurcates into?
two main bronchi, which further subdivide.
What is Cystic Fibrosis?
Inherited metabolic disease caused by agenetic mutationin the CFTR protein.
What is the consequence of this mutation?
Cells are unable to move chloride, sodium ions and water around effectively.
Lungs and digestive system can become clogged with thick, sticky mucus.
What lung infections are cystic fibrosis people susceptible to?
Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Aspergillus
what branches from the trachea?
Right main bronchus and the left main bronchus
Where does the main bronchus enter the lungs?
at the hilum with the pulmonary arteries
Where does the conducting zone of the respiratory tract stop?
at the terminal bronchiole
What are Alveoli?
the terminal air spaces and are the sites of gas exchange
epithelium at different sites in the respiratory system?
What is found in Bronchiole?
Ciliated simple columnar epithelium
Smooth muscle
Alveolar ducts
Where are Pneumocytes type I found?
Comprise 40% of the alveolar lining cells, lining 95% of the surface of the alveoli.
What type of cell are Pneumocytes type I?
Thin simple squamous cells.
Not capable of cell division.
What type of cell are pneumocytes type II?
Secretory cells.
Stem cells for Type 1 pneumocytes.
Where are Pneumocytes type II found?
Account for 60% of the alveolar lining cells, however they only cover 5% of the alveolar air surface (cuboidal in shape)
What do Pneumocytes type II have?
Rich in a mixture of phospholipids, neutral lipids and proteins.
Bear microvilli on their surface.
Disorders of the Bronchi & Lungs
Disorders of the Pleura
Reasons for a Biopsy
A biopsy may be required to evaluate an abnormality seen on what tests?
chest X-ray or CT scan
What would require a lung biopsy?
To investigate the cause of unexplained fluid collection in the lung
Diagnose certain lung conditions such as such assarcoidosisor pulmonary fibrosis.
In rare cases, a lung biopsy may be done for severe pneumonia, especially if the diagnosis is not clear
What is the purpose of tumour/mass biopsy
- To determine if a mass is malignant or benign
- To stage malignant tumours
Describe a closed method biopsy?
are performed through the skin or through the nasal cavity with an endoscope.
Name some Closed Methods
Laryngoscopy
Bronchoscopy
Needle biopsy
Thoracoscopic biopsy (VATS)
What is a Laryngoscopy/Bronchoscopy?
A thin, flexible, fibre-optic tube with a light and a camera lens at the end is passed through the nose and to the site of interest.
Instruments can be passed through tubes to remove any blockages, polyps or take a biopsy sample.
How is an open biopsy performed?
in the operating room under general anaesthesia.
What can we use to decalcify specimens?
Acid decalcifiers
Chelating agents
Name some Acid de-calcifiers
- Nitric Acid
- Hydrochloric Acid
- Formic Acid
Name some Chelating agents?
Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA)
Trisodium citrate
How is a Needle/Core/True Cut Biopsy carried out?
During the procedure, the tissue or mass is located via ultrasound/CT scan, and a Temno/true-cut biopsy needle is guided to the area.
This technique can be used for various tissue biopsies such as .. ?
liver, lymph nodes, muscle, breast, prostate and kidney biopsy.
What is a Thoracoscopy Biopsy (VATS)?
Three incisions are made through the chest wall into the chest cavity.
Various biopsy tools can be inserted to obtain lung tissue for examination.
Can Therapeutic procedures be performed?
Yes
such as the removal of a nodule or other tissue lesion
Investigative methods/techniques used for different pathologies?
What is Toluidine Blue?
This basic dye selectively stains acidic tissue components via the phenomenon of ‘metachromasia’.
How does it stain?
Nuclei are stained dark blue, but mast cell granules and polysaccharides will stain violet
When is it used?
Used when there is a need to evaluate patients with pathological conditions that involve mast cells.
Mast cells would be present in allergic inflammatory diseases.
What is Van Gieson?
A combination of two acidic dyes to stain collagen red and muscle yellow.
Elastic fibers will stain a blue/black colour.
when is it used?
Used to identify the presence or absence of elastic fibers in tissues.
May be used to demonstrate loss of elastic tissue in the lung in patients with emphysema, and thinning and loss of elastic fibers in blood vessels of patients with arteriosclerosis or arteritis.
What is Masson Trichrome?
Three dyes are employed to stain muscle, collagen fibres, fibrin, and erythrocytes.
Why is it used?
The selective differential staining of connective tissues is achieved due to the molecular size of the dye and the tissue density.
When is it used?
Provides helpful information about the degree of fibrosis, or scarring, in a tissue.
Aid the diagnosis of restrictive lung diseases such as sarcoidosis, pulmonary fibrosis and collagen vascular disease.
What is Asbestosis?
Long term inflammation and scarring of the lungs due to asbestos.
Symptoms may include … ?
shortness of breath, cough,wheezing, and chest pain.
Complications may include … ?
lung cancer, mesothelioma and pulmonary heart disease
