Respitory System Flashcards
What are the functions of the respiratory system?
It facilitates gas exchange between air and blood
Protects respiratory surfaces from drying up
Protects agains invading pathogens
Helps produce sound
And also assists regulation of blood pH
What structures make up the respiratory system
Nose
Nasal cavity
Sinuses
Pharynx
Larynx
Trachea
Bronchi (enter the lungs)
Brochioles (Inside lungs)
Alveoli (Inside lungs)
What are the functional divisions of the respiratory system?
The conducting (Getting the air to the lungs) and respiratory (The gas exchange) zones
What are the anatomical divisions of the respiratory system?
The Upper respiratory system & Lower respiratory system (split at the larynx)
What do goblet cells secret? What does it then form?
They secret mucus to create almost a sort of mucus elevator
What type of cells make up the respiratory?
Pseudostratified, ciliated, columnar cells (and the goblet cells)
What are nose hairs called anatomically?
Vibrissae
How does the respiratory system defend itself?
They have hairs to block debris as well as mucus to help trap debris that is then thrown out by sneezing or coughing
What is the pathway of air? (Nose to larynx)
Air enters via external nares (nostrils)
Passes by nasal vestibule
Enters nasal cavity
Air flows in nasal conchae (3)
Air enters internal nares
Then the nasopharynx
What are the three parts of the pharynx?
The Nasopharynx (back of nose)
The Oropharynx (back of mouth area)
Laryngopharynx (entrance to trachea and esophagus)
What structures make up the larynx/upper trachea?
Thyroid cartilage (Contains laryngeal prominence aka adams apple)
Cricoid cartilage
Epiglottis (covers glottis during swallowing)
Paired laryngeal cartilages (posterior)
Tracheal cartilages (c-shaped)
How is sound produced?
Air passes between vocal cords creates sound which is amplified in sinus cavities
Definition of that sound depends on movement and shape of lips, tongue, cheek, etc
What are some facts about the trachea
It’s about 2.5 cm in diameter
It branches at carina into primary bronchi
It contains tracheal cartilages (c-shaped not full rings)
What is the difference between the left and right lungs?
The right lung has 3 lobes (superior, middle, inferior) whereas the left only has 2 lobes (superior and inferior) and a cardiac notch
What is the order of the bronchial tree
Primary bronchi divide into secondary bronchi then tertiary bronchi
(Tertiary bronchi go to specific areas called bronchopulmonary segments)
Tertiary bronchi branches into bronchioles
Alveoli cap off the end of bronchioles
