Structure of the Conducting System

Question 1

NOSE: role, made up of + characteristics

Answer 1

ROLE:
- First step in conditioning air to allow it to pass safely through the remainder of the respiratory tract
MADE UP OF:
- Lateral walls - part of the skull
- Nasal passages - sep by septum = wall
- Three conchae project from the lateral walls - they slow air flow + create turbulence = air mixed = come into contact w/ the wall of the nasal passages = important as the tissue that lines the nasal passages has a really good blood supply
CHARACTERISTICS:
Lining tissue is highly vascular - contains large expandable veins:
- Warms, moistens + cleans the inspired air
- Mouth breathing increases heat + water loss

Question 2

SINUSES: role, made up of + characteristics

Answer 2

ROLE:
- Principle role is to lighten the skull
CHARACTERISTICS
- Are spaces in your skull 
- Help the process of resonance = make voice sound richer  
- Maxillary sinus’ = most commonly affected w/ ppl with sinus disease / issues 
HAVE 4:
- maxillary sinus
- ethmoid sinus
- frontal sinus
- sphenoid sinus

Question 3

LARYNX: role, made up of + characteristics

Answer 3

ROLE:

• Protection + the production of sounds
• protects the trachea using two mechanisms:
  1. The cartilages
  2. The vocal folds (aka vocal cords) = also able to provide a seal (protection)

MADE UP OF:
- Structure made of 3 unpaired cartilages: = make up the greatest part
1. Epiglottis = protection (seals larynx during swallowing)
Two cartilages hold the trachea open:
2. Thyroid cartilage: a U shaped cartilage = provides wide passageway which gas can move = where vocal folds are located
3. Cricoid cartilage: a ring that connects the larynx onto the trachea

Three paired cartilages - involved in positioning the vocal folds = much smaller

1. Corniculate
2. Arytenoid
3. Cuneiform

Question 4

Upper and lower airways

Answer 4

• Upper airways = everything above the larynx

- Lower airways = everything from larynx down (including larynx)

Question 5

TRACHEA: role, made up of + characteristics

Answer 5

MADE UP OF:
- (T) is made of 15-20 posteriorly incomplete cartilaginous rings that prevent collapse + overexpansion
CHARACTERISTICS:
- Cartilaginous: quite solid = means remain open all the time
- stacked on top of each other = (T) made flexible
- Incomplete rings: allows the oesophagus to expand when swallowing = allows normal swallowing to occur
- Stacked structure prevents occlusion of trachea during head movement

Question 6

TRACHEA + PRIMARY BRONCHI (semi continuation from trachea) = about mucosa

Answer 6

Mucosa of trachea + bronchi comprises:

• Ciliated cells (surface of cell has tiny hairs) = role is to sweep the mucus up + out of the airway = most cells are ciliated cells
• Goblet (mucous producing) cells = mucus helps to protect airways = is sticky + can help to stop foreign material
• Sero-mucous glands in submucosa