Respiratory System Flashcards
What is the primary function of the respiratory system?
To supply the body with oxygen and expel carbon dioxide.
Name three major organs of the respiratory system.
Nose, pharynx, larynx
Describe the two ways the respiratory system can be divided.
By function: Conducting and respiratory zones.
By structure: Upper and lower tracts
What is the main difference between the conducting zone and the respiratory zone?
The conducting zone moves air
The respiratory zone is responsible for gas exchange.
List the structures included in the conducting zone.
Nostrils to major bronchioles
Which structures make up the respiratory zone?
Alveoli and other gas-exchange regions
Which organs are part of the upper respiratory tract? (3)
Nasal cavity, pharynx, and larynx
What structures are found in the lower respiratory tract?
Larynx, trachea, bronchi, and alveoli
Besides breathing, name three functions of the nose.
Warms, cleans, and humidifies inhaled air; detects odors; serves as a resonating chamber for the voice.
What are the two main parts of the nose?
External nose and nasal cavity
What is the name for the anterior openings of the nose?
Nostrils or nares
What structure separates the nostrils?
Nasal septum
Identify the three bones that contribute to the framework of the external nose.
Nasal bones, maxillary bones, and frontal bones
Apart from bone, what other tissue type forms the framework of the external nose?
Hyaline cartilage
Describe the shape and location of the nasal cavity.
Elongated spaces within bone, extending from the nostrils to the choanae
What are choanae?
Posterior nasal apertures (bony ridges) that open into the nasopharynx
What structure divides the two nasal cavities?
Nasal septum
List the four borders of the nasal cavity.
Floor, roof, medial wall, and lateral wall
Describe the appearance of the lateral wall of the nasal cavity.
It’s not smooth, and features bony projections called conchae (turbinates)
What are conchae (turbinates)?
Folds of bony tissue projecting from the lateral wall of the nasal cavity.
Name the three conchae found in the nasal cavity.
Superior concha, middle concha, and inferior concha
Which bone forms the superior and middle conchae?
Ethmoid bone
The inferior concha is unique because it is:
Its own bone
List the four air channels created by the conchae in the nasal cavity.
Inferior nasal meatus, middle nasal meatus, superior nasal meatus, and spheno-ethmoidal recess
What is the difference between a concha and a meatus?
A concha is a bony shelf, while a meatus is the space/air channel below the concha.
Describe the composition of the nasal septum.
Cartilage and bone
Name the bones that contribute to the nasal septum.
Septal cartilage, vomer, ethmoid bone, nasal bones, frontal bone, maxillary bones, palatine bones, and sphenoid bone.
List the three regions of the nasal cavity.
Nasal vestibule, respiratory region, and olfactory region
Describe the location and function of the nasal vestibule.
Just internal to the naris; contains hair follicles that heat up inhaled air
What is the main characteristic and function of the respiratory region of the nasal cavity?
Largest part lined with respiratory epithelium that secretes mucus
What type of epithelium lines the olfactory region and what is its function?
Olfactory epithelium; responsible for the sense of smell
How many paranasal sinuses are there and what are their names?
Four; frontal sinus (x2), maxillary sinus (x2), sphenoidal sinus (x1), and ethmoidal sinus (multiple air cells)
State three functions of the paranasal sinuses.
Humidify air, decrease the weight of the skull, and contribute to voice resonance
Into which spaces within the nasal cavity do the paranasal sinuses drain?
Spheno-ethmoidal recess, superior meatus, middle meatus, and inferior meatus
Which sinus drains into the spheno-ethmoidal recess?
Sphenoid sinus
Where does the frontal sinus drain?
Middle meatus
What is the drainage site for the maxillary sinus?
Middle meatus
Which sinuses drain into the middle nasal meatus?
Frontal sinus
Anterior ethmoidal sinus
Middle ethmoidal sinus
Maxillary sinus
Where do the anterior and posterior ethmoidal sinuses drain?
Anterior ethmoidal sinus drains into the middle meatus, while the posterior ethmoidal sinus drains into the superior meatus
Do any paranasal sinuses drain into the inferior meatus?
No, but the nasolacrimal duct from the eye opens here.
Describe the shape and location of the pharynx.
Funnel-shaped muscular tube extending from the posterior aspect of the nasal cavities
Which structure is continuous with the pharynx inferiorly?
Oesophagus
List the three divisions of the pharynx.
Nasopharynx, oropharynx, and laryngopharynx
What is another name for the nasopharynx?
Nasal pharynx
Where is the nasopharynx located?
Above the soft palate and behind the nasal cavities
What is the name of the structure that forms the roof of the nasopharynx?
Pharyngeal tonsil (adenoids)
Where does the auditory (eustachian) tube open?
Lateral wall of the nasopharynx
What is the torus tubarius?
A unique ridge above the opening of the auditory tube in the nasopharynx.
What is another name for the oropharynx?
Oral pharynx
Describe the location of the oropharynx.
Behind the oral cavity
Which tonsils are found in the oropharynx?
Palatine and lingual tonsils
What is another name for the laryngopharynx?
Laryngeal pharynx
Where is the laryngopharynx located?
Behind the opening of the larynx and below the epiglottis
What structures form the lateral wall of the laryngopharynx?
Thyroid cartilage and thyrohyoid membrane
Name six muscles of the pharynx.
Superior constrictor, middle constrictor, inferior constrictor, stylopharyngeus, salpingopharyngeus, and palatopharyngeus
Which muscle is found within the palatopharyngeal fold?
Palatopharyngeus
What is the larynx responsible for?
Voice production
Briefly describe the structure of the larynx.
Complex organ connected by membranes and ligaments; contains vocal folds
Where is the larynx located? In relation to which vertebral level
Anterior part of the neck, in relation to vertebral levels C3-C6
What structures does the larynx connect?
Inferior part of the pharynx with the trachea
How many cartilages make up the larynx?
Nine
List the three single/unpaired cartilages of the larynx.
Thyroid cartilage, cricoid cartilage, and epiglottis
Name the three paired cartilages of the larynx.
Arytenoid cartilages, corniculate cartilages, and cuneiform cartilages
Where are the paired cartilages found in the larynx?
On the posterior surface
What is the function of ligaments in the larynx?
Bind/hold the cartilages together
What are the two types of ligaments in the larynx?
Intrinsic ligaments and extrinsic ligaments
What is the function of extrinsic ligaments of the larynx?
Connect the larynx to other organs
List the four extrinsic ligaments of the larynx.
Thyrohyoid membrane, hyo-epiglottic ligament, crico-tracheal ligament, and thyro-epiglottic ligament
What does the thyrohyoid membrane connect?
Thyroid cartilage to hyoid bone
Which structures are connected by the hyo-epiglottic ligament?
Epiglottis to hyoid bone
The crico-tracheal ligament connects which structures?
Cricoid cartilage to trachea
What does the thyro-epiglottic ligament connect?
Thyroid cartilage to epiglottis
What is unique about the thyrohyoid membrane?
It contains openings on each side for vessels and nerves to enter the larynx
What is the function of intrinsic ligaments of the larynx?
Connect the cartilages of the larynx to each other
What is another name for the vestibular ligament?
False vocal cord
Describe the location of the vestibular ligament.
Free thickened lower border of the quadrangular membrane
What is another name for the vocal ligament?
True vocal cord
Where is the vocal ligament located?
Free thickened upper border of the cricothyroid membrane
What is the clinical significance of the cricothyroid membrane?
Site for cricothyrotomy