Structure of the Airway

Question 1

Identify the structures of the respiratory tract

Answer 1

Nose, nasal cavity and sinuses
Nasopharynx and soft palate 
larynx 
trachea bronchi and bronchial tree
Lungs and Peura 
Thoracic
Diaphragm 
Mechanisms of respiration

Question 2

How is inhalation and exhalation achieved

Answer 2

By increasing the size of the thorax via contraction and lowering of the diaphragm and raising the ribs
Creating negative intra-thoracic pressure that sucks air through the conductive passages and down into the lungs (the air MUST be warmed, filtered and humidified)

Question 3

Name the conductive passages of the airway

Answer 3

Nasal cavity 
nasopharynx 
larynx 
trachea 
bronchi

Question 4

What kind of process is exhalation

Answer 4

passive process

Question 5

What is the nose

Answer 5

Strucuture which anteriorly encloses the nasal cavities, the entry to this is called the NARES

Question 6

what is the nasal cavities held open by and what are they lined with

Answer 6

bone and cartilage

mucosal membrane lined with respiratory epithelium

Question 7

What is the structure of the respiratory epithelium

Answer 7

pseudo-stratified, ciliated, columnar, interspersed with goblet cells (that secrete mucus).

Question 8

What is the nasal septum

Answer 8

It is the midline structure which separates the left and right nasal cavities , anteriorly it is made of septal cartilage and posteriorly it is made of bone (if deviated sinus may be compromised)

Question 9

What are the boundaries of the nasal cavities

Answer 9

• nasal septum
• Hard and soft palates
• Bone (ethmoid, frontonasal, sphenoid; roof)
• Nasal conchae

Question 10

What are the three names of nasal conchae and where are these located

Answer 10

superior
middle
inferior
These are located on the lateral wall

Question 11

What is the function of conchae

Answer 11

They provide turbulence and increase the surface area for airflow and heat exchange

Question 12

Where are the meatus located and what do they do

Answer 12

Under/lateral to each concha

Adjacent air sinuses open up into the mea) communica)ng between the sinuses and the nasal cavity.

Question 13

What is the nasal cavity composed of

Answer 13

The septum
The lateral walls with conchae
Meati
Airway

Question 14

Where are orbits located

Answer 14

Immediately lateral to the nasal cavity

Question 15

Tell me about the maxillary sinus

Answer 15

Its opening is high in its medial wall and clearance of mucus is dependant upon ciliary action, which may be compromised by infection, possibly leading to sinusitis.

Question 16

What do sinuses

assist with

Answer 16

Warming incoming air

Question 17

Tell me about the nasal mucosal membrane

Answer 17

Its highly vascularised, these vessels anastomose between branches of the external carotids and internal carotids

Question 18

Where are the olfactory bulb and nerves for sense of smell located

Answer 18

In the roof and upper parts of the lateral wall

Question 19

What is the pharynx and where is it

Answer 19

The pharynx is a tube of fibrous and muscular tissue that can be divided into three parts:

• the nasal cavity (nasopharynx)
• the oral cavity (oropharynx)
• The larynx (laryngopharynx)

Question 20

Whats the function of the nasopharynx

Answer 20

• transports air

* divided from oropharynx by soY palate

Question 21

What is the function of the oropharynx

Answer 21

• transports air plus food and fluid

* but these must be separated so air passes into the larynx while food and fluid con)nue into the

Question 22

What is the larynx

Answer 22

a membranous tube suspended between car)lages, the posi)ons of which are controlled by muscles. Laryngeal diameters may be altered to allow the passage of air only, and control airflow for speech and raising intra-abdominal pressure.

Question 23

What are the different laryngeal cartilages in the larynx

Answer 23

The epiglottic
The thyroid
The arytenoid
The cricoid

Question 24

Tell me about the laryngeal membrane and its folds

Answer 24

Aryepiglocc fold is at the upper edge of the quadrangular membrane, while the ves)bular fold is formed by the lower edge of the quadrangular membrane. The vocal fold is the upper edge of the cricovocal/cricothyroid membrane.

Question 25

Expand on the Ary-epiglottic folds

Answer 25

AryepigloGc folds form the laryngeal inlet, which is the protec)ve sphincter.
Closure of the inlet is by elevation of the larynx, which is liYed up and forward during swallowing.
Muscles within the aryepiglocc folds aid both closure and widening of the laryngeal inlet.

Question 26

What lies within the opening of the laryngeal ventricle

Answer 26

the saccule where there are mucosal glands which help lubricate the vocal folds.

Question 27

Tell me about the vocal folds

Answer 27

The vocal folds control laryngeal diameter for: speech, coughing, sneezing and raising the intra- abdominal pressure, vital in micturi)on, defecation and lifting heavy objects.

Question 28

How do the vocal folds work

Answer 28

Muscles within and adjacent to the vocal folds narrow or widen the opening (rima glottides - the only muscle that opens this is the posterior circa-arytenoid), or alter their tension

Question 29

Tell me the main actions of the larynx muscles

Answer 29

1. Close/open the inlet (ary-epiglocc folds)
2. Close/open the rima glocdis (arytenoid gliding and rota)on)
3. Shorten/lengthen the vocal folds (“rocking” at cricothyroid joints)

Question 30

What are the two main larynx nerves

Answer 30

Superior laryngeal nerve supplies only 1 muscle and sensa)on above vocal cords
Recurrent laryngeal nerve
supplies all other muscles, and sensa)on of vocal cords and below

Question 31

Tell me about the trachea

Answer 31

• In front of oesophagus
• Medial to caro)d arteries and internal jugular veins
• Inferior to larynx
• Thyroid gland surrounds the upper por)on

Question 32

What drains tears

Answer 32

nasolacrimal duct