Structure and Function of the airways Flashcards
What does the trachea split into?
What is the name given to the type of branching that splits into two?
Why is the cartilage ‘C’ shaped?
Bronchi
Dichotomous branching
Something about swallowing
What is the alveolar region made of? What is the function at this region?
idk
Gas exchange takes place
What is the structure of an alveolar unit?
Alveolar macrophages = phagocytosis (ingest particles) = clean
Type I cell = v. thin, facillitates gas exchange between the alveoli and blood
Type II = replicate to produce more type I cells when the Type I cells get damaged, secrete a bunch of stuff and nullify toxins
Describe the image, spot where the Type I and Type II cells are?
Ridges = blood vessels because type I cells are so thin
What are the basic functions of the respiratory airways?
How are the airways kept open?
Conduct O2 to the alveoli, allow for CO2 to exit etc.
Mechanical stability of cartilage = keeps it open
What structure prevent air being taken into the stomach and food into the lungs?
What are conchae? Where are they found?
Epiglottis
Lots of vasculature = warming of air before it goes down
Nasal hairs = filter out the hair (first line of defence in protecting the lower airways
How are the airway structures organised?
Not a fully circle of cartilage = improves machnical stability
When the smooth muscle contractes, it squeezes some of the mucus out to protect the something?
Many vasculature - fill tracheal tissue with oxyge and etc.
Goblet cells = produces mucus
Cilia face??
cartoon pic of structure of airway
What are the different airway cell types?
What are the main 4?
Ciliated, smooth muscle, nerves, glands, …?
What is the structure of ciliated cells?
Why are there many mitochondria in the ciliated cells?
Mitochondria = provide ATP to power sweeping motion of cilia
What is mucin secretion? Where is it from? How is it stimulated?
from goblet cells
Size expansion = intragranules release their contents
Enormous capacity
What is the role of the submucosal glands?
Washes mucus secretion to the collecting duct?
idk missed most of it?
Mucous, serous and gland cells
What do ciliated cells do?
What rhythm do the cilia follow for sweeping?
idk
Some cilia go one way, and some go the other way - works like a mexican wave
Metachronal rhythm - movement controlled by calcium
What is the function of the epithelium?
Not just a physical barrier
Produces nitric oxide
What are prosteoglandins?
What enzyme produces prosteoglandins?
What is the function of the smooth muscles of the airway?
Structure =
Funciton = contraction and relaxation to constrict and open up the airways
Constriction to stop something going too far down - gives better chance of coughing it up
What happens when there is inflammation in the smooth muscle of the airways?
Structure = hyper proliferated
Tone = more contracted
Secretion = excess
What is the airway vasculature?
Trachio-bronchial circulation system
What vasculature is found under the epithelium?
Why is it structured this way?
Plexus of arteries, capillaries and veins found just under the epithelium
Direct exchange, contributes to warming, clear away inhaled drugs, supplies airway tissue with inflammatory cells and proteinaceous plasma
What are the nerves found in the airways that control airway function?
What are the regulatory and inflammatory inhibitors?
cholinergic, adrenergic, sensory
idek
idk what he’s on about?
idk missed some more stuff
What are the different cells of the immune syste and what inflammatory secretions do they produce?
slide
What are some respiratory diseases that result in the loss of airway?
What is the risk factor for COPD?
Smoking
What is asthma? What are its characteristics?
What is the main inflamamtory cell in asthma?
Airflow obstruction = reversible
dyspnoea = shortness of breath
associated with airway inflammaiton leading to airway remodelling
eosinophil
What are the pathological signs of asthma?
Eosinophils, something something etc
bronchoconstriction
What is the current understanding of asthma?
‘simple’ schematic
excess mucus?
Cholinergic reflex set off = bronchoconstriction + mucus secretion
