respiratory system anatomy (5a) Flashcards
where does gas exchange between blood and external environment occur
only in the alveoli of the lungs
what is the function of the organs of the respiratory system (excluding lungs)
to purify, humidify and warm the incoming air
what are the respiratory organs in order
upper: nose, pharynx, larynx
lower: trachea, primary bronchi, secondary bronchi, tertiary bronchi, bronchioles, alveoli
what are the components of the nose
nasal cavity made of: nasal conchae divided by nasal meatuses, nasal vestibule and nostril
hard and soft palate below the nasal cavity and the ethmoid bone at the top of the nasal cavity
nasal septum divides the nasal cavity in two
cavity is lined with mucosa
what is mucosa and what is its function
pseduostratified ciliated columnar epithelium
moistens air, traps/pushes foreign particles to the throat for swallowing, chemical destroys bacteria
functions of the nasal conchae
increase air turbulence
superior one contains olfactory receptors
what are paranasal sinuses
cavities within the frontal, sphenoid, ethmoid and maxillary bones that lighten the skull, produce mucus and act as resonance chambers for speech
characteristics of the pharynx
passageway between nasal cavity and larynx
composed of nasopharynx (behind nasal cavity), oropharynx (behind mouth) and laryngopharynx (attached to larynx)
pharyngotympanic tubes open into the nasopharynx keep pressure in middle ear the same as the nasopharynx
characteristics of tonsils
in the pharynx
clusters of lymphatic tissue that protects from infections
types of tonsils and their locations
pharyngeal tonsil (adenoid): nasopharynx
palatine tonsils: two in the oropharynx, at the end of the soft palate
lingual tonsils: two at the base of the tongue
characteristics of the larynx
below the pharynx
called the voice box
routes air and food into proper channels
made of eight hyaline cartilages (thyroid cartilage being the biggest)
characteristics of the epiglottis
made of elastic cartilage
protects opening of the larynx called the glottis
closes or opens for food and air to pass through
characteristics of the vocal folds
also called vocal cords
glottis includes vocal cords and their opening
characteristics of the trachea
walls are made of c shaped rings of hyaline cartilage and are lined with ciliated mucosa
the cilia move the mucous loaded with dust and debris away from the lungs
what is the hilum
where the primary bronchi enter the lungs
are the lungs and bronchi the same
no the right lung has three lobes while the left one has two
the right bronchus is wider, shorter and straighter than the left
what does the apex and base of an organ refer to
apex is the narrow part of the organ
base is the wide part of the organ
what are alveoli
sacs lined by simple squamous epithelium where gas exchange occurs
attached to pulmonary capillaries
what is stroma
elastic connective tissues that allows the lungs to expand and recoil
what are the veins and arteries involved in the respiratory system and what type of blood do they carry
pulmonary trunk: deoxygenated
pulmonary artery: deoxygenated
pulmonary vein: oxygenated
what are the components of the pleural cavity
visceral pleura: covers the lungs
parietal pleura: attached to the chest wall
pleural cavity: space between that is filled with serous fluid
what is the respiratory zone
site of gas exchange between the alveoli and the pulmonary capillaries
what are the conducting zone structures
respiratory passages that are not the respiratory zone
what structures are included in the respiratory zone
respiratory bronchioles
alveolar ducts
alveolar sacs
alveoli (air sacs)
respiratory membrane
what is the respiratory membrane
air blood barrier of the alveolar wall and capillary wall
what are alveolar pores
pores that connect neighbouring alveolar sacs to allow air to keep moving even if a bronchiole is blocked
how big are pulmonary capillaries
one red blood cell wide
extremely thin to allow diffusion
what are the components of the respiratory membrane
alveolar epithelium
fused basement membrane
capillary endothelium
what are the other components of the respiratory zone and what do they do
alveolar macrophage: pick up bacteria, carbon particles and debris
surfactant-secreting cells: surfactant is a lipid that lowers the surface tension of the alveoli (prevents it from collapsing on itself)
