Respiratory System Flashcards
What makes up the upper respiratory tract?
the nose, the nasal cavity, and the pharynx and associated structures
What makes up the lower respiratory tract?
the larynx, trachea, bronchi and the lungs.
Define respiration
the exchange of gases between the atmosphere, blood and cells.
What are the three basic steps of respiration?
- ventilation (breathing)
- external (pulmonary) respiration
- internal (tissue) respiration
What is the conducting system?
a series of cavities and tubes - nose, pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, bronchiole, and terminal briochioles - that conduct air into the lungs
When talking about the functional divisions of the respiratory system what is the respiratory portion?
-the area where gas exchange occurs - respiratory bronchioles, alveolar ducts, alveolar sacs, and alveoli.
What type of cells make up the respiratory region of the nasal cavity?
pseudostratified columnar epithelium with many goblet cells.
True or False: There are goblet cells in the olfactory region.
False. there are cilia but no goblet cells.
What kind of cells are in the nasopharynx?
pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium with goblet cells
What type of cells are in the oropharynx?
stratified squamous epithelium
What type of cells are in the laryngopharynx?
stratified squamous epithelium
In what region do you find the pharyngeal tonsils, the palatine tonsils, and the lingual tonsils?
pharyngeal tonsils = nasopharynx
palatine tonsils = post. oral cavity
lingual tonsils = oropharynx
What are the nasal conchae?
shelf-like projections lined with mucous membranes that extend from the lateral wall of the nasal cavity.
What does the nasal conchae divide?
They divide the nasal cavity into groove-like passageways called the superior, middle and inferior meatuses.
What is the function of the nasal conchae and meatuses?
to warm air; trap water molecules on exhalation (moistens)
What are the paranasal sinuses?
the frontal, the sphenoid, the maxillary, and the ethmoidal
What are nasal polyps?
outgrowths of the mucous membranes usually found around the openings of the paranasal sinuses
What is the function of the paranasal sinuses and the nasolacrimal ducts?
to produce mucus and resonate sound and tears.
What is the function of the internal nose structures?
- to warm, moisten, and filter incoming air
- receive olfactory stimuli
- serve as a large, hollow resonating chamber to modify speech sounds
What type of cells are in the nasal cavity?
pseudostratified ciliated columnar with goblet cells
What do the cells in the nasal cavity do?
- warm air due to high vascularity
- mucous moistens air and traps dust
- cilia move mucous towards pharynx
If you are a smoker, what function of the cells in the nasal cavity does not work?
the cilica do not function therefore smokers must cough to release mucus.
What is the pharynx?
a 5 inch muscular tube lined by a mucous membrane that extends from the internal nares to the cricoid cartilage
What are the functions of the nasopharynx, oropharynx and the laryngopharynx?
- passageway for food and air
- resonating chamber for speech production
- tonsil (lymphatic tissue) in the walls protects entryway into the body
Of the three regions of the pharynx, which have respiratory and digestive functions?
the oropharynx and the laryngopharynx
What do the cilia do in the upper respiratory tract vs the cilia in the lower respiratory tract?
the cilia in the upper respiratory tract move mucous and trapped particles down toward the pharynx and the cilia in the lower tract move them up toward the pharynx.
What is the larynx constructed of?
3 single cartilages:
- thyroid cartilage
- the epiglottis
- the cricoid cartilage
3 paired cartilages:
- arytenoid
- corniculate
- cuneiform cartilages
What is the thyroid cartilage commonly called?
Adam’s apple
What does the epiglottis do?
prevent food from entering the larynx
What do the cuneiform cartilages do?
support vocal folds and lateral epiglottis
What is the larynx lining made of?
- superior to the vocal folds is non-keratinized stratified epithelium
- inferior to the vocal folds is pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium with goblet cells
What are the false vocal chords called?
the ventricular folds
What are true vocal chords made of?
skeletal muscle and an elastic ligament
What is the purpose of false vocal chords?
pitch, speech and whispering
If pitch is controlled by tension on the vocal folds, what will happen if they are pulled taut by muscles?
a faster vibration which causes a higher pitch
If pitch is controlled by tension on the vocal folds, what will happen if the muscles tension on the folds decreases?
a slower vibration which causes a lower pitch
Why do men have a lower pitch?
Their vocal folds are thicker and longer and so vibrate slower and produce a lower pitch
How do you increase volume of sound?
by pushing air harder through the folds.
How is speech created?
by using the pharynx, mouth, nasal cavity and sinuses to resonate sound
What forms words?
the tongue and mouth
What is the mechanism of whispering?
forcing air through an almost closed rima glottidis which causes no vibration and so no pitch
Where is the trachea located?
from the larynx to T5, anterior to the esophagus
What makes up the trachea?
smooth muscle, c-chaped rings of cartilage and pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium with goblet cells
What is the submucosa in the trachea?
loose connective tissue and seromucous glands
What purpose does the trachealis muscle and the CT serve?
they provide support and maintain patency so the tracheal wall does not collapse inward
What is adventita?
composed of loose connective tissue that binds the trachea to other tissues
What is significant about the carina?
widening or distortion usually indicates a carcinoma of the lymph nodes around the region where the trachea divides
How many pleural membranes are there?
2; the parietal pleura and the visceral pleura
Where is the parietal pleura?
on the thoracic wall and superior face of diaphragm
Where is the visceral pleura?
on the the external cavity
What is the purpose of pleural fluid and where is it?
to provide lubrication and surface tension and is located in the pleural cavity
What are the names of the different regions of the parietal pleura?
- costal pleura
- diaphragmatic
- mediastinal
- cervical
What is an open pneumothorax?
occurs when air enters through pleural cavity following a penetrating wound
What is a tension pneumothorax?
occurs when a piece of tissue covers and become a flap over the wound into the thorax
What is a pleural reflection?
occurs when pleura abruptly changes direction from one wall to another.