Structure of the Airway Flashcards
Identify the structures of the respiratory tract
Nose, nasal cavity and sinuses Nasopharynx and soft palate larynx trachea bronchi and bronchial tree Lungs and Peura Thoracic Diaphragm Mechanisms of respiration
How is inhalation and exhalation achieved
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)
Name the conductive passages of the airway
Nasal cavity nasopharynx larynx trachea bronchi
What kind of process is exhalation
passive process
What is the nose
Strucuture which anteriorly encloses the nasal cavities, the entry to this is called the NARES
what is the nasal cavities held open by and what are they lined with
bone and cartilage
mucosal membrane lined with respiratory epithelium
What is the structure of the respiratory epithelium
pseudo-stratified, ciliated, columnar, interspersed with goblet cells (that secrete mucus).
What is the nasal septum
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)
What are the boundaries of the nasal cavities
- nasal septum
- Hard and soft palates
- Bone (ethmoid, frontonasal, sphenoid; roof)
- Nasal conchae
What are the three names of nasal conchae and where are these located
superior
middle
inferior
These are located on the lateral wall
What is the function of conchae
They provide turbulence and increase the surface area for airflow and heat exchange
Where are the meatus located and what do they do
Under/lateral to each concha
Adjacent air sinuses open up into the mea) communica)ng between the sinuses and the nasal cavity.
What is the nasal cavity composed of
The septum
The lateral walls with conchae
Meati
Airway
Where are orbits located
Immediately lateral to the nasal cavity
Tell me about the maxillary sinus
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.
What do sinuses
assist with
Warming incoming air
Tell me about the nasal mucosal membrane
Its highly vascularised, these vessels anastomose between branches of the external carotids and internal carotids
Where are the olfactory bulb and nerves for sense of smell located
In the roof and upper parts of the lateral wall
What is the pharynx and where is it
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)
Whats the function of the nasopharynx
- transports air
* divided from oropharynx by soY palate
What is the function of the oropharynx
- 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
What is the larynx
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.
What are the different laryngeal cartilages in the larynx
The epiglottic
The thyroid
The arytenoid
The cricoid
Tell me about the laryngeal membrane and its folds
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.
