Respiratory tract

Question 1

What two components make up the respiratory tract?

Answer 1

Upper respiratory tract
Lower respiratory tract

Question 2

What are the functions of the respiratory tract?

Answer 2

Conduction of air
Respiration gas exchange
Protection against pathogens (mucous)

Question 3

What structures make up the upper respiratory tract?

Answer 3

Nose
Paranasal sinuses
mouth (including tonsils)
throat/pharynx
larynx

Question 4

What ducts open in the internal portion of the nose?

Answer 4

Ducts from the paranasal sinuses as well as the nasolacrimal duct

Question 5

What type of epithelium is the respiratory segment in the nose made of?

Answer 5

Ciliated pseudostratified columnar epithelium

Question 6

What are olfactory receptors?

Answer 6

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.

Question 7

What is the functions of the nose?

Answer 7

Warms and filters the air via conchae and turbinate’s
Sense of smell
Paranasal sinuses responsible for vocal resonance and modification of speech

Question 8

What are the paranasal sinuses responsible for?

Answer 8

Vocal resonance and modification of speech

Question 9

What are the 4 pairs of paranasal sinuses?

Answer 9

Frontal sinuses
Sphenoid sinuses
Ethmoidal sinuses
Maxillary sinuses

Question 10

Where are the frontal sinuses located?

Answer 10

Located within the frontal bone of the skull

Question 11

Where are the sphenoid sinuses located?

Answer 11

Located within the body of the sphenoid bone

Question 12

Where are the ethmoidal sinuses located?

Answer 12

Within the ethmoid bone

Question 13

Where are the maxillary sinuses?

Answer 13

They are located laterally and slightly inferior to the nasal cavities.

Question 14

What is the purpose of the conchae?

Answer 14

Increase surface area, for air to be moistured/humidified/warmed

Question 15

If the conchae become swollen due to infection, what would the impact of this be on the patient?

Answer 15

Blockage of the nose/deviated septum
Reduced air flow through nasal cavity

Question 16

What is an oro-antral fistula?

Answer 16

An opening is created between a paranasal sinus and the mouth

Question 17

What spinal nerves is the larynx located at?

Answer 17

C3-6

Question 18

What structure links the thyroid and cricoid cartilage within the larynx?

Answer 18

cricothyroid membrane

Question 19

What is unique about cricoid cartilage?

Answer 19

Signet ring shaped and only cartilage in larynx that forms a complete circle

Question 20

What emergency procedure can be performed on the cricothyroid membrane?

Answer 20

Cricothyroidotomy

Question 21

Why is a cricothyroidotomy performed here, what anatomical structure is being avoided?

Answer 21

To avoid any damage to the vocal folds/speech

Question 22

What is the epiglottis?

Answer 22

Elastic cartilage, which helps to partially close over the trachea, allowing food and fluid to pass into the more posterior oesophagus

Question 23

What nerve supplies the larynx?

Answer 23

The vagus nerve

Question 24

What is the purpose of the larynx?

Answer 24

Altering pitch and volume of speech

Question 25

What cartilage are the vocal folds attached to?

Answer 25

Thyroid cartilage

Question 26

What hormone is the thyroid cartilage under the influence of during adolescence?

Answer 26

Testosterone

Question 27

What is the smooth muscle of the trachea called?

Answer 27

Trachealis

Question 28

How can you tell the difference between the left and right bronchus?

Answer 28

Right is more vertical, greater diameter and shorter