The Respiratory System

Question 1

Functions of the Respiratory System

Answer 1

Move air in & out of the lungs, facilitate diffusion of oxygen into the blood and carbon dioxide out of the blood, protects surfaces from harmful bacteria + dehydration + temp fluctuations, produces sounds for communication (e.g. talking), detects odours

Question 2

Before air reaches the alveoli it must be:

Answer 2

Clean, Warm & Humid

Question 3

Types of Epithelium

Answer 3

Respiratory epithelium; pseudostratified, ciliated, columnar epithelium (containing goblet cells); stratified squamous epithelium

Question 4

Respiratory Epithelium

Answer 4

Protects & clears the airways, lines most of the respiratory tract

Question 5

Pseudostratified, Ciliated, Columnar Epithelium (containing goblet cells) - Purpose

Answer 5

Cleans, warms and humidifies the inhaled air, lines from the nasal cavity to the bronchi

Question 6

Structures in the UPT (upper respiratory tract)

Answer 6

Nose, nasal cavity, vestibule, turbinates, vascular plexus, paranasal sinuses, pharynx

Question 7

Vestibule

Answer 7

Small chamber located in the nasal cavity, lined with skin, contains hair follicles called vibrissae to filter the air

Question 8

Nasal Cavity

Answer 8

Lined with respiratory mucosa; includes: hard palate (roof of the mouth), soft palate (back of the roof of the mouth), vestibule - small chamber lined with skin containing fibrissae, turbinates (sup., mid., inf.,) - creates turbulence to catch particles, vascular plexus - thin-walled veins to warm the air, vasodilate & constrict to match temperature.

Question 9

Paranasal Sinuses

Answer 9

Air-filled chambers connected to the nasal cavity, allows for a voice, increases surface area for cleaning, warming and humidifying

Question 10

Pharynx

Answer 10

Muscular tube
Nasopharynx - air only, respiratory epithelium/mucosa
Oropharynx - food & air, stratified squamous epithelium
Laryngopharynx - food & air, stratified squamous epithelium, when swallowing food has right of way and breathing pauses

Question 11

Lower Respiratory Tract (LRT)

Answer 11

Larynx, Trachea, Bronchus, Bronchioles, Respiratory bronchioles

Question 12

Upper Respiratory Tract (URT)

Answer 12

Nose, Nasal Cavity, Paranasal Sinuses, Pharynx

Question 13

Larynx

Answer 13

Where LRT begins, contains epiglottis - protects solids and liquids from entering respiratory tract, contains vocal cords, phsonatation (sound production)

Question 14

Trachea

Answer 14

Semi-rigid tube, anterior to oesophagus, respiratory mucosa/epithelium -> pseudo-stratified ciliated columnar epithelium with goblet cells, cleans, warms and humidifies the air, protects from pathogens

Question 15

Bronchus splits into…

Answer 15

Two main bronchi -> lobar bronchi -> segmental bronchi -> bronchioles -> respiratory bronchioles

Question 16

Alveoli

Answer 16

In the lungs, alveolar sacs contain lots of alveoli, site of gas exchange, walls composed of a single layer of simple squamous epithelium

Question 17

Conducting Region

Answer 17

Conducts air to and from the gas exchange surfaces

Question 18

What does the Respiratory Region do?

Answer 18

Facilitates gas exchange