Structure and function of airways Flashcards
What is the branching like in the airways?
dichotomous, everything divides into 2
What provides mechanical stability?
Cartilage specifically C-shaped rings
c shaped rings formed by Hyaline cartilage connected by tracheal muscle and elastic connective tissue, forming a fibroelastic membrane, encloses the posterior surface
Gap at the back of trachea?
Oesophagus for food
Order of airways
trachea -> left and right bronichi -> bronchioles -> terminal bronchioles = non cartolaginous -> respiratory brochioles -> alveolar ducts -> alveolar sacs -> alveoli
Where does gas exchange take place?
Alveolar region
What cells can make up the alveolar region?
Type I
Type II
macrophages
fibroblasts
What are type I epithelial cells?
Very thin-walled epithelial cells with a delicate barrier that facilitates gas exchange
What are type II epithelial cells?
Can replicate to replace type I cells
Secrete Surfactant - detergent - keeps alveoli open: reduces surface tension, antiprotease. prevents inner walls from sticking together. prevents collapse of alveolus
Xenobiotic metabolism (metabolise noxious chemicals and particles that may get down to alveoli)
What are the alveolar walls in contact with that allow gas exchange?
Capillary endothelium
Function of fibroblasts in alveolar region?
Produce the matrix that holds everything together
The function of fibroblasts in the alveolar region?
Produce the matrix that holds everything together
What cell covers ~ 95% of alveolar surface?
Type I cell but greater numbers of type II but bc they are smaller only = ~ 5%
Basic function of respiratory airways?
conduit (pipes) to: carry out gas exchange-
conduct O2 to alveoli and CO2 outof lung
(12,000l of air)
What are the respiratory airways facilitated by?
Mechanical stability (cartilage)
Control of calibre (smooth muscle)
protection & ‘cleansing’
What is the pharynx?
common passageway for foods, liquids and air split into 3 regions: nasopharynx oropharynx laryngopharynx
What are the conchae?
Curved shelves of bone projecting out from the lateral walls of the nasal passage.
The function of the conchae?
Highly vascular - contribute to warming and ‘humidification’ of intra-nasally inhaled air
also produce moisture
What do nasal hairs do?
filter out large particles
submucosal glands?
secrete mucus. can help to cough out if something accidentally goes through
Structure of airway wall
Mucus layer
Cilia
Epithelial cells
What does the airway epithelium contain?
Goblet cells which produce mucus
Ciliated cells which waft the mucus and then we swallow it
Which cells make up the lining cell
ciliated, intermediate, brush, basal
Which cells make up the contractile cells?
smooth muscle (airway, vascular)
Which cells make up the secretory cells?
Goblet (epithelium), mucus, serous (glands)
What is the opening of the airway?
Lumen
Goblet cells have a lot of (x) granules
x = MUCIN
contain mucin in a highly condensed form
Ciliated cells have lots of (a) because they are highly (b)
a = mitochondria
b=energetic
to keep cilia beating
What happens if we require mucus?
Mucin granules come to the apical surfaceof the cell (goblet) and fuse with it.
A double pore opens, airway liquid comes in and mucin takes up water and expands.
What happens if we require mucus?
Mucin granules come to the apical surface of the cell (goblet) and fuse with it.
A double pore opens, airway liquid comes in and mucin takes up water and expands.
What do the submucosal glands have in common with goblet cells?
They both produce mucus
Where is the mucus produced in submucosal gland?
cells = acini = secrete mucin into airway duct.
have mucous acini - secrete mucus
and serous acini
What do the serous acini secrete?
secrete anti-bacterial enzymes (e.g. lysozyme)