Respiratory System Anatomy Flashcards
What is the respiratory system responsible for?
breathing and the exchange of gases that allow respiration to occur at the cellular level
what is another name for breathing?
ventilation
what is breathing?
mechanical movement of air into and out of the lungs
What is exchanged between the lungs and blood?
gases, oxygen, and carbon dioxide
Where does blood transport oxygen?
to the tissues where the cells. use oxygen for respiration
what is respiration?
the chemical process of using oxygen to produce energy
what is a waste product of the respiratory process?
carbon dioxide
What happens to carbon dioxide after the respiratory process?
it is taken up from the tissues into the blood and transported back to the lungs to be exhaled back into the environment
what are the 6 organs of the respiratory system?
nose, pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, lungs
What is the upper respiratory tract composed of?
-organs in the head and neck
-nasal cavity, pharynx, larynx
What is the lower respiratory tract composed of?
-organs of the thorax
-trachea through lungs
what is the conducting division?
all cavities and structures (nostrils to bronchioles) that allow for air into and from the alveoli
What is the respiratory division?
gas exchanging surfaces at the level of the alveoli
What are the functions of the nose?
-to warms cleanse and humidify inhaled air
-to detect odors (through olfactory receptors)
-as a resonating chamber that amplifies voice
Where are olfactory receptors located?
cribriform plate
What are the structures of the nose?
-superior half
-inferior half
-ala nasi
What does the superior half of the nose contain?
nasal bones
What does the inferior half of the nose contain?
lateral and alar cartilage
What does the ala nasi portion of the nose contain?
flared portion shaped by dense connective tissue that forms the lateral wall of each nostril
What does the nasal conducting zone begin with and consist of?
Begins in the nasal cavity and consists of the nasal conchae and nasal meatus
How many folds of tissue are on the lateral wall of the nasal fossa?
3
what do the tissue folds on the lateral wall of the nasal fossa do?
help to increase the surface area for the incoming air
What are the folds in the nasal fossa lined with?
mucous membranes
What do the mucous membranes in the nasal fossa do?
help sense the odors and trap air particles/pathogens
Where is the olfactory mucosa?
roof of nasal fossa
what does the olfactory mucosa do?
its mucous helps dissolve gaseous odors for binding onto the chemosensory olfactory neurons
where is the respiratory mucosa?
lines the rest of the nasal cavity
What epithelium is the respiratory mucosa?
ciliated pseudostratified epithelium
what is the nasal meatus?
narrow air passages beneath each concha
What does the nasal meatus do?
ensure that air comes into contact with mucous membranes
Where does air go after the nasal cavity?
pharynx
What is another name for the pharynx?
throat
What are the three areas of the pharynx?
nasopharynx, oropharynx, laryngopharynx
Where is the Nasopahrynx?
transition between nasal cavity and the pharynx
Where is the uvula found?
nasopharynx
What does the uvula do?
prevent food from entering the nasopharynx when swallowing
Where is the oropharynx?
transitional region between the oral cavity and pharynx that comes into contact with air and food
What is the oropharynx lined with?
stratified squamous epithelium
Where are the palatine tonsils and lingual tonsils located?
-space between the soft palate and root of the tongue
-can extend as far as hyoid bone
Where is the laryngopharynx?
-transition between the pharynx and the area of bifurcation between the larynx and esophagus
-region between hyoid bone and level of cricoid cartilage
What is laryngopharynx lined with?
stratified squamous epithelium
what comes after the pharynx?
larynx
What is the larynx outlined by?
hyoid bone and nine cartilages
where is the glottis?
-inferior to the epiglottis
-vocal cords and openings between
What does the epiglottis do?
flap of tissue that guards the glottis and directs food and drink to the esophagus and NOT the trachea
What is the difference between and adult and infant larynx?
infants lies higher to allow breathing while swallowing
What are the nine cartilages of the larynx?
-epiglottis cartilage
-thyroid cartilage
-cricoid cartilage
-arytenoid cartilages (2)
-corniculate cartilages (2)
-cuneiform cartilages (2)
Where is the epiglottis cartilage and what does it make up?
most superior and makes up the epiglottis
What are characteristic of the thyroid cartilage?
-largest
-laryngeal prominence forms here
-more prominent in men which results in a deeper voice
Where is the arytenoid cartilage located?
posterior to thyroid cartilage
Where is the corniculate cartilage located?
attaches to arytenoid cartilage (like a pair of horns)
What does the cuneiform cartilage do?
supports soft tissue between arytenoids and epiglottis
What are the two folds on the walls of the larynx?
vestibular folds and vocal cords
What is another name for vestibular folds?
false vocal cords
where are the vestibular folds located?
superior to vocal folds
What do the vestibular folds do?
help to close glottis during swallowing
What is another name for the vocal cords?
true vocal cords
What do the vocal cords do?
produce sound
Where does air go after the larynx?
trachea
What are characteristics of the trachea?
rigid tube extending about 4.5 inches long and 2.5 inches in diameter
Where is the trachea located?
anterior to the esophagus
What is the trachea supported by?
16-10 C-shaped cartilaginous rings
Where do the openings to the cartilaginous rings of the trachea face?
posterior towards the esophagus
What does the trachealis muscle allow?
adjustments in airflow by expanding or contracting
What is the trachea lined with?
ciliated pseudostratified columnar epithelium
What is the function of the ciliated pseudostratified columnar epithelium of the trachea?
functions as mucociliary escalatory to bring the mucous to the oropharynx where it can be expelled or swallowed
where is the carnia located?
where the primary/main bronchi form
What does the main (primary) bronchi begin?
branching of the bronchial tree
What do the main bronchi divide into?
second bronchi
How many secondary bronchi are in the left lung?
two
How many secondary bronchi are in the right lung?
three
What do the secondary bronchi serve?
their respective lobes
What do the secondary bronchi split into?
tertiary bronchi
What do the tertiary bronchi split into?
quaternary bronchi
When are air passages considered bronchioles?
when air passages are 1 mm thick and lack cartilage
When are air passages considered terminal bronchioles?
when they are 0.5mm in diameter
What do terminal bronchioles represent?
end of the conducting division of the respiratory system
What do the respiratory bronchioles begin?
respiratory division of the respiratory system
What does the respiratory division end as?
alveolar sacs
What are alveoli surrounded by?
Capillary networks that place the red blood cells in close proximity to the air within the alveoli
How many lobes do the lungs have?
5 (3 right, 2 left)
What are the lungs surrounded by?
pleural membrane
What is the parietal pleura?
outer layer that lines the interior of the thoracic cavity and superior surface of the diaphragm
What is the visceral pleura?
the inner layer that comes into direct contact with the lungs
What does the space between the visceral and parietal pleura that is filled with fluid do?
-reduce friction
-create a pressure gradient (lower pressures assist in lung inflation)
-compartmentalization (to prevent the spread of infections)
What does the medial side of the lungs contain?
hilum
What is the hilum?
location where the primary bronchi, pulmonary artery and vein, afferent and efferent nerves, hilar lymph nodes and lymphatic vessels enter and exit the lungs
