Respiratory System Anatomy Flashcards
Nasal concha
bony elements forming the upper chambers of the nasal cavities
Eustachian tube
an opening that connects the middle ear with the nasal-sinus cavity.
- This tube helps to balance pressure in the middle ear
Sinuses
Air pockets in skull
Pharynx
Nose and mouth are connected
Epiglottis
flap that covers the larynx when swallowing
Larynx
- a hollow tube in the middle of your neck, just above your trachea (windpipe) and behind your esophagus. It makes it possible for you to make sounds, which is why it’s also called your voice box.
- attaches to hyoid bone
Thyroid Cartilage
- on top of larynx
- Adam’s apple in males
- large shield shaped cartilage
Cricoid Cartilage
- ring for intubation *movement
- below adam’s apple
Trachea
- 4 -6 inches long
- made of tracheal cartilage
Purpose of Cartilagenous Rings in Trachea
- keep the trachea open as it would otherwise naturally cave in
Carina
- where trachea splits
- NEVER touch it because there is a cough trigger on it
Bronchus
a passage or airway in the lower respiratory tract that conducts air into the lungs and split from mainstem bronchus which splits from trachea
Boyle’s Law
a gas law, stating that the pressure and volume of a gas have an inverse relationship
Diaphgram
muscle that is used for ventilation and is made of skeletal muscle
When contracting or breathing in with your diaphgram, what happens to volume and pressure?
Volume increases
Pressure decrease
When relaxing your diaphgram, what happens?
Volume decreases
Pressure increases
Steps of Breathing
- Nasal Cavity (nostrils to vestibules to concha(
- Pharynx
- Epiglottis
- Larynx
- Go down the trachea
- Carina
- Lungs
- Diaphgram moves
What does it mean if your trachea goes to one side?
Only one of your lungs is working
Pleural Space
space between the ribcage and lungs
Pressure in Pleural Space
So little space that there’s lower than atmospheric pressure (negative pressure)
How many lobes does your right lung have?
3 lobes
Why is the left lung smaller?
because of the space taken up by the heart that is above it
What type of tissue lines alveoli?
Simple Squamous Epithelium
What happens when the simple squamous epithelium become damaged?
if your capillaries burst your lungs fill up with blood
Type II alveolar cells
secrete surfactant and antimicrobial proteins that prevents the suction of the moisture coating the lungs
- cuboidal
Why is water dangerous for the lungs?
It is sticky by nature so your alveoli will stick together or close
Why is negative pressure needed for lungs?
to hold them up as they are only connected to the body at one point ; if there is anything that upsets the pressure, lungs collapse
Pneumothorax
- a collapsed lung
- occurs when air leaks into the space between your lung and chest wall
