Structure, Histo and Anatomy of Respiratory Tree

Question 1

What are the two requirements for fetal lung development?

Answer 1

Enough space in the thoracic cavity

Ability to inhale

Question 2

What are the two requirements to inhale?

Answer 2

Chest wall must be able to move and enough amniotic fluid must be present

Question 3

Big picture structure and pathway of the respiratory system?

Answer 3

Breathe in and air goes through trachea. When it gets to the end of the trachea it divides into right and left bronchi. Right bronchi has an upper lobe, middle lobe, and lower lobe. Left bronchi has an upper and lower lobe only. Once it gets to the end of each bronchi, the air goes through the following path to gas exchange site in alveoli: terminal bronchiole, respiratory bronchiole, alveolar duct, alveolar sac, and then alveoli.

Question 4

What is the respiratory epithelium that lines the respiratory tract from the nasal cavity through the bronchi?

Answer 4

Ciliated, pseudostratified columnar epithelium with goblet cells.

Question 5

What is the epithelium that lines the bronchioles?

Answer 5

Simple cuboidal epithelium

Question 6

What epithelium lines the lung alveoli?

Answer 6

Very thin simple squamous epithelium

Question 7

What are the two types of cells in the alveolar epithelium, what are their functions and which one is most common?

Answer 7

Type 1 pneumocytes (gas exchange) and type 2 pneumocytes (produce surfactant and replace type 1). Type 1 is about 95% of the alveolar cells.

Question 8

What is a product of having the alveolar pores?

Answer 8

Bacteria and exudate can readily pass between adjacent alveoli through these pores.