The Respiratory System - Trachea, Bronchi, and Lungs

Question 1

What are the Trachea and Bronchi made of? Describe they structure

Answer 1

• Incomplete C-shaped rings of cartilage (15-20)
• Rings completed and attached together by dense connective tissue
• Roughly about 12cm long
• Starts from Larynx (CVI Vertebra) passes through superior mediastinum
• Bifurcates (carina) at the margin of superior and inferior mediastinum (TIV-TV intervertebral disc)

Question 2

What is the Carina?

Answer 2

• The Bifurcation of the Trachea at the margin of superior and inferior mediastinum

Question 3

What are apart of the Conducting Zone?

Answer 3

• Left and Right Primary Bronchi
• Secondary / lobar Bronchi
• Tertiary / segmental bronchi
• bronchioles
• terminal bronchioles
• alveoli

Question 4

Where is the most likely chance for foreign objects to get stuck in the respiratory system?

Answer 4

• Vocal Cords: The narrowest part of the respiratory tract

- Right Bronchus: Wider, shorter, and wider angle from trachea, so higher chance than the left bronchus

Question 5

How many secondary bronchi are on the left side? how about the right? (for each lobe)

Answer 5

• Left: 2

- Right: 3

Question 6

how many tertiary bronchi are on each side?

Answer 6

• 10

Question 7

What takes part in Respiration?

Answer 7

• Respiratory Bronchioles
• Alveolar Ducts
• Alveoli

Question 8

What innervates the Trachea?

Answer 8

• Recurrent laryngeal branch of the Vagus and Cervical Sympathetic Trunks

Question 9

What supplies blood to the Trachea?

Answer 9

• The Subclavian Arteries

Question 10

Where are the Lungs?

Answer 10

• the Thoracic Cavity

Question 11

What are the surfaces and areas of the lungs?

Answer 11

• Apex
• Costal or lateral surface
• Mediastinal or medial surface
• Diaphragmatic, concave shape, inferior surface, or base of the lung

Question 12

What are the borders of the lungs?

Answer 12

• Anterior Border
• Posterior Border
• Inferior Border: anteriorly is a rib 6, laterally is at rib 8, posteriorly is at rib 10

Question 13

What is at the Hilum (root) of the lung?

Answer 13

• Pulmonary Artery
• Pulmonary Vein
• Bronchus

Question 14

How many lobes does the Right Lung have?

Answer 14

• 3 lobes

Question 15

How many lobes does the left lung have?

Answer 15

• 2 lobes

Question 16

What are the fissures on the lungs?

Answer 16

• Right Lung: oblique fissure and horizontal fissure

- Left Lung: oblique fissure

Question 17

How many segments in each lung?

Answer 17

• 10

Question 18

What is on the Anterior border of the left lung?

Answer 18

• Cardiac Notch: indentation providing space for the heart

Question 19

Which lung is heavier?

Answer 19

• right lung

Question 20

What are the different Pleura? Where are they?

Answer 20

• Parietal Pleura: lines the inside of thorax
• Visceral Pleura: directly attached on the lung surfaces (except the hilum which is the point of entry and exit for bronchi and vessels)

Question 21

What is the Pleural Space (cavity)?

Answer 21

• The space between the two layers, contains small amount of fluid for lubrication, negative pressure inside for respiration.

Question 22

What are the Costodiaphragmatic (costo-phrenic) recesses? landmarks?

Answer 22

• edges close to the diaphragm
• serves as a reserved space for the lungs to expand to
  Landmarks
• rib 8 anteriorly
• rib 10 midaxillary
• Rib 12 posteriorly

Question 23

What innervates the Pleura?

Answer 23

• Pulmonary Plexus: Branches of the Vagus nerves and sympathetic Trunk (T1-T4).

Question 24

What constricts the Bronchioles? What dilate bronchioles?

Answer 24

Constricts
- Vagus Nerve
Dilates
- Sympathetic Nerves

Question 25

What branches supplies blood to the lung tissue and pleura by the Thoracic Aorta?

Answer 25

• Bronchial Arteries: lung tissue and 1/2 pleura

- Parietal Branches: 1/2 Pleura