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Histology > Respiratory Tract > Flashcards

Respiratory Tract Flashcards

1
Q

What are the 2 types of respiration (not ext & int)?

A

-Cellular
-Mechanical

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2
Q

What is cellular respiration?

A

Cells produce energy (ATP) by metabolism of organic molecules

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3
Q

What is mechanical respiration (FOCUS ON THIS ONE!!!)?

A

O2 required for cellular respiration is absorbed into the blood stream & CO2 is excreted
-What resp system focuses on

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4
Q

Function of respiration?

A

Transport gases i.e. a conduction system from &to the ext atm into the lung parenchyma where gas exchange between blood & air occurs

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5
Q

What is found in resp tract?

A

-Protective mechanisms = if inhale infective organisms & particulate material
-Elastic fibres in resp tree especially in lungs contributes to elastic recoil & passive normal expiration

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6
Q

How can the respiratory system be structurally divided?

A

-Upper
-Lower

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7
Q

What is involved in the upper respiratory system & where is it’s location boundary?

A

= all above sternal angle (T4/5)
-Nose/nostrils
-Mouth
-Pharynx (throat)
-Larynx (voice box)

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8
Q

What is involved in the lower respiratory system & where does its location start - (FOCUS IS ON THIS!!!)?

A

= mostly below sternal angle (T4/5)
-Larynx (below vocal folds)
-Trachea
-Bronchi
-Lungs

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9
Q

What occurs in the lower respiratory system?

A

Gas exhange

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10
Q

How can the respiratory system be functionally divided?

A

-Conducting airway/zone
-Respiratory airway/zone

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11
Q

Where is the conducting airway & what happens here?

A

Nose –> terminal bronchioles (in lungs)
= Filters, warms and moistens air (air is travelling)

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12
Q

Where is the respiratory airway & what happens here?

A

Respiratory bronchioles –> alveoli
= Where gas exchange occurs between air and blood (blood-air barrier)

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13
Q

Summarise the components & function of the upper respiratory TRACT (not system)?

A

-Nasal cavity
-Paranasal sinuses (lighten the skull weight & inc. speech resonance)
-Larynx (prox 1/2)
–> warms, humidifies, filters air
(Where conducting zone starts)

= respiratory mucosa

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14
Q

What type of epithelium is found in the respiratory mucosa of the upper respiratory mucosa?

A

Pseudostratified columnar ciliated epithelium

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15
Q

Describe the structure of the lower respiratory TRACT (not system)?

A

-Trachea (w/ cartilage)
-Bifurcates = Primary/Main Bronchi
-Bifurcates = Secondary/Lobar Bronchi
-Bifurcates = Tertiary/Segmental bronchi
-Bifurcates = Bronchioles
-Bifurcates = Terminal bronchioles
-Bifurcates = Respiratory bronchioles
-Bifurcates = Alveolar ducts
-Bifurcates = Alveolar sacs (collection of alveoli)
-Bifurcates = Alveoli

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16
Q

What are the conducting components of the lower respiratory tract?

A

-Trachea
-Primary/Main Bronchi
-Secondary/Lobar Bronchi
-Tertiary/Segmental bronchi
-Bronchioles
-Terminal bronchioles

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17
Q

What are the respiratory components of the lower respiratory tract?

A

-Respiratory bronchioles
-Alveolar ducts
-Alveolar sacs
-Alveoli

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18
Q

At what vertebral level does the trachea bifurcate into primary/main bronchi?

A

T4/5 = aka = carina

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19
Q

Summarise the components of the conducting & respiratory airways (of lower respiratory tract)?

A
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20
Q

How does the amount of cartilage & elastic fibres change as progress down lower respiratory tract (from conducting to respiratory airways)?

A

-Cartilage = (C6-T4) - decreases down lower resp tract - conducting airway has more than respiratory
-Elastic fibres = increases down lower resp tract - respiratory airway has more than conducting airway

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21
Q

Why is it important that the amount of cartilage decreases down the lower respiratory tract - so conducting airway has more than respiratory?

A

Cartilage prevents air exchange?

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22
Q

What parts of the respiratory tract are lined with pseudostratified columnar ciliated epithelium (respiratory epithelium)?

A

-All of upper respiratory tract
-Conducting portion of lower respiratory tract

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23
Q

Structure & components of pseudostratified columnar ciliated epithelium - respiratory epithelium?

A

-Contains goblet cells to secrete mucus
-Surface specialisation of ep = cilia

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24
Q

What is the mucus ciliary escalator/clearance?

A

Traps particular matter - propels to nasopharynx
-Moisten inspired air by serous gland secretions & mucus on mucosal surface - traps inhaled particle contaminants (from goblet cells)
-Cilia moves mucus back up to pharynx - where
swallow or expectorate

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25
Q

Summarise mucocilary clearance - role of goblet cells in it?

A

-Goblet cells = secrete mucus - traps ext ps not want in lungs –> moved to nasopharynx (cilia helps) = mucociliary clearance –> swallowed ps or imm cells kill

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26
Q

What is the part of the upper respiratory tract has a specialised type of respiratory epithelium/mucosa & what does it specialise to?

A

Roof of nasal cavity = olfactory epithelium/mucosa (w/ pseudostratified columnar ep)
–> is still resp ep but a specialised type!!!

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27
Q

Structure of olfactory mucosa?

A

-For olfaction –>
-Receives & relays olfactory signals
-Bipolar neurons = have x1 axon & dendrite from opposite sides of cell body
-Bowman/olfactory glands dissolve odoriferous particles - as their secretion acts as solvent - odorous substances dissolve
-Sustentacular cells = for physical support, nourishment, & electrical insulation for olfactory cells
-Basal cells = proliferate to replace sustentacular & olfactory cells

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28
Q

What is the overall roll of the olfactory mucosa?

A

For sense of smell - bowman/olfactory glands secretions dissolve odorous substances = produces odours so can sense smell as the bipolar nerve cells send signal to brain

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29
Q

What is the histological structure of respiratory epithelium?

A

***Pseudostratified columnar ciliated epithelium CONTAINS:
-Ciliated cells
-Goblet cells
-Basal cells
-K-cells/DNES (not seen)
-Underlying lamina propria (w/ blood vs to supply nuts to ep)

30
Q

What are K-cells/DNES?

A

-Kulchitsky cells = neuroendocrine cells - contain secretory granules
-Secrete peptide hormones e.g., serotonin, calcitonin, antidiuretic hormone (ADH) & adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)
-Usually give rise to small cell lung cancer (SCLC aka oat-cell carcinoma)

31
Q

What do goblet cells show up as on slide, when stained?

A

Pale - don’t take up H & E stain

32
Q

Label this image of respiratory epithelium.

A
33
Q

Define mucus ciliary clearance/transport/escalator.

A

Self-clearing mechanism of the airways in the resp system

34
Q

Describe the process of mucus ciliary clearance/transport/escalator?

A

-Mucous layer on luminal surface of ep (secreted by goblet cells and & mucous glands)
-Particulates/pathogens get trapped in mucus
-Cilia beat in a unidirectional way to clear mucus towards pharynx
-Major defensive mechanism along w/ cough reflex

35
Q

Where are goblet cells mainly found in all the places where respiratory epithelium is found?

A

Terminal bronchioles

36
Q

Structure of the trachea?

A

10 cm length, 2-3 cm diameter

1 = Respiratory Mucosa
2 = Submucosa
3 = Cartilaginous layer:
*15-20 C-shaped cartilages
*No cartilage on post side (as is C shape - has gap in) - instead = smooth muscle - trachealis muscle
4 = Adventitia (loose CT, fibroblasts, BV)

-Seromucous glands - help humidify air

37
Q

What type of cartilage is in trachea?

A

Hyaline cartilage

38
Q

Function of trachealis muscle?

A

-Constrict trachea - so air can be expelled more forcefully - e.g., when coughing
-Contains smooth muscle
–> autonomic NS (involuntary)

39
Q

Where is the oesophagus in relation to the trachea?

A

Oes = post to trachea (behind)

40
Q

Label what C, M, T & L are?

A

C = hyaline cartilage - C shaped (ant)
M = tracheal mucosa (around lumen
T = trachealis muscle - contains smooth muscle w/…
L = longitudinal muscle bundles

41
Q

What are 4 layers of this anterior view of the trachea?

A

-Mucosa
-Submucosa
-Hyaline cartilage (round circular cells)
-Adventitia

42
Q

What is the trachea a continuation of?

A

Larynx

43
Q

Role of the C-shaped cartilage?

A

Maintains structure of trachea when inhale - so doesn’t close

44
Q

Label this histological image of bronchus (could be primary, secondary or tertiary)?

A

-Smooth muscle = post
-Mucosa = respiratory mucosa
-White circles in lamina propria = blood vs
-Cartilage plates = ant (i.e., incomplete like trachea)
–> as bronchi branch - get smaller & more peripheral - cartilage plates decrease in size & no. (mainly conc @ bifurcations)

45
Q

Label this image of a bronchus?

A

-L = lumen
-SM = smooth muscle
-HC = hyaline cartilage
-Ep = Epithelium with cilia
*Chondrocytes = cells of cartilage in submucosa
Smooth muscle – Flat cells

46
Q

Label this image of a tertiary/segmental bronchus?

A

Mucus glands = secrete mucus - as reducing as are almost in respiratory zone (mucus - for mucus ciliary escalator - so is really needed higher up)
-Mucus still here to prevent obstructions entering respiratory zone

47
Q

Why is cartilage reduced as bronchus tree divides?

A

As cartilage limits gaseous exchange - so instead get an increase in elastic fibres for elastic recoil

48
Q

What types of ep are there as progress down?

A

-Nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses, larynx, trachea, primary, secondary, tertiary bronchi = pseudostratified columnar ciliated ep
-Bronchioles = pseudostratified columnar ciliated ep
-Terminal bronchioles = Low/simple columnar ciliated ep
-Respiratory bronchioles = simple cuboidal or simple columnar ciliated ep
-Alveolar ducts/acinus = simple cuboidal or simple squamous
-Alveolar sacs = simple squamous
-Alveoli = simple squamous

49
Q

What is the last part of the conducting portion of lower respiratory tract?

A

Terminal bronchioles

50
Q

Features of segmental bronchi (conducting)?

A

Each supply a bronchopulmonary segment

51
Q

Features of bronchioles (conducting)?

A

-Approx 13 divisions
-Less cartilage with each division
-More smooth muscle

52
Q

Features of terminal bronchioles (conducting)?

A

-Low columnar ciliated epithelia
-Small submucosal glands
-No cartilage
-High in smooth muscle
-Fewer goblet cells
-Clara cells (distally)
-Marks end of conducting portion

53
Q

What are Clara cells?

A

-Provide protection against toxins & secrete surfactant –> surfactant = lowers surface tension - stops alveoli collapsing after exhalation - makes breathing easy

54
Q

Describe the changes down the bronchi as they divide (x4 features)**

A

-Reduce mucus cells
-Reduce ep (becomes thinner)
-Reduce cartilage
-Increase elastic fibres

55
Q

What does this image show - from the terminal bronchiole?

A

TB = terminal bronchiole
-RB = respiratory bronchiole
-Large air spaces (white)
-Inter-alveolar septa (pink)

56
Q

Features of respiratory bronchioles (respiratory)?

A

-Simple cuboidal OR simple columnar ciliated ep
-No goblet cells
-Clara cells present (unciliated) secretes surfactant

57
Q

What are some features of the alveolar region (respiratory)?

A

-Simple squamous ep = type 1
-Type 1 pneumocyte (flat) shares basal lamina w/ endothelial cells for gas exchange
-Type 2 pneumocyte (round) secretes surfactant

58
Q

Summarise what cells are found in terminal bronchioles & then all of the respiratory zone: respiratory bronchioles, alveolar: ducts, sac, alveoli?

A
59
Q

Label this image.

A

TB = Terminal bronchiole (thicker ep)
RB =Respiratory bronchiole
AD = Alveolar duct
AS = Alveolar sac
A= Alveoli

60
Q

What are type 1 pneumocytes?

A

-Squamous ep = covers 95% of alveolar surface
-Form v. thin gaseous diffusion barrier
-Nuclei = flat - less likely to see in light microscopy

61
Q

What are type 2 pneumocytes?

A

-60% of total alveolar cells but only 5% of surface
-Produce surfactant –prevents collapse of alveoli
-Round nuclei

62
Q

How does surfactant work?

A

Alveoli walls = lined by film of water - creates surface tension due to hydrogen bonds between water molecules on surface - would cause collapse of alveoli - surfactant (made of phospholipids & lipoproteins - amphiphilic molecules) = so surfactant has hydrophilic end that attracts water (& hydrophobic that repels) - this lowers surface tension (prevents alveoli collapsing - i.e., walls not sick together)

63
Q

What is neonatal respiratory distress syndrome?

A

When babies are born prematurely & so have not yet produced surfactant - so lungs struggle to inflate

64
Q

What is the blood-gas barrier?

A

= where gas exchange between air & blood occurs
Blood vs have thin endothelial cell lining w/ a basement memb - which fuses to basement memb of alveoli type 1 cells
–> so O2 diffuses from alveolar air into capillary blood & CO2 opposite

65
Q

Summarise gas exchange with a diagram - at the blood-air barrier.

A
66
Q

What would the blood-air barrier look like in microscope?

A

Interstitial space = contains elastic fibres for elastic recoil when breathing

67
Q

What is squamous metaplasia?

A

= pre-malignant sign of cancer
Abnormal change in bronchial ep from pseudostratified columnar ciliated to simple squamous which can then = carcinoma in situ (may last long time) - will eventually reach symptomatic stage = well-defined tumour (will obstruct bronchus lumen) - bronchial carcinoma

–> due to toxic injury induced by cigarette smoke

68
Q

What does this point at?

A

Goblet cell - not stained so pale (doesn’t take up H & E stain)

69
Q

What does this show?

A

A = pseudostratified columnar ciliated ep
B = BALT (Bronchus Associated Lymphoid Tissue) in submucosa

70
Q

Summary of bronchial tree.

A

Histology (14 decks)

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