Respiratory System

Question 1

What are the main functions of the nose?

Answer 1

Warm and moisten air coming in

Detect olfactory stimuli

Modify sound vibrations (speech)

Question 2

What nerves is the pharynx innervated by?

Answer 2

Funnel-shaped tube of skeletal muscle innervated by CN IX and CN X that connects the nasal cavity to the larynx

Question 3

What are the main functions of the pharynx>

Answer 3

Serve as a passageway for air/food and assist in the swallowing of food

Modify sound vibrations (speech)

House the tonsils (lymphatic nodules), which contribute to the body’s immune response

Question 4

What are the three parts of the pharynx? Describe them.

Answer 4

Nasopharynx
Superior portion of the pharynx that is posterior to the nasal cavity
In addition to its connections with the nasal cavity and oropharynx, it also contains openings for the auditory tubes (assist with pressure equalization in the middle ears)

Oropharynx
The middle portion of the pharynx that is posterior to the oral cavity (mouth)

Laryngopharynx
Inferior portion of the pharynx that opens into the larynx and esophagus

Question 5

Describe the larynx.

Answer 5

Short passageway composed of a mixture of cartilage and skeletal muscle that connects the laryngopharynx to the trachea

Main function: produce sound vibrations (speech)

Question 6

Describe the names/parts of the larynx.

Answer 6

Thyroid Cartilage (“Adam’s apple”)
-Fused plates of cartilage that forms the anterior and lateral walls of the larynx

Cricoid Cartilage
-Ring of cartilage that forms the inferior border of the larynx

Epiglottis
-Piece of cartilage that is attached to the inner surface of the thyroid cartilage
-Moves down during swallowing to cover the glottis and prevent food/liquid from entering the larynx (and therefore, the lungs)

Ventricular Folds
-“False vocal cords”
-Just in inferior to the epiglottis
-Thick folds of mucous membrane that are brought together to assist the epiglottis in keeping food/liquid out of the larynx

Vocal Folds
-“True vocal cords”
-Folds of mucous membrane that produce sounds vibrations as air passes
-Produces speech

Question 7

Describe the trachea.

Answer 7

Tube that descends through the neck and thoracic cavity and acts as a passageway for air from the larynx to bronchi

Question 8

What are the parts of the bronchi?

Answer 8

At the level of T5, the trachea divides into a left primary bronchus and right primary bronchus

Each primary bronchus undergoes a series of divisions into smaller bronchi, forming a “bronchial tree” that conducts deep into the lung tissue

Question 9

What are the parts of the lungs?

Answer 9

Apex, superior lobe, middle lobe, inferior lobe, base, hilum, cardiac notch

Question 10

What is pulmonary ventilation?

Answer 10

Pulmonary ventilation (breathing) involves alternating cycles of inhalation (inflow of air) and exhalation (outflow of air)

Question 11

Increased blood acidity results in…

Answer 11

Increased blood acidity (↑H+)
↓
Increased breathing rate
(more CO2 leaves blood)
↓
Decreases blood acidity (↓H+)

Question 12

Decreased blood acidity results in…

Answer 12

Decreased blood acidity (↓H+)
↓
Decreased breathing rate
(less CO2 leaves blood)
↓
Increases blood acidity (↑H+)