Section 1 - upper respiratory tract

Question 1

What is meant by the term conditioning?

Answer 1

This is necessary for warming, humidifying and filtering the air.

Question 2

What is the external nose made of?

Answer 2

Bone and cartilage

Question 3

What separates the left and right compartments of the nasal cavity?

Answer 3

Nasal septum

Question 4

What forms the roof of the nasal cavity?

Answer 4

• Nasal and frontal bones
• Nasal cartilage

Question 5

What forms the floor of the nasal cavity?

Answer 5

• Palatine process of the maxilla (hard palate)
• Horizontal plate of the palatine bone (soft palate)

Question 6

Label this image.

Answer 6

A) Superior meatus

B) Middle meatus

C) Inferior meatus

D) Superior conchae

E) Middle conchae

F) Auditory tube/ pharyngolympanic or eustachian tube

G) Inferior conchae

Question 7

What is the function of conchae?

Answer 7

To increase the SA for conditioning respired air

Question 8

How is the membrane that lines the nasal cavity adapted for its role in conditioning and filtering inspired air?

Answer 8

It is:

• Ciliated
• Mucus lined
• Rich blood supply to humidify air

Question 9

Functions of nasal cavity (when nose ‘bunged’ up during a cold)

Answer 9

1. secrete mucus to catch particulates in the air
2. direct the air into the olfactory bulb

Question 10

What are the function of nasal polyps?

Answer 10

Non-cancerous growths on nasal passage lining as a result of inflammation. This is associated with asthma.

Question 11

What are the 4 paranasal sinuses? Label the diagram below.

Answer 11

4 sinuses: frontal, ethmoid, sphenoid and maxillary

A) Frontal sinus

B) Ethmoid sinus (located more anterior to the sphenoid

C) Nasal cavity

D) Maxillary sinus

E) Mucous membrane

F) Sphenoid sinus

Question 12

3 functions of the air-filled spaces/sinuses

Answer 12

• Reduce head weight
• Heating and humidifying inspired air (condition air)
• Crumple zone for protection in facial trauma

Question 13

Which paranasal sinuses are prone to infection in adults?

Answer 13

Maxillary sinuses

Question 14

What does the nasolacrimal duct do and where is it found?

Answer 14

It is found in the inferior meatus and it drains tears as it connects the nasal cavity to the eyes.

Question 15

A) Hard palate

B) Soft palate

C) Tongue

D) Lingual tonsil (not visible normally but can be seen on the most posterior part of the tongue)

E) Hyoid bone

F) Epiglottis

G) Trachea

H) Osephagus

I) Palatine tonsil

J) Uvula

Question 16

Which two structures communicate via the auditory tube?

Answer 16

This links the nasopharynx and the middle ear. This protects and drain the middle ear.

Question 17

Label this diagram

Answer 17

A) Palatine raphe (middle ridge) (remember it as like the bottom of a raft).

B) Palato-glossal arch

C) Palato-pharyngeal arch

D) Hard palate

E) Soft palate

F) Palatine tonsils

Question 18

How does the epiglottis fold down?

Answer 18

1. Contraction of laryngeal muscles
2. Pulls aryepiglottic folds closer to the midline
3. Pulls epiglottis shut over the laryngeal inlet and hence trachea.

Question 19

Label this diagram. What is the opening between the vocal chords called?

Answer 19

A) Base of tongue

B) Epiglottis

C) True vocal chords

D) False vocal chords

The opening is called the rima glottidis