Session 1 Flashcards

1
Q

Outline the key functions of the respiratory system

A
  • Gas exchange - Serves to ensure that all tissues receive the oxygen they need and can dispose of CO2 they produce
  • Immune functions
  • Inhalation & exhalation
  • Vocalization
  • Metabolic and endocrine functions
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2
Q

Define the term upper respiratory tract

A

• The part of the respiratory tract above the lower border of the cricoid cartilage (which forms the lower border of the larynx) is termed upper respiratory tract.

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3
Q

Define the term lower respiratory tract

A

• The parts of the respiratory tract below the lower border of the cricoid cartilage, including the lungs and associated structures.

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4
Q

What are the four main structures found in the URT?

A
  • Nose
  • Paranasal sinuses
  • Pharynx
  • Larynx
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5
Q

Describe the pulmonary circulatory system of the lungs

A

Low resistance system which is ‘supply driven’ rather than demand led
Low pressure
eceives entire cardiac output

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6
Q

What is the purpose of resistance vessels in the pulmonary circulation?

A

• Do not influence total flow through pulmonary circulation, only distribution of blood within it

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7
Q

Why is tissue fluid not normally formed in the lungs?

A

Capillary pressure in the normal pulmonary circulation is always less than the colloid osmotic pressure

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8
Q

Give three main functions of the URT

A
  • Conducting air from atmosphere to the lower respiratory tract
  • Conditioning (warming, humidification and trapping of particles) of inspired air
  • Protection of the airway during swallowing (larynx)
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9
Q

Give three minor functions of the URT

A

• Swallowing (oropharynx and laryngopharynx)
• Smell (olfactory epithelium in nose)
Speech (larynx)

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10
Q

What two main parts make up the nose?

A
  • The external nose (bone and cartilage)

* the nasal cavity

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11
Q

Describe the structure of the nasal cavity

A
  • Divided into right and left cavities by the median nasal septum
  • Each nasal cavity extends from the nostril (anterior nares) the posterior nare (or posterior chonae) behind.
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12
Q

Outline the structure of the lateral wall of each nasal cavity

A

Contains three bony projections known as the choncae (superior, middle and inferior)
• The space below each conchae is known as the meatus (superior, middle and inferior)

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13
Q

What structures drain into the meatus of the nasal cavity?

A

The paranasal sinus

The nasolacrimal duct

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14
Q

What does the floor of the nasal cavity form?

A

• The roof of the mouth

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15
Q

What are the three main functions of the nose?

A
• Respiration
	○ Filters air
	○ Humidifies and warms air
• Organ of smell
• Receives local secretion
	○ Sinuses 
	○ Nasolacrimal duct
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16
Q

How does the structure of the nose relate to its function?

A
  • Turbinates aid in warming and humidification by increasing SA and slowing airflow
    • Lined by coarse hairs which aid in filtering of inhaled air
    • Moist epithelium traps particles
    • Watery nasal secretions evaporate and humidify air
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17
Q

Aside from humidification of air, what is the function of secreted nasal mucus and associated cilia?

A

Mucus secreted by goblet cells traps almost all particles. Cilia waft mucus to oropharynx where it is swallowed

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18
Q

Name the four paranasal sinuses

A

The frontal, ethmoidal, maxillary and sphenoidal sinuses

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19
Q

Give five possible functions of paranasal sinuses

A
  • Extension of nasal cavity (humidification and warming of inspired air)
  • Secrete mucus to moisten nasal chambers
  • Lighten weight of skull
  • Buffer for trauma (crumple zones)
  • Insulating sensitive structures from temperature variation (eye, dental roots)
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20
Q

What are the three parts of pharynx?

A
  • Nasopharynx
  • Oropharynx
  • Laryngopharynx
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21
Q

What is the key function of the pharynx?

A

• Prevent aspiration of food during swallowing, which can lead to life threatening airway obstruction or infection

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22
Q

How is the nasopharynx connected to the middle ear cavity?

A

• By the auditory tube (eustachian tube)

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23
Q

What does the connection of the nasopharynx to the middle ear cavity allow?

A

• Air pressure in middle ear cavity to be equalized to atmospheric pressure

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24
Q

What issue can the connection of the nasopharynx to the middle ear cavity cause?

A

• URTI can be spread to the middle ear cavity via the auditory tube, resulting in middle ear infection. More likely in children than adults.

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25
Q

Outline the gross structure of the larynx

A
  • Cartaliginous skeleton made up of 3 unpaired cartilages - epiglottis, thyroid cartilage and cricoid cartilages - and 1 set of paired cartilages, called the arytenoid cartilages
  • The vocal cords and the gap between vocal cords - together called the glottis
26
Q

Give 2 main respiratory functions of the larynx

A
  • Open during respiration, closed during swallowing - guards the entrance to the trachea
  • Ability to close allows cough reflex to occur
27
Q

How can diseases of the larynx present as respiratory disease?

A
  • Laryngeal disease presents as airway obstruction & difficulty breathing
  • Voice change can be first sign of serious intrathoracic disease, due to involvement of left recurrent laryngeal nerve
28
Q

What is the path of the right and left pharyngeal nerve?

A
  • Right - curves under subclavian artery

* On left - curves under aortic arch

29
Q

Outline the movements of the vocal cords

A
  • Adduction (closing) occurs during swallowing
  • Abduction (opening) occurs during inspiration/deep inspiration
  • Partially open during speech (phonation)
  • Adducted during initial part of cough reflex
30
Q

What are the vocal cords moved by?

A

• Intrinsic laryngeal muscles

31
Q

What nerve are the intrinsic laryngeal muscles supplied by and why can this cause problems?

A
  • The recurrent laryngeal nerve
  • Intra thoracic disease compressing/infiltrating the nerve can result in a hoarse voice, due to paralysis of left vocal cord
32
Q

Aside from closure of vocal cords, outline another mechanism by which aspiration is prevented

A

• Epiglottis folds downwards and covers laryngeal inlet

33
Q

What lines the pleural sac of the lungs?

A

• A serous membrane

34
Q

What lines the conducting portions of the respiratory tract?

A

• A mucous membrane

35
Q

What structures make up the conducting portion of the respiratory system?

A
Nasal cavity
Pharynx
Larynx
Trachea
Primary bronchi
Secondary bronchi
Bronchioles
Terminal bronchioles
36
Q

What structures make up the respiratory portion of the respiratory system?

A

Respiratory bronchioles
Alveolar ducts
Alveoli

37
Q

What happens to the walls of the passageways as you move down the respiratory tract?

A

They become thinner as lumens decrease in diameter

38
Q

What epithelial cells are present in the conducting portion of the respiratory tract, except for the terminal bronchioles?

A

Pseudostratified epithelium with cilia and goblet cells

39
Q

What cells are present in terminal bronchioles?

A

Simple columnar epithelium with cilia and Clara cells (release surfactant rather than mucus) - no goblet cells

40
Q

What epithelial cells are found in the upper portion of the respiratory portion of the respiratory tract (not alveoli)

A

Simple cuboidal epithelium with Clara cells and sparsely scattered cillia

41
Q

What cells are found in alveoli?

A

Simple squamous and cuboidal cells (secrete surfactant)

42
Q

Which parts of the conducting system are extrapulmonary?

A
Nasal cavity
Pharynx
Larynx
Trachea
Primary bronchi
43
Q

What is the function of venous plexuses in the non-olfactory regions of the nasal cavity?

A

Swell every at different point every 20-30 minutes and prevent over drying by varying airflow

44
Q

How does the olfactory region of the nasal cavities differ from the non-olfactory?

A

No mucus secreting cells

Contain olfactory cells (bipolar neurons)

45
Q

What are Clara cells?

A

• Dome shaped cells
• Produce lung surfactant
• Produce Clara cell protein
○ Measurable marker in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (lowered then lung damage)
○ Measurable marker in serum (if raised, leakage across air-blood barrier)

46
Q

What are the vocal cords lined with?

A

• Stratified squamous epithelium

47
Q

Describe the histology of trachea and primary bronchi

A
  • Contain cartilage rings and spiral muscle

- Lined with pseudo stratified cilliated columnar epithielium and various glands

48
Q

Why are objects more like to lodge in right bronchus than left?

A

• More vertical than left

49
Q

What is the function of the secretions from the epithelial and submucosal glands of the trachea and bronchi?

A

• Anti-bacterial function, contains lysozymes and anti-proteases

50
Q

Describe the wall of the trachea

A
  • Epithelial layer
  • Lamina propria, rich in immune cells
  • Sub mucosa
  • Cartilage ring
51
Q

What are the main components of the LRT (in order)

A
Trachea
• Main bronchi (3 on right, 2 on left)
• Lobar bronchi
• Segmental bronchi
• Sub-segmental bronchi
• Bronchioles 
• Alveoli
• Pulmonary and bronchial circulatory system
52
Q

What is each terminal bronchiole connected to?

A
  • Set of respiratory bronchioles
  • Alveolar ducts
  • Alveoli
53
Q

How does a bronchiole differ from a bronchi?

A
  • Bronchiole has less cartilage and no glands
  • Bronchioles have more smooth muscle
  • Bronchioles kept open by surrounding alveoli
  • 1mm or less in diameter
54
Q

Why is absence of cartilage in bronchioles an issue?

A

• Allows air passages to constrict and almost close down when smooth muscle contraction excessive

55
Q

What is a terminal bronchiole?

A
  • Smallest airways of the conducting portion

* Absence of goblet cells is important to stop individuals drowning in their own mucus

56
Q

What is an alveolar duct?

A

An opening to alveolar sacs lined with alveoli

57
Q

What is an alveolus?

A

• Plural of alveoli

58
Q

What can an alveoli open into?

A

A respiratory bronchiole
An alveolar duct
An alveolar sac
Another alveolus

59
Q

Describe the structure of alveolar walls

A
  • have abundant capillaries
  • are supported by a basketwork of elastic and reticular fibres.
  • have a covering composed chiefly of type I pneumocytes.
  • have a scattering of intervening type II pneumocytes.
60
Q

How close are alveoli to capillaries?

A

• 0.2 micrometres

61
Q

What cell types make up alveoli?

A
  • 90% simple squamous
  • 10% cuboidal
  • Macrophages