Respiratory Tract

Question 1

What are the structures of the respiratory tract?

Answer 1

Nasal cavity, pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchial tree and alveoli.

Question 2

What is the upper respiratory tract?

Answer 2

Nasal cavity to the larynx

Question 3

What is the lower respiratory tract?

Answer 3

Trachea to alveoli

Question 4

Where does the naval cavity extend from?

Answer 4

Nostrils to the posterior nasal apertures - which open into the nasopharynx

Question 5

What is the area inside the nostrils?

Answer 5

Vestibule

Question 6

What divides the nose into two halves?

Answer 6

Nasal septum

Question 7

What are the three bony projections of the nose?

Answer 7

Extend from the lateral walls of each half, these are the superior, middle and inferior nasal conchae.

Question 8

Where is the spenoethmoidal space?

Answer 8

Above the superior nasal conchae (a small space in the nasal cavity. It lies posterior and superior to the superior concha into which the sphenoidal sinus opens)

Question 9

Where is the superior meatus?

Answer 9

Between the superior and middle nasal conchae

Question 10

Where is the middle meatus?

Answer 10

Between the middle and inferior nasal conchae

Question 11

What is the vestibule lined with and what covers it?

Answer 11

Lined = skin
Covers = keratinised stratified epithelium

Question 12

Where is the inferior meatus?

Answer 12

Below the inferior nasal conchae

Question 13

What are vibrissae?

Answer 13

Course hairs on the skin

Question 14

What is the remainder of the nose lined with?

Answer 14

Pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium with goblet cells (respiratory epithelium

Question 14

What is the olfactory epithelium?

Answer 14

Epithelium above the superior nasal conchae
Has olfactory nerve endings

Question 15

What does the underlying submucosa of the nasal cavity contain?

Answer 15

a large plexus of veins and numerous serous glands

Question 16

What does the ciliated epithelium do?

Answer 16

Wafts mucous and trapped particles towards the pharynx to be swallowed

Question 17

What does the olfactory epithelium contain?

Answer 17

Contains sensory receptors for the sense of smell

Question 18

What do the conchae do?

Answer 18

Makes the airflow turbulent thereby slowing it down

Question 19

What do goblet cells do?

Answer 19

Secrete mucous which traps small particles

Question 20

What is the venous plexus?

Answer 20

Warms the air

Question 21

What do serous glands do?

Answer 21

Secrete serous fluid which humidifies the air

Question 22

What are paranasal sinuses?

Answer 22

Air-filled spaces that are present in some of the skull bones. They are lined with pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium with goblet cells. Their true role is not known but it is thought that they may act to lighten the skull or to resonate sound

Question 22

What are vibrissae?

Answer 22

Filters air by trapping large particles

Question 23

Was are the four pairs of sinuses?

Answer 23

Frontal Maxillary Sphenois Ethmoid

Question 24

Where do secretions from the sinuses drain into?

Answer 24

Nasal cavity

Question 25

What does the superior meatus drain?

Answer 25

Posterior ethmoidal sinus

Question 26

What does the spenoethmoidal recess drain?

Answer 26

Sphenoid sinus

Question 27

What does the middle meatus drain?

Answer 27

Drains the middle ethmoidal, frontal and maxillary sinuses

Question 28

What does the inferior meatus drain?

Answer 28

Nasolacrimal duct

Question 29

Where does the pharynx lie?

Answer 29

Base of the skull to the oesophagus

Question 30

What is the role of the pharynx?

Answer 30

Passageway between the mouth and oesophagus for food, and between the nose and larynx for air.

Question 31

What are the regions of the pharynx?

Answer 31

Nasopharynx Oropharynx Laryngopharynx

Question 32

How many cartilages does the larynx have?

Answer 32

9

Question 33

What is the function of the larynx?

Answer 33

Main: protect the airway during swallowing Maintaining a patent airway Sound production Cough reflex Defaecation

Question 34

Where does the trachea begin?

Answer 34

Neck and passes into the superior mediastinum. Extends from lower border of the cricoid cartilage and ends at the carina where divides into right and left primary bronchi

Question 35

At which vertebral level does the cricoid cartilage lie?

Answer 35

C6

Question 36

The carina lies at the level of the intervertebral disc between the 4th and 5th thoracic vertebra. What bony landmark does this correspond with anteriorly?

Answer 36

Sternal angle

Question 37

What is anterior to the trachea?

Answer 37

Left Brachiocephalic Vein Arch of Aorta Sternum Isthmus of Thyroid Gland Origin of the Left Common Carotid Artery Origin of Left Subclavian Artery

Question 38

What is posterior to the trachea?

Answer 38

Recurrent Laryngeal Nerves Oesophagus

Question 39

What is to the right of the trachea?

Answer 39

Right Carotid Sheath and Contents Azygos Vein Right Lobe of Thyroid Gland

Question 40

What is to the left of the trachea?

Answer 40

Left Carotid Sheath and Contents Left Subclavian Artery Left Lobe of Thyroid Gland Left Phrenic Nerve

Question 41

What does the wall of the trachea consist of?

Answer 41

Mucosa - Composed of pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium with underlying lamina propria Submucosa - Dense irregular connective tissue layer which contains blood vessels and nerves Hyaline Cartilage - Consists of C-shaped rings of cartilage, the free ends of which are joined posteriorly by the trachealis muscle Adventia - outer layer of connective tissue that connects the trachea to adjacent structures