Respiratory Tract Flashcards
what is the purpose of the respiratory tract?
process of respiration
what are the 2 components of the respiratory tract?
upper respiratory tract and lower respiratory tract
what are the parts of the upper respiratory tract?
nose, paranasal sinuses, mouth, throat/pharynx and larynx
what are the external parts of the nose?
nares, skin, muscle, bone and hyaline cartilage
what is the external portion of the nose lined with?
mucous membranes
what opens into the internal portion of the nose?
ducts from paranasal sinuses and the nasolacrimal duct
what is the external nasal epithelium?
skin with hair and keratin
what is the epithelium of the respiratory segment of the nose?
ciliated pseudostratified columnar epithelium
what is the epithelium of the olfactory segment of the nose?
ciliated pseudostratified columnar epithelium and olfactory receptors
what are the functions of the nose?
warms and filters the air, sense of smell, vocal resonance and modification of speech
what is the function of the paranasal sinuses?
vocal resonance and modification of speech
what is the function of the concahe/turbinates?
increase the surface area
where are the paranasal sinuses?
beside the nose and within the skull and face
what is the purpose of the sinuses?
to make the skull lighter
name the sinuses
frontal, ethmoid, sphenoid and maxillary
where are the frontal sinuses?
above the eye sockets
where are the ethmoid sinuses?
between the eyesockets
where are the sphenoid sinuses?
behind the ethmoid sinuses
where are the maxillary sinuses?
above the upper 6
what does fistula mean?
abnormal communication between 2 epithelial lined surfaces
what is the pharynx?
muscular tube from the base of the skull to oesophagus
what does the pharynx do?
conducts air and directs food to oesophagus
what are the 3 parts of the pharynx?
nasopharynx, oropharynx and laryngopharynx
where is the sphenoid sinus in relation to the pharynx?
at the top of the pharynx
what are the parts of the lower respiratory tract?
layrnx, trachea, right and left bronchi, lungs and blood-air barrier
what is the larynx?
the voicebox and where the adams apple is
how does the larynx act as a sphincter?
it directs food one way and air the other way
what is the function of the larynx?
to generate sound
how many cartilages are in the larynx?
9
what are the different cartilages in the larynx?
thyroid, cricoid, arytenoid, corniculate, cuneiform and epiglottis
what is special about the cricoid cartilage?
it is the only cartilage to form a complete circle
why are most cartilages a half circle?
because the oesophagus is behind it
what does oedema mean?
swelling
what vertebrae does the larynx associate with?
C3-C6
where does the trachea begin with relation to vertebrae?
C6 (lower cricoid)
what is the wall of the trachea composed of?
fibrous tissue
what is the function of cartilage in the airway?
maintains patent airway
what is in place of cartilage at the back of the trachea?
smooth muscle called trachealis
what is the difference between a tracheostomy and a cricothyrotomy?
a tracheostomy is more long term than a cricothyrotomy
what is the difference between the right and left bronchi?
the right is vertical with a greater diameter and is also shorter than the left bronchus. The left is curved and longer than the right bronchus
if you were to accidentally inhale an object what bronchus is it most likely to go down and why?
the right because it is vertical
what is the epithelium in the bronchi?
ciliated pseudostratified columnar
what is special about the right lung and bronchi?
there is a superior, inferior AND middle bronchus
what produces surfactant?
type 2 penumocytes
