Structure of the Upper Respiratory Tract Flashcards
What are the 4 main functions of the nose
- Warms and humidifies the temperature of inspired air
- Defence function
- Filter function
- Responsible for sense of smell
What % does the nose warm and humidify inspired air for how many seconds contact
0.25 seconds of contact
Humidity 75-80% relative humidity
How does the nose act as a defence function
Cilia takes inhaled particulates backwards to be swallowed
How does the nose act as a filter function
Drains and clears the paranasal sinuses and lacrimal ducts
Where does the nose extend from and to
Vestibule (anterior nares) to the nasopharynx
What are the three divisions of the nose
- Anterior nares open into vestibule
- Respiratory system
- Olfactory region
What is the vestibule of the nose
Area surrounding the anterior and external opening of the nasal cavity
What is the skin of the vestibule lined with
Stiff hairs
What is the histology of the respiratory system of the nose
Lined by ciliated pseudostratified epithelium
Intersped with mucus-secreting goblet cells
Where is the olfactory region of the nose located
Apex of the nasal cavity
What is the olfactory region of the nose lined by
Olfactory cells with olfactory receptors
What is the nose
Most upper portion of the respiratory tract
Olfactory and respiratory organ
What is another word for turbinates
Conchae
What are turbinates’/conchae
Curved bones that project out of the lateral walls of the nasal cavity
What is the function of turbinates’/conchae
Increase/double the surface area
Increases the amount of contact the air has with its cavity walls
What are meatus
Pathways for air to flow
What are the four paranasal sinuses which drain into the nasal cavity
- Frontal
- Maxillary
- Ethmoid
- Sphenoid bones
What paranasal sinuses open into the middle meatus
Frontal
Maxillary
Anterior ethmoid sinuses
What are paranasal sinuses arranged into
pairs
What are paranasal sinuses
Evagination of the mucus membrane from the nasal cavity
Where does the middle ethmoid sinus empty into
Ethmoidal bulba
What is the ethmoidal bulba
Bulge in lateral wall formed by the middle ethmoidal sinus itself
Where does the posterior ethmoidal sinus open
At the level of superior meatus
Where does the sphenoid sinus drain
Into posterior roof
Only structure not to empty out on lateral wall of the nasal cavity
Where are the frontal sinuses located
Within the frontal bone
Either side of the midline septum
Most superior of the paranasal sinuses
Over orbit and across the superciliary arch
Where does the frontal sinus drain
Via frontal duct
What is the nerve supply to the frontal sinuses
Ophthalmic division of V nerve
Supraorbital nerve
What is the artery supply to the frontal sinuses
Anterior ethmoid artery
Branch of the internal carotid
Where is the location of the maxillary sinus
On the body of the maxilla (think cheeks)
Laterally and slightly inferiorly to the nasal cavities
Largest sinus
Where does the maxillary sinus open into
Middle meatus
What shape is the maxillary sinus with its sides
Pyramidal
Base - lateral wall of the nose
Apex - Zygomatic processes of the maxilla
Roof - Floor of the orbit
Floor - Alveolar processes
What is the drainage of the maxillary sinuses
Hiatus semilunaris
Underneath frontal sinus openings
Where are the ethmoidal sinuses located
Between the eyes in the ethmoid bones
How many ethmoidal sinuses are there and what are there respective names
3
Anterior
Middle
Posterior
Where do the anterior ethmoidal sinus open into
Hiatus semilunaris
(Middle meatus)
Where do the middle ethmoidal sinus open into
Lateral wall of middle meatus
Where does the posterior ethmoid sinus open into
Lateral wall of the superior meatus
What is the nerve supply to the ethmoidal sinuses
Ophthalmic and maxillary V nerve
What is the artery supply to the ethmoidal sinuses
Anterior and posterior ethmoidal arteries
Where are the sphenoid sinuses located
Within the body of the sphenoid bone
What is the drainage of the sphenoid sinuses
Sphenoethmoidal recess
(Lateral to the attachment of the nasal septum)
What is the nerve supply to the sphenoid sinuses
Ophthalmic V
What is the artery supply to the sphenoid sinuses
Pharyngeal branches of the maxillary arteries
What is the pharynx
Fibromuscular tube that connects the nasal cavity to the larynx and oesophagus
What is the histology of the pharynx
Lined with squamous and columnar ciliated, mucous glands
Where does the pharynx begin and end
Begins - At skull base
Ends - Inferior border of the cricoid cartilage (C6)
What are the 3 parts of the pharynx (superior to inferior)
Nasopharynx
Oropharynx
Laryngopharynx (hypopharynx)
Where is the nasopharynx
Between the base of the skull and soft palate
Where would you find the eustachian tube orifices
Lateral wall of the nasopharynx
What is the function of the nasopharynx
Conditions inspired air and propagates it into the larynx
What is the histology of the nasopharynx
Ciliated pseudostratified columnar epithelium with goblet cells
Where is the oropharynx located
Between soft palate (anteriorly) and superior border of epiglottis
Inferiorly to the hyoid bone
What does the oropharynx contain
Palatine tonsils
Between the palatoglossal folds and palatopharyngeal folds
What is the oropharynx involved in
Voluntary and involuntary phases of swallowing
Were is the laryngopharynx located
Between superior border of the epiglottis and inferior border of C6
What is the larynx
Located in the anterior of the neck
9 cartilages - rigid structure
E.g. voice box
What is the function of the larynx
Prevent liquid and food entering the lungs - protection of the lower respiratory tract
What is the arterial supply to the larynx
Superior and inferior thyroid artery
What is the nerve supply to the larynx
Vagus - motor and sensory information
How does the larynx work as voice box
Arytenoid cartilages rotate on the cricoid cartilage to change vocal cords
Name the laryngeal cartilages
3 unpaired (single)
1. Epiglottis
2. Thyroid
3. Cricoid
6 paired (double)
1. Cuneiform
2. Corniculate
3. Arytenoid
What is the innervation of the superior laryngeal nerve
Sensory - supraglottis
Motor - external branch. Cricothyroid muscle
What is the innervation of the recurrent laryngeal nerve
Sensory - infraglottis
Motor - All internal muscles of the larynx (except the cricothyroid)
