Structure of Lungs

Question 1

What are the 2 parts of the respiratory portion ?

Answer 1

Upper respiratory tract
Lower respiratory tract

Question 2

What structures are found in the upper tract ?

Answer 2

Nasal Cavity
Nasopharynx
Epiglottis
Larynx
Trachea

Question 3

What structures are found in the lower tract ?

Answer 3

Main bronchi
Branch bronchi
Small bronchi
Bronchioles
Distal respiratory tree

Question 4

What structure surrounds the trachea posteriorly ?

Answer 4

Oesophagus

Question 5

What are bronchi ?

Answer 5

Continuation of trachea, have smooth muscle and complete cartilage rings.

Question 6

Where do the bronchi receive blood from ?

Answer 6

The bronchial arteries, one right and 2 left

Question 7

Features of bronchi

Answer 7

As number increases, the size individually decreases but the total surface area increases.

Question 8

State the generation from trachea to alveolar sacs.

Answer 8

Trachea
Bronchi
Bronchioles
Terminal bronchioles
Respiratory bronchioles
Alveolar ducts
Alveolar sacs

Question 9

What forms around alveoli ?

Answer 9

Capillary beds

Question 10

What is an advantage of alveoli being one cell thick ?

Answer 10

This provides a large surface area for efficient gas exchange.

Question 11

Briefly describe how the trachea and bronchi divide and extend into the lung.

Answer 11

In the mediastinum, at the level of the fifth thoracic vertebra, the trachea divides into the right and left primary bronchi.

The bronchi branch into smaller and smaller passageways until they terminate in tiny air sacs called alveoli.

Question 12

What type of epithelium is respiratory epithelium ?

Answer 12

Ciliated pseudostratified columnar epithelium

Question 13

What is the trachea ?

Answer 13

The trachea, or windpipe, is a 10-11 cm long fibrocartilaginous tube of the lower respiratory tract.

Question 14

What is the function of the trachea ?

Answer 14

Air transport in and out of the lungs;
Protection of the respiratory tract by warming and moistening the air and propelling foreign particles upwards towards the pharynx for expulsion.

Question 15

What is the position of the trachea ?

Answer 15

The trachea extends between the larynx and thorax, consisting of two parts; cervical and thoracic.

It ends at the level of the sternal angle (T5) where it divides into two main bronchi, one for each lung.

Question 16

What are the 4 layers of the trachea ?

Answer 16

Mucosa
Submucosa
Musculocartilagenous layer
Fibroelastic adventitia

Question 17

Mucosa

Answer 17

Innermost layer lined with pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium

Question 18

Submucosa

Answer 18

Consists of connective tissue, which contains mucus glands, smooth muscle, vessels, nerves and lymphatics

Question 19

Musculocartiagenous layer

Answer 19

Represented by cartilaginous rings and intervening smooth muscle

Question 20

What substances make up the bronchi ?

Answer 20

Respiratory epithelia
Smooth muscle
Hyloid cartilage

Question 21

What substances make up the bronchioles ?

Answer 21

Respiratory epithelium
Smooth muscle

Question 22

What substances make up the terminal bronchiole ?

Answer 22

Sparse smooth muscle
Club cells
Alveoli

Question 23

What are pneumocytes ?

Answer 23

The cells that line the alveoli and comprise of the majority of the inner surface of the lungs.

Question 24

Club cells - epithelium type

Answer 24

Non-ciliated cuboidal epithelium

Question 25

Club cell function

Answer 25

Produces protective secretions

Question 26

Goblet cells that line the trachea function

Answer 26

Secrete mucus which traps any unwanted substances

Question 27

What is the pleural cavity ?

Answer 27

A fluid filled space that surrounds the lungs.

Question 28

Where is the pleural cavity found ?

Answer 28

In the thorax, separating the lungs from its surrounding structures.

Question 29

What is the pleural cavity bounded by ?

Answer 29

A double layered serous membrane called pleura

Question 30

How is pleura formed ?

Answer 30

By an inner visceral pleura and outer parietal layer.

Question 31

What is found between the 2 layers of pleura ?

Answer 31

A small amount of serous fluid is held within the cavity.

Question 32

Function of the serous fluid in the pleural cavity

Answer 32

The lubricated cavity allows the lungs to move more freely during breathing.

Question 33

Parietal pleura

Answer 33

Lines the boundaries of the cavity

Question 34

Costal pleura

Answer 34

Lines the thoracic wall

Question 35

Diaphragmatic pleura

Answer 35

Lines the diaphragm

Question 36

Mediastinal pleura

Answer 36

Lines the mediastinum

Question 37

Visceral pleura

Answer 37

Lines the surface of the lung itself

Question 38

Parietal vs Visceral pleura

Answer 38

Parietal pleura is thicker and more durable outer layer, whereas visceral pleura is more delicate, thinner layer.

Question 39

Mediastinum

Answer 39

Contains the heart

Question 40

Name the surfaces of the lungs

Answer 40

Costal pleura Medial (mediastinal & vertebral) pleura Diaphragmatic pleura

Question 41

What are the lobes of the left lung ?

Answer 41

Superior Inferior

Question 42

What are the fissures of the left lung ?

Answer 42

Oblique

Question 43

What are the lobes of the right lung ?

Answer 43

Superior Middle Inferior

Question 44

What are the fissures of the right lung ?

Answer 44

Oblique Horizontal

Question 45

Blood supply in the lungs

Answer 45

Pulmonary Trunk Pulmonary arteries Superior and inferior pulmonary arteries Intercostobronchial trunk & Thoracic aorta Bronchial arteries

Question 46

List the structures passing through the root of each lung

Answer 46

Main bronchus Pulmonary Artery (deoxygenated blood to lung) Pulmonary Veins (2, oxygenated blood to the heart) Bronchial arteries Lymph nodes and vessels

Question 47

What is inspiration ?

Answer 47

The process of transporting air into the lungs

Question 48

What happens during inspiration ?

Answer 48

The diaphragm contracts The external intercostal muscles contract The thoracic cavity expands Air enters the lungs

Question 49

What is expiration ?

Answer 49

The process of transporting air out of the lungs

Question 50

What happens during expiration ?

Answer 50

The diaphragm relaxes The external intercostal muscles relax The thoracic cavity reduces Air exits the lungs

Question 51

Name some common pathologies that may affect the lungs and pleural cavities

Answer 51

Asthma COPD Cancer Foreign body aspiration Pneumothorax Pneumonia Cystic fibrosis

Question 52

What causes asthma ?

Answer 52

Inflammation of the airways, therefore a reduced diameter.

Question 53

What drug is used to treat asthma ?

Answer 53

Salbutamol

Question 54

COPD

Answer 54

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Question 55

Risk factor for COPD

Answer 55

Smoking

Question 56

Results of COPD

Answer 56

Mucus hyper secretion Destruction of alveoli

Question 57

Where is cancer primarily found in the lungs ?

Answer 57

Bronchial carcinoma

Question 58

Foreign body aspiration

Answer 58

Items have a tendency to the right main bronchus, as it is wider, shorter and more vertical

Question 59

Pneumothorax

Answer 59

Air in pleural cavity, collapsed lung

Question 60

Pneumonia

Answer 60

Affects the lobe/segment

Question 61

Cystic fibrosis

Answer 61

Mucus is too thick due to abnormal ionic compression