The pleura and the lungs Flashcards
What does the thoracic cavity contain?
The thoracic cavity contains two pulmonary cavities (pleural cavities) and lungs, as well as the mediastinum.
What is the function of the pleura?
The pleura is a serous membrane that lines the pulmonary cavity and invests the lungs.
What are the two layers of the pleura?
The two layers of the pleura are the parietal pleura and the visceral pleura.
What is the pleural cavity?
The pleural cavity is a potential space between the layers of the pleura.
What does the pleural cavity contain?
The pleural cavity contains pleural fluid.
What are the different parts of the parietal pleura?
The parietal pleura consists of the costal part (lines the thoracic wall), the mediastinal part (lines the mediastinum), the diaphragmatic part (covers the superior surface of the diaphragm), and the cervical pleura (covers the lung apex).
What does the visceral pleura invest?
The visceral pleura invests the parenchyma of the lungs.
What are pleural reflections?
Pleural reflections refer to the changes in direction of the pleura from one wall of the pleural cavity to another.
What are the different types of pleural reflections?
The different types of pleural reflections include sternal, costal, and vertebral reflections.
What are pleural recesses and what is their function?
Pleural recesses are larger pleural spaces that allow for lung expansion during forced inspiration. The two main pleural recesses are the costodiaphragmatic recess and the costomediastinal recess.
What is the tracheobronchial tree responsible for?
The tracheobronchial tree serves as the passage of air, with the conducting zone/tract responsible for air passage from the nasal cavity to the terminal bronchioles.
What is the function of the respiratory zone/tract in the bronchial tree?
The respiratory zone/tract is the functional unit responsible for gas exchange, starting from the respiratory bronchioles and ending at the alveoli.
What are the main components of the bronchial tree?
The bronchial tree includes the trachea, primary/main bronchi, secondary/lobar bronchi, tertiary/segmental bronchi, terminal bronchioles, respiratory bronchioles, alveolar ducts and sacs, and alveoli.
Where does the trachea begin and end?
The trachea starts at the level of the sixth cervical vertebra (C6).
How many primary/main bronchi are there and what are their characteristics?
There are two primary/main bronchi. The right main bronchus is short, wide, and vertical, while the left main bronchus is long, narrow, and inferolateral.
How many secondary/lobar bronchi are present in the bronchial tree?
There are two secondary/lobar bronchi on the left side and three on the right side.
What are the tertiary/segmental bronchi?
Tertiary/segmental bronchi are branches of the secondary bronchi that further divide into bronchopulmonary segments.
What are the respiratory bronchioles connected to?
The respiratory bronchioles are connected to the alveolar ducts and sacs.
How many alveoli are present in the bronchial tree?
The bronchial tree contains approximately 300 million alveoli.
Where are the lungs located within the body?
The lungs are located within each pulmonary cavity and are surrounded by the visceral pleura
What are bronchopulmonary segments?
Bronchopulmonary segments are pyramidal-shaped segments within the lungs. Their apices face the root of the lung, while their bases face the pleural surface. There are approximately 10 bronchopulmonary segments in the right lung and 8-10 in the left lung. Each segment is named after its corresponding segmental or tertiary bronchus.
How are the lungs connected to the mediastinum?
The lungs are connected to the mediastinum by the root, which consists of structures entering and exiting the hilum of the lung.
What is the hilum of the lung?
The hilum of the lung is a wedge-shaped depression where structures enter and exit the lung.
What structures are part of the root of the lung?
The root of the lung includes the pulmonary artery, pulmonary veins (superior and inferior), bronchial artery (2x left, 1x right) and vein, main bronchus, pulmonary plexus, and lymphatic vessels.
