The Respiratory System Flashcards
nose, nasal cavity, pharynx, and associated
structures
Upper respiratory system
• Trachea, larynx, bronchi, bronchioles, and lungs
Lower respiratory system
• All airways that carry air to lungs:
— Nose, pharynx, trachea, larynx, bronchi, bronchioles, and terminal bronchioles
“Conducting zone”
• Sites within lungs where gas exchange occurs
— Respiratory bronchioles, alveolar ducts, alveolar sacs, and alveoli
“Respiratory zone”
• Structure
— External nares -> nasal cavity -> internal nares
— Nasal septum divides nose into two sides
— Nasal conchae covered by mucous
membrane
• Functions
— Warm, humidify, filter/trap dust and microbes
a. Mucus and cilia of epithelial cells lining nose
— Detect olfactory stimuli
— Modify vocal sounds
Nose
branch of medicine that deals with the
diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the ears, nose, and throat
(ENT)
Otorhinolaryngology
ENT means
ears, nose, and throat
divides nose into two sides.
Nasal septum
covered by mucous membrane.
Nasal conchae
- Warm, humidify, filter/trap dust and microbes.
a. Mucus and cilia of epithelial cells lining nose. - Detect olfactory stimuli.
- Modify vocal sounds.
Functions of nose
• Known as the “throat”
• Structure
- Funnel-shaped tube from internal nares to larynx.
• Three regions (with tonsils in the upper two).
- Upper: nasopharynx; posterior to nose.
a. Contains adenoids (pharyngeal tonsil) and
openings of auditory (Eustachian) tubes.
- Middle: oropharynx; posterior to mouth.
a. 2 pairs of tonsils; Palatine and lingual tonsils are
here.
- Lower: laryngopharynx (hypopharynx)
a. Connects with both esophagus and larynx: food
and air.
PHARYNX
Three regions of Pharynx (with tonsils in the upper two).
- Upper: nasopharynx
- Middle: oropharynx
- Lower: laryngopharynx (hypopharynx)
— posterior to nose.
a. Contains adenoids (pharyngeal tonsil) and openings of auditory (Eustachian) tubes.
Upper: nasopharynx
— posterior to mouth.
a. 2 pairs of tonsils; Palatine and lingual tonsils are here.
Middle: oropharynx
(hypopharynx)
a. Connects with both esophagus and larynx: food and air.
Lower: laryngopharynx
Known as the “throat”
PHARYNX
“Voice Box”
LARYNX
• “Voice Box”
• Made largely of cartilage (9 cartilages)
- Thyroid cartilage: V-shaped.
a. “Adam’s apple”: projects more anteriorly in
males.
b. Vocal cords “strung” here (and to arytenoids).
- Epiglottis: leaf-shaped piece; covers airway.
a. During swallowing, larynx moves up, so epiglottis
covers opening into trachea.
- Cricoid cartilage: inferior most portion.
- Arytenoids (paired, small) superior to cricoid.
a. True vocal cords for speech.
- Cuneiform and corniculate cartilages
a. Cuneiform cartilages (paired) – support vocal folds
and lateral aspects of the epiglottis.
b. Corniculate cartilages (paired) – horn-shaped pieces
of elastic cartilage, located at the apex of each
arytenoid cartilage.
LOWER RESPIRATORY SYSTEM: LARYNX
— V-shaped.
a. “Adam’s apple”: projects more anteriorly in
males.
b. Vocal cords “strung” here (and to arytenoids).
Thyroid cartilage
Larynx is Made largely of cartilage (9 cartilages)
1 in Thyroid cartilage
1 in Epiglottis
1 in Cricoid cartilage
2 in Arytenoids
2 in Cuneiform cartilages and
2 in corniculate cartilages
— leaf-shaped piece; covers airway.
a. During swallowing, larynx moves up, so epiglottis covers opening into trachea.
Epiglottis
inferior most portion.
Cricoid cartilage
— (paired, small) superior to cricoid.
a. True vocal cords for speech.
Arytenoids
— support vocal folds and lateral aspects of the epiglottis.
Cuneiform cartilages (paired)