Respiratory tract Flashcards
What two components make up the respiratory tract?
Upper respiratory tract
Lower respiratory tract
What are the functions of the respiratory tract?
Conduction of air
Respiration gas exchange
Protection against pathogens (mucous)
What structures make up the upper respiratory tract?
Nose
Paranasal sinuses
mouth (including tonsils)
throat/pharynx
larynx
What ducts open in the internal portion of the nose?
Ducts from the paranasal sinuses as well as the nasolacrimal duct
What type of epithelium is the respiratory segment in the nose made of?
Ciliated pseudostratified columnar epithelium
What are olfactory receptors?
Receptors that are able to detect air-borne odour molecules that enter the nasal cavity.
The activation of olfactory receptors result in receptor neurons sending an impulse to the brain’s olfactory system.
What is the functions of the nose?
Warms and filters the air via conchae and turbinate’s
Sense of smell
Paranasal sinuses responsible for vocal resonance and modification of speech
What are the paranasal sinuses responsible for?
Vocal resonance and modification of speech
What are the 4 pairs of paranasal sinuses?
Frontal sinuses
Sphenoid sinuses
Ethmoidal sinuses
Maxillary sinuses
Where are the frontal sinuses located?
Located within the frontal bone of the skull
Where are the sphenoid sinuses located?
Located within the body of the sphenoid bone
Where are the ethmoidal sinuses located?
Within the ethmoid bone
Where are the maxillary sinuses?
They are located laterally and slightly inferior to the nasal cavities.
What is the purpose of the conchae?
Increase surface area, for air to be moistured/humidified/warmed
If the conchae become swollen due to infection, what would the impact of this be on the patient?
Blockage of the nose/deviated septum
Reduced air flow through nasal cavity
What is an oro-antral fistula?
An opening is created between a paranasal sinus and the mouth
What spinal nerves is the larynx located at?
C3-6
What structure links the thyroid and cricoid cartilage within the larynx?
cricothyroid membrane
What is unique about cricoid cartilage?
Signet ring shaped and only cartilage in larynx that forms a complete circle
What emergency procedure can be performed on the cricothyroid membrane?
Cricothyroidotomy
Why is a cricothyroidotomy performed here, what anatomical structure is being avoided?
To avoid any damage to the vocal folds/speech
What is the epiglottis?
Elastic cartilage, which helps to partially close over the trachea, allowing food and fluid to pass into the more posterior oesophagus
What nerve supplies the larynx?
The vagus nerve
What is the purpose of the larynx?
Altering pitch and volume of speech
What cartilage are the vocal folds attached to?
Thyroid cartilage
What hormone is the thyroid cartilage under the influence of during adolescence?
Testosterone
What is the smooth muscle of the trachea called?
Trachealis
How can you tell the difference between the left and right bronchus?
Right is more vertical, greater diameter and shorter
